March 2020 Tutor/Mentor eNews

March 2020 - Issue 188
As USA enters a period of great uncertainty,

use the Internet to stay connected.
The ideas shared in this monthly newsletter can be used by youth organization leaders, resource providers, political leaders, universities, volunteers and youth to help mentor-rich programs thrive in all of the neighborhoods where they are most needed.

If you are a consistent reader,consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Resources for out-of-the box learning

The CoronaVirus crisis has forced schools and non-school programs in Chicago and elsewhere to close for an indefinite period of time.

I'm seeing a tremendous outpouring of ideas posted on social media and have added a few sites to the Tutor/Mentor web library. While I encourage you to spend time getting to know what I host, I also encourage you to share what you're learning, and learn from others, by taking an active role on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIN.

Below I show a few links to research.
 
In the Homework Help section are links to a wide range of learning resources.

In the learning blogs section are articles focused on on-line learning. A few links to look at are:

* Resources from Afterschool Alliance - click here
* What if my school suddenly closes - click here
* Storyline - Actors reading books - click here
* eLearning eNcyclopedia - click here
* Ideas for teaching on-line - click here
* Recommended Learning Resources on YouTube - click here
We're entering a time of great uncertainty.

Will this be the repeat of the 1930s or the 2008 recession? What will be the funding streams available to support non-school youth programs after they re-open again, in a few weeks (optimistically) or a few months? While this is an internal conversation between leaders, board members, volunteers and donors, it needs to be an on-line conversation, connecting people from many sectors and many places.

The questions I post in the images below will still be questions in a few months. You can find me in any of the social media spaces shown on this page. If you're aware of these conversations please share the link with me.

 

What


Happens


After the


Pandemic?

Resources to use to help youth
in your community.
* Web resources to help you find Chicago Tutor and/or Mentor Programs; use to find programs in other places, too. - click here

* Resources for fund raising - click here

* Philanthropy articles on Tutor/Mentor blog - click here

* Social Justice, Poverty, Inequality, Housing resource links - click here

* Blog article showing links to sections of Tutor/Mentor web library - click here

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

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

* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here
(This site aggregates links,  showing many blogs under similar topic categories.)
.
* 2020 On The Table event hosted by Chicago Community Trust will repeat in May. Due to COVID19, this event may be canceled. Watch the website for details.

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

* MENTOR Illinois. - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center - click here

* City of Chicago, CPS, links - click here

* Chicago Public School Locator - click here

* Healthy Chicago 2.0 - click here

* ChiHackNight - civic technology meet-up; will be virtual event, every Tuesday in Chicago  -see agenda

*Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here
(Please help update this cMap.)
Recent Tutor/Mentor blog articles:

* Use Twitter to find #learnathome resources -click here
* Find Tutor, Mentor programs in Chicago area (see graphic above) - click here

* Connecting Virtually During COVID-19 - click here

* Reaching k-12 youth in high poverty areas- on-going challenge - click here

* Steps to Start a Tutor/Mentor program - click here

* Sharing Birth-to-Work Graphics - click here

* If You're in the Room, are You Being Heard? - click here

* Building Public Attention and Support.click here

* Maps, Planning & Network Building - click here

* Tutor/Mentor articles on Tumblr - this is a collection of key concepts - click here

* Tutor/Mentor Exchange on Wordpress - click here
 
Recent Additions to Tutor/Mentor Library

* Creating Networks of Privilege (see image above) - click here

* Afterschool Development video - click here

* Network Analysis for Change - click here

* Radical Changes in Philanthropy - 2020 Report - click here

* America's 100 Most Disadvantaged Communities - click here

* What We Get Wrong About Closing the Racial Wealth Gap - click here

* Understanding Deep Disadvantage in America - click here

* Understanding bridging, bonding and linking social capital - click here

The Resource Links library was during the past year. Every link (more than 2000) was opened to make sure it works, or updated if needed. New links are added weekly.

View video that shows how to find recent links added to web library.
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

Why? Read this article to understand 20+ year history and purpose of Tutor/Mentor Connection, Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC and this newsletter. Read more articles like this.

