Uncategorised

January 2021 Tutor/Mentor eNews

January 2021 - Issue 196

January is National Mentoring Month

This year's National Mentoring Month will be much lonelier for many due to Covid19. But for many there will be ZOOM gatherings with volunteer tutors and mentors and new ways to connect and learn. As we start a new year, youth and families living in high poverty areas will still struggle more than others due to low access to digital tools and services.

Maybe during this Mentoring Month you can spend a little time learning about digital access and remote learning issues, then spend time in 2021 helping to close these gaps.

The ideas and resources shared in this monthly newsletter point to a library of resources that can be used by anyone, in Chicago, or around the world, to help mentor-rich youth programs thrive in all of the neighborhoods where they are most needed, and to help understand and respond to these over-riding challenges.

If you are a consistent reader, consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Website

A Day that Will Live in Infamy .... January 6. 2021

Like most of you I was horrified watching the attack on the US Capital on January 6 and I fear what will happen to our democracy in coming months and years. I'm hopeful that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and a Democratic controlled Congress will bring healing to every zip code in America, with new laws, new policy, and a flow of needed resources. That remains to be seen.

Amidst all of this we are celebrating Mentoring this month. While there's much to distract us I feel we need to continue to focus daily on ways we can build and sustain mentor-rich support systems that create HOPE and OPPORTUNITY for those who need extra help. In many ways this is a strategy to reduce the appeal to the right wing idealism that leads to hatred, division and destruction.

Good luck to all of you as you travel this difficult journey.

What is the State of Mentoring in your city?

In December MENTOR New York shared its Report on the State of NY Mentoring which you can read at this link. The site also shares Covid19 resources.

I suspect other cities and states might report similar findings but I've not seen this type of report yet from Illinois or from others.

From January 27 to 29 MENTOR will host it's annual conference, in an all-virtual format this year. I've already registered and hope that others will do the same. Use this link.

Dig into tutor/mentor web library

* Mentoring networks - click here

* Tutor/Mentor Programs beyond Illinois - click here

* Black History studies - click here

* Homework & learning help - click here

* Poverty, racism, inequality - click here

* Impact of Covid19; What's next? - click here

* Digital divide research & articles - click here

* Resources from Afterschool Alliance - click her

* Recommended Learning Resources on YouTube - click here

Purpose of Tutor/Mentor Library

I've been building a web library since 1993 with a goal that people would use this information to innovate better ways to support k-12 youth in well-organized, and well-funded, volunteer based tutor, mentor and learning organizations.

View this PDF to see how ideas from one place can inspire work done in many other places. Few of the youth tutor/mentor programs I look at share their strategies, program design, lessons learned, etc. consistently on websites and blogs, but if more did this they would be helping others learn from them, so more kids would receive better support.

What does your planning cycle look like?

It's January and National Mentoring Month draws attention to mentoring programs throughout the country. If you're on a school-based calendar, your year starts in August as you recruit youth and volunteers. That means in January you should be starting a process of evaluating your own fall start-up activities with a goal of doing even better next fall. As you move through the spring, you should be inviting your volunteers, youth, parents and donors into your brainstorming and planning process. By June you should have a plan of operations for the coming year.
View this PDF to learn more of this process.

Understand challenges facing youth, and new President of USA

This concept map is one of many that I've created over the past 15 years to visualize some of the things we need to be thinking about in our efforts to help kids in poverty areas move through school and into adult lives.

I created another that shows many of the issues facing America and the world as Joe Biden takes over as our 46h President. View it here.

Drawing people together to read, think, discuss then form action strategies is one of the biggest challenges we face. Here's one of many articles I've focused on building a learning organization.

Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.

Resources from Tutor/Mentor:

* List of Chicago area youth Tutor and/or Mentor programs, plus other resources for finding youth programs - click here

* Facebook pages of Chicago area youth programs - click here

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Concept Map library - click here

* Mapping for Justice blog - click here

* Blog article showing short links to resources hosted in Tutor/Mentor library and websites - click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here

* Blogs I follow using Inoreader- click here

*Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here

Please help update this cMap and the links in the Tutor/Mentor web library. Just email me with additions or changes.

* Covid-19 in Illinois - Impact on Nonprofits in 2020. Forefront report. - click here

* 2021 National Mentoring Summit will be a remote conference this year. Click here for details.

* National Mentoring Resource Center - Covid-19 resources - click here

* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - visit site and find activities for youth - click here

* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site, click here; blog -click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here

* ChiHackNight - remote civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see weekly agenda

About this newsletter.