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others,use this link.

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)

May 2020 Tutor/Mentor eNews

May 2020 - Issue 189

How Are Youth Programs Staying Connected

to
Youth, Ideas, Resources and Each Other?

I hope that all who read this newsletter are doing well and offer condolences to those who have lost loved ones to Covid19, and to those struggling due to lost jobs. I read many articles about Covid19 and within many is hope for a better future.
 
The ideas shared in this monthly newsletter can be used by youth organization leaders, resource providers, political leaders, universities, volunteers and youth to help mentor-rich programs thrive in all of the neighborhoods where they are most needed.Many may need a lot of help to restart in coming months. More will be needed in many places.
 
If you are a consistent reader,consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
How Many ZOOM meetings have you been part of over the past 30 days?

The CoronaVirus crisis has created new ways for people to connect and ZOOM meetings are one of the most popular.

While I've been active on the Internet for more than 20 years many of my peers have not been as active. That's changing. I'm now re-connecting to people who I've met in past years through conferences and events I've hosted or participated in, but who I've had few one-on-one conversations after these events.

This link points to one meeting I was part of.

On April 25th I was part of a ZOOM meeting with more than 100 other Chicago youth program leaders which was organized by a youth initiative of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's office. Visit this website to connect with this initiative, and to be part of future on-line meetings..

What about you? What ZOOM meetings have you been part of? Join me@tutormentorteam on Twitter and share your stories.
Here's a few resources to help connect youth to learning and on-line mentoring during Covid19.

In the Homework Help section of the Tutor/Mentor web library are dozens of links to a wide range of learning resources.

Below are a few examples:

*Teach from Home - hub of information and tools to help teachers during Covid19 - click here
* Resources from Afterschool Alliance - click her
* eLearning eNcyclopedia - click here
* Genius Hour - get your kids involved - click here
* Ideas for teaching on-line - click here
* Recommended Learning Resources on YouTube - click here
Tutor/Mentor web library is being upgraded and many sections may not be available for a few months.

In this blog article I've posted a few concept maps that point to different web resources that will still be available.

For instance, the concept map at the right can be used to find places to volunteer in Chicago and beyond.

I encourage you to use these maps, along with blog articles that I write weekly, to connect with ideas and resources that you can use to help kids in your family, neighborhood and/or community.

Is your organization raising money during the May 5, 2020 #GivingTuesday event?

The graphic at the left is one of many you'll find on the Tutor/Mentor Blog, visualizing the long-term support youth need to move safely from birth to work.

Campaigns like Giving Tuesday can help raise money for organizations doing this work, but they need to be participating. Learn more at givingtuesday.org
Resources to use to help youth in your community.
Recent Tutor/Mentor blog articles:

* Use concept maps in planning past Covid19 - click here

* Find Tutor, Mentor programs in Chicago area - click here

* Reaching out to Universities - a Virtual Learning Opportunity - click here

* Youth Tutor/Mentor Programs after Covid19 - click here

* Lack of technology access highlighted during Covid19 - click here

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Concept Map library - click here

* Mapping for Justice blog - click here

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

* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here
.
* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - click here

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

* MENTOR Illinois. - click here

* To & Through Project web site - click here

* Incarceration Reform Digital Resource Center - click here

* City of Chicago, CPS, links - click here

* Chicago Public School Locator - click here

* Healthy Chicago 2.0 - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here

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


*Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles-click here
(Please help update this cMap.)
Look at what some Chicago youth programs are sharing:
 
Mikva Challenge (at right) shares daily virtual assignments and will host Digital Dialogues in May - click here and scroll to bottom of home page.
 
WITS Chicago- shares resources for empowering readers at home - click here
 
Cluster Tutoring blog shows "how kids can learn while stuck at home" - click here
 
Tutoring Chicago shares e-learning resources - click here
 
Peak Chicago is hosting a virtual breakfast on May 6th - click here
 
I learn much about what Chicago tutor/mentor programs are doing from what they post on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.
 
Here's my Facebook list of programs - pick which ones you want to follow. click here

Here's my Twitter list. It includes more than just Chicago - click here

Here's my LinkedIN page. Follow me and see posts that I'm seeing. click here
 
 
Other Links you might find useful

21 Simple Things NPOs can do during Covid19 lockdown - click here

Spotivity - helping youth connect to activities in Chicago - click here

A Better Chicago - Fighting Poverty with Opportunity - click here

Connect Chicago -HS Students created this eTutoring program to help other kids in Chicago - click here

Skoll World Forum- This year was a virtual event, with dozens of ZOOM presentations. See archive.- click here

Social Movements in and beyond Covid19 - click here

How Communities Work Together- new study -click here

 
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.

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others,use this link.

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)
 

June 2020 eNews

June 2020 - Issue 190
Protest Marches, Responses to Pandemic. Educating and Mentoring. Challenges we must meet in 2020.
In my last newsletter at the end of April I offered condolences to those who lost loved ones to Covid19 and to those struggling due to lost jobs. Since then that pain has continued to grow and the impact on many families from having schools and non-school programs closed has added to the suffering.
The murder of George Floyd has added to this and ignited pent up rage and anger that is still growing with protest marches throughout the world.
The uncertainty of what the future holds is something that we all fear.
Yet, there is great hope that this time, things will be different.
The ideas and resources shared in this monthly newsletter can be used by youth organization leaders, resource providers, political leaders, universities, volunteers and youth to help mentor-rich 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
Entering 2020 we faced a literal tsunami of significant challenges. Then in March the Covid19 pandemic burst on our shores, closing businesses, school & non-school programs and taking thousands of lives.
Just as we appeared to be getting a control over the health crisis, a new public health emergency emerged, with the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. This with countless previous acts of police and institutional violence against Black Americans, burst a dam of pent up rage and for the past two weeks people in the US and all over the world have been marching and demanding change.
There are no simple, short-term solutions.
Each of the issues on the graphic above is a complex problem, requiring the involvement of many people over many years.
Added together it's a wicked complex problem requiring a systems thinking approach. What's that? Read what I wrote in this blog article.
I post articles weekly. I hope you'll follow, read, then share them with others.
What can you do? Spend time learning.
With so many people working from home the number of on-line webinars and conferences has exploded. I spend time in 3-4 ZOOM meetings a week, sometimes 2-3 in a single day!
In many people are asking "what can I do" and the most frequent answer is "Educate yourself. Spend time learning." This is an especially important message for White people trying to understand issues of racism and White privilege.
This June 2020 Poverty Narrative on-line conference is just one place you can learn from.
Share what you are reading and watching.
The graphic at the left visualizes the role every person can take to share what they learn with people in their various networks.
You can use Twitter, LinkedIN, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or any other media you're comfortable with.
However, read something every day. Share something every day.
I'm on Twitter @tutormentorteam. Follow & connect with my network.
The Tutor/Mentor web library is being updated, so instead of pointing you to sections of the library i'm going to list a few websites that you might visit.
Understand long history of racism in America
  • 43 books on racism for adults and kids. From Chicago SunTimes - click here
  • Anti-Racism books recommended in MiddleWeb article - click here
  • Police Violence videos on Twittter. Aggregated list. - click here
  • 1619 Project - NY Times - click here
  • How we Rise: Policy solutions to upend structural racism and create a more equitable society for all - click here
  • 11 things to do besides Say "This Has to Stop" in the wake of police brutality - click here
  • A history of race and racism in America - click here
  • Advancing Racial Equity with State Tax Policy - click here
  • Digital mapping of racism and segregation in America - click here
Fixing broken election and political system
  • Expanding Voting Rights - Issue Brief from Reclaim the American Dream - click here
  • Fixing our broken political system. New book. click here
  • Education is over....though provoking article - click here
  • Race and the Schooling of Black Americans. This 1992 article illustrates how little has changed over the past 30 years - click here
Challenges of poverty, Covid19, and the education system
  • 9 ways poverty hurts education - click here
  • Basic needs and Covid19 - a collection of articles - click here
  • Digital Education Post Covid19 - PDF- click here
  • Chasing the American Dream. Poverty and Opportunity in America - click here
  • Closing the Racial Wealth Gap in America - click here
  • Our Equitable Future. Roadmap for the Chicago region - click here
  • Race, Racism and Health - Examining the connections - click here
  • Zinn Education Project - teaching people's history - click here
The above are just a few of the links in the Tutor/Mentor Web library. You can access the library at this link. (for the next few weeks you might see two versions of the library as I'm transitioning to a new hosting format.)
My map and list of Chicago area Tutor/Mentor programs - click here
Here's my Facebook list of programs - pick which ones you want to follow. - click here
Here's my Twitter list. It includes more than just Chicago - click here
Here's my LinkedIN page. Follow me and see posts that I'm seeing. - click here
Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.
Recent Tutor/Mentor blog articles:
* Athletes can take the lead - click here
* After the riots, do the planning - click here
* Looking back over 45 years of involvement - click here
* Memorial Day - Just don't forget. - click here
* How do we turn participation map into collective impact map? click here
* Mentoring as Part of Larger Strategy - click here
* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here
* Concept Map library - click here
* Mapping for Justice blog - click here
* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here
* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here
* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - 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
* City of Chicago, CPS, links - click here
* Chicago Public School Locator - click here
* Healthy Chicago 2.0 - click here
* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here
* ChiHackNight - civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see agenda
* Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles - click here
(Please help update this cmap.)
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.
If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.
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)