While I try to send this only once a month, I write blog articles weekly. Throughout the newsletter I post links to a few of the articles published in the past month or earlier. I encourage you to spend a little time each week reading these articles and following the links. Use the ideas and presentations in group discussions with other people who are concerned about the same issues.

Since 2011 I've supported Tutor/Mentor Connection via the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, which is not a 501-c-3. It's also not broadly funded. I've covered expenses through my own savings and the help of a few who make annual donations to me either via my December 19 birthday campaign, or my year-end fund me campaign. Below are links to each page. Please help if you can. Thank you to all who contributed in 2020.

Dan's 74th Birthday- click here

Fund Tutor/Mentor Institute- click here

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter. Click here.

(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

Thank you for reading and sharing the ideas in this newsletter.

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Feb 2021 T/M eNews

February 2021 - Issue 197

Maps. Social Capital. Birth-to-Work

In this month's newsletter I focus on maps, birth-to-work program design, social capital theory and relationships as desired outcomes.

I've provided links to pages and articles where I hope you'll explore these ideas more deeply and engage others in conversation about where and how the ideas might be applied.

If you are writing about these strategies on blogs or in program websites, please share the link with me on one of the social media platforms I point to.

Use this newsletter as a study guide.

If you are a consistent reader, consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Website

Birth to Work - 12 years and longer

While many focus on the actions of a mentor or of a tutor I focus on how these actions need to repeat for many years to help a youth living in a high poverty area move safely through school and into adult lives, with a job/career that enables her to raise her own kids free of poverty.

This Tutor/Mentor Pinterest page shows many of my #birthtowork graphics and pages where I've used them in articles.

Maps - point to ALL places where help needed

I've been using maps since 1993 to focus attention and resources to all of the high poverty areas of the Chicago region, which is where thousands of youth need expanded networks and support to help them through school and into adult lives.

By identifying existing programs in these areas we can point resource providers to them. By showing areas without programs we can help mobilize resources to fill the voids.

View map stories here, here and here.

Social Capital - Who you know. Relationships Matter.

I was able to participate in the January National Mentoring Summit and found many of the workshops and panels to be useful. I pointed to some in this blog article.

Two workshops focused on social capital and relationships as necessary goals and outcomes for youth tutor/mentor programs. The graphic at the right visualizes the goal of connecting youth to adults from many backgrounds who can model opportunities, open doors, and provide aid and coaching as youth make this journey.

Discussion of Tutor/Mentor Ideas

This Link takes you to a Tutor/Mentor Institute portal hosted in the UK. It's a place where people from the US, Europe and other places are encouraged to join with people from Chicago. The discussion is designed to create a blueprint that can be used in any city. It's a blueprint showing many actions needed in building an operating system and infrastructure that reaches youth in all high poverty neighborhoods and stays connected with age-appropriate supports for many years.

Campaign for Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Support Tutor/Mentor Connection - Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Let's create a world where all kids have greater hope and opportunity. Help more kids in high poverty areas connect in organized volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs. I started this work 25 years ago. Please contribute to help me continue.

(scroll down to bottom of page to find PayPal button)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We want these opportunities for our own kids and grandchildren. We all want same long-term result of kids moving safely through school and into adult lives and jobs. Read this article to see how the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC and T/MC support this goal with an extensive knowledge base.

This video shows my commitment to helping tutor/mentor programs grow in all high poverty areas.

Rather than trying to be the single leader in a huge city, the T/MC and now T/MI, have sought to provide an information platform that all leaders can use to LEARN, EDUCATE, and innovate ways to support tutor/mentor program growth in more places and to solve other complex social, political and environmental problems facing cities.

Resources supported by your contributions, sponsorship and/or partnership

Tutor/Mentor Blog and Mapping for Justice Blog
Featured Blogs from past years - click here
Tutor/Mentor Chicago Youth Program Links library

Tutor/Mentor Institute strategy library

Tutor/Mentor Institute Concept Map Library

Tutor/Mentor Connection web Library

Monthly eMail Newsletter

Tutor/Mentor Connection Forum and Social Media Network

View videos on Tutor/Mentor Institute Theater

Please help me continue to do this work.

If someone you know has become ill and needs money to pay bills, they set up a "Go Fund Me" page and ask for contributions. They are not 501-c-3 non profits. They are people needing help.

The Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC is not operating as a non profit either. However, it's also not a profit-making business. So, this is my "fund me" page. I (Daniel Bassill) have been self-funding this work since 2011, supported by a small group of continuing donors. Please add your support to help me continue in 2020 and beyond.

Please send a contribution of $25, $100, $500 or more.

Become a volunteer, advocate and/or partner and help me find sponsors, investors and partners to build this platform for future use. Read more .