Summer 2020 eNews

Summer 2020 - Issue 191
On-Line Learning Resources:
For youth, parents, teachers, volunteers.
As spring turns to summer and we soon will be sending kids back to school, and to non-school tutor and mentor programs, the nation faces great uncertainty. Will learning be on-line? How will volunteer tutors and mentors connect with students and provide extra support?

This uncertainty is compounded by poverty, racial and economic inequalities, the global climate crisis and an upcoming national election.

While you can do a web search to learn more about any of these issues, I've been aggregating links in a web library that is free to all.
The ideas and resources shared in this monthly newsletter can be used by youth organization leaders, resource providers, political leaders, universities, volunteers and youth to help mentor-rich 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

 

What's Working? What Challenges? Join this GrowthWorks Conversation.

Read this blog article to see the scope and purpose and volunteer to be interviewed.

I've connected to many former volunteers through social media. One is Phil Roos, who leads the GrowthWorks consulting firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Since April Phil's company has been holding consumer conversations to learn how people are dealing with Covid19. These are shared on their website.

Now the team is interested in talking with leaders of volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs in Chicago, Detroit and other places.

If you'd like to be interviewed, please contact GrowthWorks directly (using email in the blog article) or email Dan Bassill at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Web library updated.

I finished updating the Tutor/Mentor web library in mid June.

Since then I've updated links in all of my concept maps (see cMap library). I've also updated links in this blog article, which I created several years ago to serve as a resource anyone can use to find links I point to regularly, as well as links to every sub section in the library.

Part of that article, shown at the left, includes links to the list of Chicago area youth tutor and/or mentor programs that I've hosted since 1993.

As school starts use this to identify and connect with programs in different parts of the Chicago region.

 

 
 
Preparing for new school year

It looks like most schools will offer a combination of in-school, face-to-face teaching and on-line learning. Much has been learned since everyone turned to on-line learning in March, and much more needs to be learned to make this effective for every student, especially those in high poverty areas where access to digital learning resources is one of the major barriers. Here are three sections of the Tutor/Mentor library with resources for you.

# Homework help library - click here
# Educator blogs and conversations about learning - click here
# Digital Divide links - click here
Connect and Learn from others using Twitter #Hashtags

The graphic at the left shows one section of a concept map I've used for a few years to keep track of Twitter conversations that I value. This section points to discussions among educators.

Since on-line learning is new to many, and not so new to some, being able to join these conversations and draw ideas that you can apply to your own eLearning, tutoring & teaching is a way to dramatically expand your tool kit. Spend some time getting to know these groups then pick a few to visit once or twice a week.

I'm on Twitter@tutormentorteam. I look forward to connecting with you.
Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.
Recent Tutor/Mentor blog articles:

* Birth-to-Work - what's needed? - click here

* Dig Deeper into Social Capital Thinking - click here

* Examples of remote learning - click here

* Creating Economic Justice - Opportunity for All - click here

* Helping Youth Tutor/Mentor Programs Grow - click here

* Time Right for Greater Business Involvement? - click here

* Navigating Through Information Libraries - click here

* Where I've been connecting with others - click here

* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Concept Map library - click here

* Mapping for Justice blog - click here

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

* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here
* National Mentoring Resource Center - Covid-19 resources - click here

* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - 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

* City of Chicago, CPS, links - click here

* Chicago Public School Locator - click here

* Healthy Chicago 2.0 - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here

* ChiHackNight - remote civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see agenda
(view video of Cook County Public Defender from 8-11-2020)

*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.
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.

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others,use this link.

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)
 

Sept 2020 eNews

September 2020 - Issue 192
New School Year Brings New
and Old Challenges
 
For the past six months we've all been trying to figure out how to live our lives, help others, and earn a living within the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
This is new to most of us so connecting with others and learning from their own experiences is more important than ever. I encourage anyone involved with a youth serving organization to make a consistent effort to share what you are learning and challenges you face.
The ideas and resources shared in this monthly newsletter 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
Chicago Schools Re-Opening Plan
 
Since 1993 I've maintained a list of Chicago area non-school tutor, mentor and learning programs with two goals:
 
a) I can help them attract volunteers and donors;
b) I can help them learn from each other
 
I follow more than 100 of these organizations on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin, but few post regularly on all these platforms. The image at the left is from a Christopher House post on Facebook, where they share this link to the Chicago Public Schools Re-Opening Guide.
 
What are students telling us?
 
iMentor operates in Chicago and other cities and uses its Facebook and Twitter posts to share what it is learning from its students and volunteers during #covid19. Click here to view this post on Twitter.
 
Click here to view this same post on Facebook.
 
It's not possible in a newsletter like this to feature more than a few examples of what youth organizations are posting. Thus, you need to develop your own on-going learning habits so you can find this information, learn from it, and share it with your own program network
Share stories of alumni success
 
The graphic at the right is a post on Twitter by HighSight, which has operated since early 1990s. This post shows work of one of their alumni, who leads a different youth serving organization in Chicago.
 
Drawing attention, volunteers and donors to a non-profit youth program is difficult, but on-going work. Posting to social media is one low-cost way to tell your story. ReTweeting or Liking these posts is a virtual volunteer role that anyone can take.
 
I'm on Twitter @tutormentorteam. I look forward to connecting with you.
Make learning part of the culture of your organization, not just what you do to help youth.
 
While I host a library of websites that anyone can draw from I follow many education blogs where there is a constant stream of good ideas being shared. I point to these in my newsletters and social media. Others can do the same, drawing their own network of supporters to this information.
 
Here are some links to review:
 
# Homework help library - click here
# Educator & learning resource blogs - click here
# Digital Divide links - click here
# Understanding issues cMap - click here
Are you part of the GrowthWorks Conversation?
 
Last month I posted this blog article inviting Chicago area youth program leaders to be part of a consumer conversation hosted by the GrowthWorks consulting firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Read the blog article to learn more.
 
If you'd like to be interviewed, please contact GrowthWorks directly (using email in the blog article) or email Dan Bassill This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.
 
Recent Tutor/Mentor blog articles:
 
* Our Children Need Your Help - Volunteer Recruitment Campaign History - click here
 
* Constant Challenge. How Can We Do this Better? - click here
 
* Athletes Taking A Lead - click here
 
* Call Goes Out for Volunteers - click here
 
* Help Build Chicago Tutor/Mentor Program Knowledge Base - click here
 
* Building Public Will - click here
 
* Make Long-term tutor, mentor & learning programs available in more places - click here
 
 
* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here
 
* Concept Map library - click here
 
* Mapping for Justice blog - click here
 
* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here
 
* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here
* National Mentoring Resource Center - Covid-19 resources - click here
 
* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - 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

* City of Chicago, CPS, links - click here
 
* Chicago Public School Locator - click here
 
* Healthy Chicago 2.0 - click hereRead Healthy Chicago 2025 report - click here
 
* Chicago Learning Exchange - click here
 
* ChiHackNight - remote civic technology meet-up; every Tuesday in Chicago - see 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.
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.