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TMI Video Library

The videos on this page were created between 2005 and 2018 to help people understand the strategies and resources shared by the Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present) and Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present), which is led by Daniel F. Bassill.

Click here for more T/MC and T/MI videos. Click here to view videos created by interns. View these videos on this YouTube video list. Find more on this list, and this one.

Note. Most of these videos were created prior to 2018 and still show a PO Box mailing address. Use the contact us page to find current information.

Mentoring Kids to Careers - Strategies and Leadership Commitment needed - click here

4-Part Strategy to Help Kids Through School and Into Careers - piloted since 1993 - click here

Growth of volunteers in a long-term tutor/mentor program. Showing work by interns from the University of Michigan and Northwestern - click here

View this "volunteer growth" blog article - click here.

Volunteer involvement in on-going tutor/mentor program is a form of service-learning. This video shows work of interns from South Korea and Northwestern University - click here

This an Article 5 Image

Understanding "push-pull" as part of a tutor/mentor program strategy for helping youth through school - click here

Collective actions to support urban youth via organized, volunteer-based tutor, mentor and learning programs - click here

Visualize how resource providers and policy-makers might be more proactive in supporting on-going tutor/mentor programs. Role of Influence - click here

Read the blog article - click here

"Enough is Enough" If we want to reduce urban violence on-going investments must be made - click here

Read this article on the Tutor/Mentor Institute,LLC blog - click here

"Here to There". Visualize steps needed for building and sustaining programs that help youth through school and into careers. click here

Homework help resources for students, parents, volunteers, educators, library on this website. click here

This video was created in 2018 when the TutorMentorConnection website was hosting the library. Now the links in the concept map shown in the video point to this website. View the concept map - click here

This video shows universities throughout Chicago where Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conferences were hosted - click here

Thank you to Terry Elliott, an educator from Western Kentucky, for creating this video.

This was part of a strategy aimed at recruiting universities as long-term partners. This blog article shows a 30 year history of reaching out to universities. Click here

View this video to see how Terry Elliott shared my review of 2018 actions.

Helping tutor/mentor programs grow - see how interns have helped and how this is shared in the Tutor/Mentor blog - click here

View the blog article - click here

Take a tour of this "It takes a village" video. What's it mean for youth in high poverty areas of cities like Chicago? - click here

This video shows work done in late 2000s by graduate students from the University of Michigan.

View the graphic in this blog article - click here

Tour of Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC website (www.tutormentorexchange.net) created by Wona Chang, a 2015 intern from South Korea. click here

2025 note. The website platform has been updated, resulting in a new look for the site. However, the basic navigation remains the same as is shown in this video.

View more videos created by interns - visit this page

Introduction to T/MC OHATS (Organizational history and tracking system). Active on this site from 2002 to 2014 - click here

Visit this page and learn more about the T/MC OHATS. While this is now only available as an archive it remains a model of how groups working toward a common goal might document actions to better understand accomplishments and who is contributing.

The Tutor/Mentor Connection was created in 1993 by volunteers who had crated the site-based Cabrini Connections tutor/mentor program in late 1992.
It was the "local" Cabrini-Green focused part of a "local-global" strategy that continued until 2011.

View videos showing activities at Cabrini Connections. click here

Helping volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs grow in high poverty areas of Chicago - Dan Bassill, 2012 panel discussion - click here

Mentor role in a larger strategy of community and youth development - click here

Read more in this blog article - click here

What is poverty? Dan Bassill in 2009 panel discussion - click here

The work done by interns that is shown on this and other pages demonstrates a role that students at any college or high school could take. Imagine going to your school's website and find a collection of visualizations similar to what I show on these pages.

Thank you to Terry Elliott and others who read my blog articles, view my videos, and then create and share your own interpretation and understanding through your on media.
click here

Browse this set of articles on the Tutor/Mentor blog to see how Dan Bassill has networked and shared ideas with a network of Connected Learning (CLMOOC) educators since 2013.

Dan has ofter showed the CLMOOC interactions as a model for how people in the youth development ecosystem should be interacting.

Helping nonprofit organizations grow to be good, then great, over many years. View this 2017 reflection - click here

Visit this blog to read more about helping youth tutor, mentor organizations grow to be good, then great, and stay great, over many years.

The challenges facing leaders of nonprofit organization. Executive Director panel from 2011 Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference.
click here for part 1.

View part 2 - click here. View part 3 - click here

TMI Video - sharing ideas

The videos on this page feature history of the Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present) and Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) along with interviews of founder Daniel F. Bassill. They also include videos from past Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conferences that we hosted from 1994 to 2015.