Trying to understand purpose of this newsletter? Read this "What the Heck am I Trying to Do" article -click here

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.

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)

 

October 2020 Tutor Mentor eNews

October 2020 - Issue 193
What's on your Holiday List?
Everyone's still dealing with Covid19 and the stress of the November election. The impact on youth and families living in high poverty areas has been even more severe than elsewhere.
 
This is especially true for school-age kids who are forced to learn from home, using inadequate technology, with too little social/emotional connections with peers or supportive adults.
 
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, please consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
 
List of Chicago Area Youth Tutor, Mentor and Learning Programs
 
Since 1993 I've maintained a list of Chicago area non-school tutor, mentor and learning programs, and their websites, with two goals:
 
a) I can help them attract volunteers and donors;

b) I can help them learn from each other
 
I point to this list from my blog, my websites and using social media. For this to have value, programs need to keep websites updated. Volunteers can help them do this.
List of Facebook Pages of Chicago Area Tutor, Mentor and learning programs.
 
Many programs are posting information to Facebook. If you are following them these will show up on your timeline. Maybe.
 
I've created a list pointing to the Facebook pages of more than 100 programs that are on my primary list (see above). Using this you can find programs and click the link to see what they are posting any time you want.
 
If many people do this it will help draw attention, volunteers and donors to many different organizations.
Chicago Youth Programs - Twitter List
 
Most of the organizations in my main list have a Twitter account, though too many do not post to this regularly.
 
I maintain this list, which enables anyone to scroll through posts daily to see what information programs are sharing, and to go to the program's website to learn more.
 
Most Chicago media use Twitter. Thus if many youth programs are posting, and others are re-Tweeting, we attract media attention.
 
I'm on Twitter @tutormentorteam.
Learn Role of Intermediaries (blue box)
 
This article shows the role of Tutor/Mentor Connection/Institute, LLC as an intermediary, connecting people with information, like our lists of Chicago programs, and encouraging people to use that information to help tutor, mentor and learning programs reach K-12 youth in more parts of the Chicago region (and other cities if they duplicate the T/MC).
 
There are others filling this intermediary role. I point to them with this concept map, and this list of FB pages.
Help mentor-rich non-school tutor, mentor and learning programs grow.
 
At the right is one of many graphics you'll find on the http://tutormentor.blogspot.com site that visualize a goal of helping kids through school with an extra network of adults taking roles as tutors, mentors, coaches, etc.
 
I encourage the Intermediaries I point at to build their own resource lists and to add links to my sites and each other. I encourage everyone to encourage donors to visit youth program websites and use the information shared to make funding decisions.
Below are resources to use to help youth in your community.
Recent Tutor/Mentor blog articles:
 
* Understand Racism, Using a Map - click here
 
* Supporting America's Mayors - click here
 
* Digging Deeper into T/MC resources - click here
 
* Our Children Need Your Help - Volunteer Recruitment Campaign History - click here
 
* Recruiting Sports Stars as Leaders - click here
 
 
* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here
 
* Concept Map library - click here
 
* Mapping for Justice blog - click here
 
* Hashtags I follow on Twitter. Use to expand your own network - click here
 
* Blogs I follow using Inoreader - click here
* National Mentoring Resource Center - Covid-19 resources - click here
 
* MyChiMyFuture - City of Chicago - 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 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.
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.

Trying to understand purpose of this newsletter? Read this "What the Heck am I Trying to Do" article -click here

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.

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 this newsletter.
 

Nov. 2020 Tutor Mentor eNews

Nov-Dec 2020 - Issue 194

Never Stop Learning. Never Stop Helping.
 
This holiday season will be much lonelier for many due to Covid19. But for many there will be ZOOM family gatherings and new ways to connect and learn. However, 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 holiday season 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 please consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Learn from others during this holiday season.