Click here for more T/MC and T/MI videos. Click here to view videos created by interns. See videos created by Interns on this page. View these videos on this YouTube video list. Find more on this list, and this one.

Note. Most of these videos were created prior to 2018 and still show a PO Box mailing address. Use the contact us page to find current information.

Introduction of Tutor/Mentor Connection at 1997 Presidents' Summit for America's Future - click here

Learn about the Tutor/Mentor Connection's year-round program support strategy, piloted since 1993. click here

Value of Tutor/Mentor Program - Alumni Update - click here

A Knowledge Network - created in 1993
click here

This an Article 5 Image

Mentoring Interview with Anthony Brogdon, Detroit, MI. 3-2022 click here

Interview with Valerie Leonard of NonProfit Utopia, re T/MI use of visualizations. click here

Read the blog article - click here

An Interview with Tutor/Mentor Institute's Daniel Bassill, 2014 by Terry Elliott. click here

Read the blog article - click here

Sharing Tutor/Mentor strategies with Aliyu B. Solomon, from Nigeria. 4-2022 - click here

How to Build a Culture of Empathy - 2012 talk with Edwin Rutsch click here

View second 2012 discussion about empathy and mentoring, including Edwin Rutsch and Bert-Ola Bergstrand, from Sweden. click here

Read the blog article - click here

If volunteer-based tutoring/mentoring is of value, how do we reach more youth in areas of persistent poverty?
click here

This videos describes Dan Bassill's history of involvement in volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs - click here

Animation showing role athletes & celebrities can take to support youth-serving programs throughout the cities where they perform - click here

Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference: What People Say. 2007 - click here

Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference Video - 2010
click here

More videos! Visit this page, showing work of interns. This page focuses on videos from the Cabrini Connections tutor/mentor program that was formed in late 1992 and launched the Tutor/Mentor Connection in 1993. More conference videos and panel discussions with Dan Bassill are shown on this page.

Visual Essays - pg 3

Since the 1970s Dan Bassill, founder of the Tutor/Mentor Connection (led by Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC since 2011) has used visualizations to share strategies and resources. The visual essays on this page focus on building attention and mobilizing resources for multiple programs.

The original collection of PDFs are listed on this page.

Create your own versions and focus the strategies on your own city. Show your support with a contribution. click here

Tutor/Mentor Connection Logic Model. If you agree, adopt the strategy - click here

Ask elected leaders to appy this strategy to help reduce violence in Chicago - click here

Planning needed/use of maps to combat violence in Chicago - click here

Want to help tutor/mentor programs grow? Help build attention for youth serving programs - click here

Use this "Rest of the Story" media strategy to draw attention to youth serving programs in high need areas - click here

Example of "Rest of the Story" strategy- North Lawndale - click here

Form a Tutor/Mentor Connection research/action program at your college/university - click here

30-year (1993 to 2024) history of reaching out to universities. A long road. Learn from our examples - click here

Use this strategic plan, created by DePaul University students, to build your own university leadership effort - click here

This shows a role college fraternities and sororities can take to help build a tutor/mentor program pipeline to careers - click here

How faith communities can help tutor/mentor programs grow in more places - click here

A strategic plan hospitals can take to adopt the Tutor/Mentor Connection strategy. Use for planning - click here

Establish a Tutor/Mentor Connection strategy in the legal community. Use this for planning - click here

Strategy for elected leaders, using one Illinois Congressional district as an example - click here

View more of our visual essays: Page 1 Page 2 Page 4 Page 5

March 2021 Tutor/Mentor eNews

March 2021 - Issue 198

Building Network of Support for Youth

Is the pandemic almost over? Maybe by next fall? How has this affected the availability of non-school, volunteer-based tutor, mentor and learning programs in high poverty neighborhoods of Chicago and other cities? What will program design look like in the future?

These are things I write about in the Tutor/Mentor blog and that I share in this monthly newsletter.

If you are writing about these strategies on blogs or in program websites, please share the link with me on one of the social media platforms I point to.

Use this newsletter as a study guide.

If you are a consistent reader, consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Website

What will youth programs look like after Covid19?

Prior to Covid19 many site-based tutor/mentor programs had computers where youth and volunteers could sit side-by-side doing research for school papers, homework and/or current events. For the past year these two people have been in different places, yet still connected via the computer to each other, and resources on-line.

Here's an article written following the 2021 Mentoring Summit with 5 tips for building an e-Mentoring strategy into a site-based program.

And, here are links to eMentor/Tutor programs to learn from. Use these in planning for post Covid activities.

How has Pandemic Affected Youth Serving Organizations?

Last August I shared an invitation for youth program leaders to talk to the team at Great Lakes Growth Works, a consulting firm in Michigan, about how the pandemic was affecting them.