Covid19 makes the 2020 holiday season one of isolation and remote learning for everyone. I wish all to stay safe, and to stay engaged.

Since 1993 I've maintained a list of Chicago area non-school tutor, mentor and learning programs, and their websites. Many are sharing ways they are connecting youth and volunteers. Visit their websites. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter. As you see good ideas, borrow them. Share your own. Make this a gift of giving during this holiday season.
Dig into tutor/mentor web library

* Homework & learning help - click here
* Poverty, racism, inequality - click here
* Impact of Covid19; What's next? - click here
* Digital divide research & articles - click here
* Hub of information and tools to help teachers during Covid19 - click here
* Resources from Afterschool Alliance - click her
* eLearning eNcyclopedia - click here
* Genius Hour - get kids involved - click here
* Ideas for teaching on-line - click here
* Recommended Learning Resources on YouTube - click here
What I'm sharing

The graphic at the left is from a presentation I watched recently. The topic was "Talent Retention in Low Status Communities." I shared this video in this blog article.

In another article, I pointed to sites that are aggregating information, similar to what Tutor/Mentor Connection has been doing. In this I also pointed to a panel discussion on this week's College Promise Career's Institute.
Don't "Ride By" Poverty. Get Involved.

I've used maps since 1993 with a goal that people who commute to and from work through Chicago's high poverty neighborhoods would begin to search map-directories and find youth programs along their routes that they could support with time, talent, advocacy, youth jobs and dollars.

Here's a recent article where I included this graphic. During this holiday season and beyond, get to know programs along your commute, then share with others. Help build support for all of them.

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.
*GivingTuesday 2020will be Dec. 1, 2020. Click here for details.  NOTE: There will not be an #ILGive campaign hosted by Forefront this year.

* 2021 National Mentoring Summit will be a remote conference this year. Early bird registration fee is $75.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 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.

Dan's 74th Birthday
click here

Fund Tutor/Mentor Institute
click here

If the newsletter does not format correctly in your email, or if you want to return to it for future reading or to share with others, use this link.

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.
 

Dec 2020 Tutor/Mentor News

Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC - Dec 2020 - Issue 195

Wishing You Hope, Health and Happiness
 
As this year comes to an end we face an uncertain future due to the pandemic, political instability, climate change and a wide range of complex problems.

Our greatest strength is our ability to find solutions and help each other. Best wishes to all as we head into 2021.
Spend time browsing the ideas and resources I'm sharing and use them in 2021 to help youth tutor, mentor and learning programs reach k-12 youth in more places.

If you are a consistent reader please consider a contribution to help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Mobilize your network. Draw support to every youth program in your city.

I've used maps for 27 years to draw attention and resources to every high poverty area of Chicago and to youth tutor/mentor programs in those areas. I encourage others to do the same.

Open this concept map and find links to my library of Chicago tutor and/or mentor programs, along with other libraries that anyone can use to find programs throughout the USA. Visit websites, learn what programs do, and then pick one, or more, to support with year-end and on-going donations.
Dig into tutor/mentor web library

The concept map at the right diagrams one set of links in the Tutor/Mentor library. Throughout the year I encourage you to point your volunteers and donors to this page and encourage them to learn more about where and why youth tutor/mentor programs are most needed, along with other challenges that need to be addressed to help reduce poverty and create greater opportunity for all in America.

Visit this blog article and find links to every section of the Tutor/Mentor library, plus to pdf essays, concept maps and more resources.

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

 
Recent blog articles from Tutor/Mentor:

* Duplicate Tutor/Mentor Connection - click here

* Creating a Service-Learning Organization - click here

* Roadmap for Solving Problems - click here

* Violence in Chicago. The Rest of the Story - click here

Other recommended pages:
* Strategy PDFs by Tutor/Mentor - click here
* Concept Map library - click here
* Mapping for Justice blog - 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

*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.
Help me help youth tutor/mentor programs.

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.


Dan Bassill's 74th Birthday is December 19- click here and help him celebrate.

Fund Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC - click here and help keep this resource available for another year.

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

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