They published this blog article on March 15, with their summary of those conversations. Among those interviewed were leaders from Highsight Chicago and A Better Chicago.

Read the blog to see the key takeaways, challenges and supports needed.

Racial Equity Data

Data maps can be used to support decision makers in government, business and philanthropy. However, many maps have been built without a racial equity lens. For many years, I've used the cMap shown below to point to data platforms in my library and to blog articles where I've included maps. I updated it recently to add a section of links to websites that focus on racial equity in data (see node in upper right). These include:

* Tableau Foundation Racial Equity Data Hub - click here

* Urban Institute's Racial Equity Analytics Lab - click here

* We All Count - a project to increase equity in data science - click here

View the concept map here. If you're using maps in blog articles to inform public opinion or build donor support for specific areas, please share you articles on Twitter, Facebook and/or Linkedin.

I keep adding new links to the Tutor/Mentor library and this concept map. One area where I'd like to find better data maps is in mapping of philanthropic and government funding. If you know of such platforms please send me the link.

----------

If we want to help more kids living in poverty areas move through school what do we need to know?

The data from Covid19 and before shows that poverty is a major contributor to the challenges many youth face in moving safely from birth to work. This is not a new revelation. It's been clear for many decades. And while billions of dollars have been spent on education efforts, and on non-school programs, the problem still persists for many kids in many places.

So what are we missing? I think we're missing a comprehensive and on-going strategy. As I've led the Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present) and Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) I've had a lot of time to think about this. I started using visualizations in the 1990s and concept maps in 2005 to share my thinking.

Below is one concept map that shows a sequence of thoughts, starting with "we need organized youth programs in more places" to "we need to find ways to build and sustain public will, and funding, that reaches youth programs in EVERY high poverty neighborhood.

This is just my thinking. I encourage others to create their own concept maps. You can see my entire library at this link.

What are all the things we need to be thinking of is we want youth tutor mentor programs in all high poverty areas of Chicago.

I'm passing on this request from a mentoring Research Project at Johns Hopkins University

"Are you interested in participating in a research study with Johns Hopkins University? We need mentors and mentees from across the U.S. to pilot test our new app for one month! The app is designed to support the mentors of young African American men who have a sexual interest in men. All participants will receive a gift card as well as a chance to win tickets to an event of their choice. Please contact

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

, the Study Coordinator, for more information."

Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.

Resources from Tutor/Mentor:

* List of Chicago area youth Tutor and/or Mentor programs, plus other resources for finding youth programs - click here

* Facebook pages of Chicago area youth programs - click here

* Instagram pages of Chicago area youth programs - click here

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Concept Map library - click here

* Mapping for Justice blog - click here

* Tutor/Mentor Library - This blog article shows short links to each section in Tutor/Mentor library and to concept maps and PDF strategy presentations - click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here

* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here

* Philanthropy and Covid-19: Measuring One Year of Giving. IssueLab report. pdf. click here

* National Mentoring Resource Center - Covid-19 resources - click here

* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - visit site and find activities for youth - click here

* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site, click here; blog - click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here

* Incarceration Reform Resource Center - click here

* ChiHackNight - remote civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see weekly agenda

*Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here

Please help update this cMap and the links in the Tutor/Mentor web library. Just email me with additions or changes.

About this newsletter.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter. Click here.

(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

Thank you for reading and sharing the ideas in this newsletter.

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

April 2021 Tutor/Mentor eNews

April 2021 - Issue 199

Building Network of Support for Youth

As we approach the end of this school year we face uncertainty because of the pandemic, because of unequal access to learning resources and opportunities, and because of many other challenges that face all of us.

In the first graphic below I ask "How can we do this better?" That refers to helping kids in poverty move through school, or to any other problem we're facing.

In the following sections I point to on-line libraries where information can be found and used to innovate local and global solutions.

Use this newsletter as a study guide.

If you are a consistent reader, consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Website

Where can you find ideas?

While I point to the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC web site as a rich resource, within my library I point to other sites which not only are also rich resources, but have more updated, interactive websites, making the information easier to find. Below are a few of those places.

If you know of interactive web libraries that you find useful, please share a link with me on Twitter, Facebook and/or Linkedin. Let's try to draw more users to all of them.

Digital Promise - learning issues

Over 500 public school and district staff members—including teachers, principals, superintendents, and others—from across the U.S. responded to a survey sharing their highest-priority challenges in education. Each circle in this interactive graphic represents a single challenge. Visit the website. Click here.

See blog article where I point to this site.

"Whatever community you are in, you are bound to find something parallel and worth digging into."

That's the premise behind the Education Reimagined organization and website.

Open this link and view the interactive map showing six categories of learning environments, representing ideas that people from anyplace can draw from to improve their own.

See blog article where I point to this site.

World Economic Forum's Strategic Intelligence Map.

This is one of the most extensive, interactive web libraries that I've found recently. It looks like you need to subscribe to use it (not the case a year ago).

However, it's a rich resource. On this page they show the Sustainable Development Goals. Click on any box and go deeper into the library.

See blog article where I point to this site.

Center for American Progress

The graphic above shows the ISSUES page on the Center for American Progress website. Click on any of the categories and the site takes you into articles related to that issue.

If you do search for "Center for American Progress" on the Tutor/Mentor blog you find three articles.

In 2012 I pointed to a blog article about collective impact on their website.

Digital Access and Digital Divide

IDEA 2030 is a research initiative at Tufts University that aims to focus the minds of decision-makers through data-driven insights on inclusive digital economies.

Visit the site and view the webinar held on March 31, 2021. View slides from the webinar (example above) at this link .

View the Digital Divide concept map where I point to this and other resources. click here

"Wondering Why Broadband Access is important to work and learning?"

That's a question educators from around the country are asking in a Shaping.Edu initiative hosted by Arizona State University.

The Shaping.edu group hosts ZOOM events, a Slack channel, and shares on Twitter. Anyone can join them.

See the blog article where I point to this.

Global Issues and Systems Thinking

Sustainable Development Goals

The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere.

The 17 Goals were adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, as part of the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which set out a 15-year plan to achieve the Goals.

See blog article where I point to this.

Systems Thinking offers a way to reach a shared understanding about complex issues.

At this link I point to an article titled "Covid-19 means systems thinking is no longer optional." The article includes excellent descriptions of what systems thinking is and applies this thinking to the Covid-19 pandemic.

See blog article where I applied this thinking to work needed to help kids in poverty areas move through school and into adult lives.

The on-going challenge of funding the work

Any efforts to solve complex problems are more difficult because of the difficult of finding on-going operating dollars. The traditional philanthropy and government grant process causes competition for funding, which is theoretically good, since the best ideas get funded.

However, as I wrote in this article, when multiple organizations doing similar work are needed in many places, such as non-school tutor/mentor programs in Chicago and other cities, a system that only funds a few, and does not encourage (and fund) constant improvement, reaches only a few of the people who need help.

Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.

Resources from Tutor/Mentor:

* List of Chicago area youth Tutor and/or Mentor programs, plus other resources for finding youth programs - click here

* Facebook pages of Chicago area youth programs - click here

* Instagram pages of Chicago area youth programs - click here

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Concept Map library - click here

* Mapping for Justice blog -click here

* Tutor/Mentor Library - This blog article shows short links to each section in Tutor/Mentor library and to concept maps and PDF strategy presentations - click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here

* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here

While I point to the same sites each month, they update on their sites regularly.

* Philanthropy and Covid-19: Measuring One Year of Giving. Issue Lab report. pdf. click here

* National Mentoring Resource Center - Covid-19 resources - click here

* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - visit site and find activities for youth - click here

* Strengthening Chicago Youth web site, click here; blog -click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here

* Incarceration Reform Resource Center -click here

* ChiHackNight - remote civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see weekly agenda

*Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here

Please help update this cMap and the links in the Tutor/Mentor web library. Just email me with additions or changes.

About this newsletter.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter. Click here.

(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

Thank you for reading and sharing the ideas in this newsletter.

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

May 2021 Tutor/Mentor eNews

May 2021 - Issue 200

Celebrate Tutor/Mentor Programs

For the past few weeks I've been seeing posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram from various Chicago area youth tutor and/or mentor programs that invite people to participate in on-line year-end celebrations and that draw attention to program participants and graduates.

I point to a few of these in the graphics below and provide links to my lists of programs, so that you can visit their websites, join in the celebrations, and become a volunteer and/or donor to help them repeat this cycle again in the 2021-22 school year.

Use this newsletter as a study guide.

If you are a consistent reader, consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Website

Year-end celebrations

Below I show Twitter posts from Chicago Lights, Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, Highsight and Bottom Line. These are just a few that I've seen from Chicago volunteer-based tutor and/or mentor programs who post regularly on Twitter.

I attended the Highsight event on Zoom. Others are still upcoming. Having led a tutor/mentor program with seniors graduating every year, I really appreciated the stories told by Highsight seniors and alumni.

See the Twitter list pointing to Chicago area programs Click here.

Visit @tutormentorteam on Twitter and scroll through my posts to see how I ReTweet announcements from many Chicago programs.

Chicago Tutor and/or Mentor Program Links Library updated

Currently there are 186 organizations listed in the web library I started building via the Tutor/Mentor Connection, back in 1994. Each year I open each link to make sure it is working, to try to see if the program is still operating, to update myself on the work being done and how the organization shares information on its websites. I just completed that process.

As I did this I created JPG images of the home pages of a few programs and shared these on Twitter, along with a link to the organization's website. This is part of the long-term strategy that I stated in 1993, aimed at increasing visibility for every tutor/mentor program in the region, with the goal of drawing a more consistent flow of dollars and volunteers to each program, based on the information they share on their websites.

I maintain three lists to help draw attention to Chicago area programs. The main one is on the Tutor/Mentor Connection website. Click here to view.
I also plot locations of these organizations on a map of Chicago, which you can find at this link.

I also host a list of the Facebook pages of most of these organizations - click here

And I host a list of Instagram pages - click here

Links to programs shown below: Chicago Scholars, Cluster Tutoring, Blessed Sacrament Youth Center, Tutoring Chicago.

More posts by Chicago programs on Twitter

Programs shown: Actuarial Foundation, Breakthrough, Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, MapsCorps These are just a few of the youth tutor, mentor & learning programs serving Chicago.

Help Me Maintain and Share this Information

Anyone who has a computer can spend time viewing the lists of Chicago area tutoring and/or mentoring programs that I hosts.

That means individuals, or groups, could adopt sections of the city and suburbs, and build a deeper understanding of what programs exist and what they do. They could check my list for accuracy, or to tell me to add and/or delete or to fix broken links.

They can also create and share images to help build visibility and draw volunteers to programs.

You don't need to ask for permission. Just start doing it. I'll know you are taking this role from your email messages to me, and your posts on social media.

How Well Is USA Achieving the Global Goals? Poorly.

I watch several ZOOM events monthly. One using the hashtag #InTheRed provided information showing performance of every state in the USA against each of the 17 Global Goals. See data and view webinar on this website.

View blog articles where I point to several on-line events from the past month.

May 6 article - click here

April 1 article - click here

Does your city have someone doing what I do?
If not, borrow from my history and create your own
Tutor/Mentor Connection type strategy.

Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.

Recent Tutor/Mentor Blog articles:

Enough Is Enough. Adopt this Strategy - click here

How Would YOU Visualize these Ideas? - click here

How will Changing Demographics Affect Chicago Tutor and/or Mentor Programs? - click here

Follow Negative News with "The Rest of the Story' - click here

Other Resources from Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC websites:

* Planning resources, such as "How to Start a Tutor/Mentor Program - click here

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Concept Map library - click here

* Mapping for Justice blog - click here

* Tutor/Mentor Library - This blog article shows short links to each section in Tutor/Mentor library and to concept maps and PDF strategy presentations - click here

* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network -click here

* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here

* Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles - click here

Please help update this cMap and the links in the Tutor/Mentor web library. Just email me with additions or changes.

Chicagoland Resources & Announcements

* We Will Chicago - citywide planning initiative - click here

Future Leaders in Planning - CMAP Summer Programs Opportunity for Youth. Apply by June 11 - click here

* What is Wireless Industry Doing to Connect Kids? Learn from CITA website - click here

* Turning America's Digital Divide into Digital Dividends. Visit Digital Planet website. click here

* Philanthropy and Covid-19: Measuring One Year of Giving. IssueLab report. pdf. click here

* National Mentoring Resource Center - click here

* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - visit site and find activities for youth - click here

* Strengthening Chicago Youth website, click here; view blog - click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Thrive Chicago collaboration - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here

* Incarceration Reform Resource Center - click here

* ChiHackNight - remote civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see weekly agenda

About this newsletter.

Encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter. Click here.

(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email)

Thank you for reading and sharing the ideas in this newsletter.

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Page 3 of 21

This video shows my commitment to helping tutor/mentor programs grow in all high poverty areas.

Use PayPal or Credit Card to send your contribution to support Dan Bassill and his work. Thank you for your help!

Mentoring Kids to Careers - Strategies and Leadership Commitment needed - click here

4-Part Strategy to Help Kids Through School and Into Careers - piloted since 1993 - click here

Growth of volunteers in a long-term tutor/mentor program. Showing work by interns from the University of Michigan and Northwestern - click here

Volunteer involvement in on-going tutor/mentor program is a form of service-learning. This video shows work of interns from South Korea and Northwestern University - click here

Understanding "push-pull" as part of a tutor/mentor program strategy for helping youth through school - click here

Collective actions to support urban youth via organized, volunteer-based tutor, mentor and learning programs - click here

Visualize how resource providers and policy-makers might be more proactive in supporting on-going tutor/mentor programs. Role of Influence - click here

"Enough is Enough" If we want to reduce urban violence on-going investments must be made - click here

"Here to There". Visualize steps needed for building and sustaining programs that help youth through school and into careers. click here

Homework help resources for students, parents, volunteers, educators, library on this website. click here

This video shows universities throughout Chicago where Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conferences were hosted - click here

Helping tutor/mentor programs grow - see how interns have helped and how this is shared in the Tutor/Mentor blog - click here

Take a tour of this "It takes a village" video. What's it mean for youth in high poverty areas of cities like Chicago? - click here

Tour of Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC website (www.tutormentorexchange.net) created by Wona Chang, a 2015 intern from South Korea. click here

Introduction to T/MC OHATS (Organizational history and tracking system). Active on this site from 2002 to 2014 - click here

Helping volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs grow in high poverty areas of Chicago - Dan Bassill, 2012 panel discussion - click here

Mentor role in a larger strategy of community and youth development - click here

What is poverty? Dan Bassill in 2009 panel discussion - click here

Thank you to Terry Elliott and others who read my blog articles, view my videos, and then create and share your own interpretation and understanding through your on media.click here

Helping nonprofit organizations grow to be good, then great, over many years. View this 2017 reflection - click here

The challenges facing leaders of nonprofit organization. Executive Director panel from 2011 Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference.click here for part 1. View part 2 - click here. View part 3 - click here

Introduction of Tutor/Mentor Connection at 1997 Presidents' Summit for America's Future - click here

Learn about the Tutor/Mentor Connection's year-round program support strategy, piloted since 1993. click here

Value of Tutor/Mentor Program - Alumni Update - click here

A Knowledge Network - created in 1993click here

Mentoring Interview with Anthony Brogdon, Detroit, MI. 3-2022 click here

Interview with Valerie Leonard of NonProfit Utopia, re T/MI use of visualizations. click here

An Interview with Tutor/Mentor Institute's Daniel Bassill, 2014 by Terry Elliott. click here

Sharing Tutor/Mentor strategies with Aliyu B. Solomon, from Nigeria. 4-2022 - click here

How to Build a Culture of Empathy - 2012 talk with Edwin Rutsch click here

If volunteer-based tutoring/mentoring is of value, how do we reach more youth in areas of persistent poverty?click here

This videos describes Dan Bassill's history of involvement in volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs - click here

Animation showing role athletes & celebrities can take to support youth-serving programs throughout the cities where they perform - click here

Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference: What People Say. 2007 - click here

Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference Video - 2010click here

Tutor/Mentor Connection Logic Model. If you agree, adopt the strategy - click here

Ask elected leaders to appy this strategy to help reduce violence in Chicago - click here

Planning needed/use of maps to combat violence in Chicago - click here

Want to help tutor/mentor programs grow? Help build attention for youth serving programs - click here

Use this "Rest of the Story" media strategy to draw attention to youth serving programs in high need areas - click here

Example of "Rest of the Story" strategy- North Lawndale - click here

Form a Tutor/Mentor Connection research/action program at your college/university - click here

30-year (1993 to 2024) history of reaching out to universities. A long road. Learn from our examples - click here

Use this strategic plan, created by DePaul University students, to build your own university leadership effort - click here

This shows a role college fraternities and sororities can take to help build a tutor/mentor program pipeline to careers - click here

How faith communities can help tutor/mentor programs grow in more places - click here

A strategic plan hospitals can take to adopt the Tutor/Mentor Connection strategy. Use for planning - click here

Establish a Tutor/Mentor Connection strategy in the legal community. Use this for planning - click here

Strategy for elected leaders, using one Illinois Congressional district as an example - click here

Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.

May 2021 - Issue 200

Does your city have someone doing what I do?If not, borrow from my history and create your own Tutor/Mentor Connection type strategy.

Use PayPal or Credit Card to send your contribution to support
Dan Bassill and his work. Thank you for your help!

Thank you to Terry Elliott and others who read my blog articles, view my videos, and then create and share your own interpretation and understanding through your on media.
click here

The challenges facing leaders of nonprofit organization. Executive Director panel from 2011 Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference.
click here for part 1.

View part 2 - click here. View part 3 - click here

A Knowledge Network - created in 1993
click here

If volunteer-based tutoring/mentoring is of value, how do we reach more youth in areas of persistent poverty?
click here

Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference Video - 2010
click here

Does your city have someone doing what I do?
If not, borrow from my history and create your own
Tutor/Mentor Connection type strategy.