GROWING A

TUTOR/MENTOR
CONNECTION

a strategy of
Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC 2011 tutormentor2@earthlink.net

We seek to create a nationwide
network of knowledge centers, each
providing information that informs
the actions of tutor/mentor program
leaders, volunteers, donors and
youth in every part of the world.

In 1993 we created Chicago’s

Tutor/Mentor Connection
(TMC)

In July 2011, we created the

Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC to
support the future growth of this
network.

Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC 2011 tutormentor2@earthlink.net

Since 1993 the Tutor/Mentor
Connection (T/MC) has been
collecting, organizing and sharing
information intended to help
tutor/mentor programs grow in
poverty neighborhoods of Chicago

The next two slides illustrate the

comprehensive range of this
information. We have hosted this
information and our ideas in a

Tutor/Mentor Institute
http://www.tutormentorexchange.net

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 The Tutor/Mentor Connection

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Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute LLC, 2011 - tutormentor2@earthlink.net
 This concept map shows the four
sections of the Tutor/Mentor web library.
http://tinyurl.com/TMI-libraryFull

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Engineers and architects

... rely on a massive set of

complex blueprints to build
hotels, factories, tall buildings.

America needs a similar set of blueprints

to help millions of kids living in big cities
and rural areas rise from a birth in
poverty to

…be in jobs and careers by

age 25

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Our aim is that leaders in all sectors
use this information constantly in
developing strategies to answer:

What are all of the actions

necessary to help every
youth born in poverty be
starting a career 25-30 years
later?
In building a structure like the Trump
Tower in Chicago a parallel question
might be

What are all of the things we need to

do, and what resources and
financing will we need, to build this
building?
Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute LLC, 2011 - tutormentor2@earthlink.net
Engineers and architects have blueprints
and a well established tradition of the steps
needed to build any structure, large or
small.

We don’t have such blueprints for

building tutor/mentor programs that
help youth move from poverty to
careers

..and we don’t have a financial

commitment from America’s private
sector to provide the infrastructure
and tools each program needs.

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Blueprints that show
actions needed from birth
to work, in every poverty
area, don’t exist. At least
not anywhere on the
Internet that we know of.
So the Tutor/Mentor
Institute, LLC, and the
Tutor/Mentor Connection
are inviting innovators and
experts from around the
world to join with us in
creating a better operating
system…or a blueprint for
helping kids rise from
poverty.

View Mentoring To Career concept map

http://tinyurl.com/TMC-K-Career-Mentoring

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Maps can show where poverty and
poorly performing schools are
concentrated and where existing
tutor/mentor programs are located. Such
maps don’t exist in many cities.

Where program locators are in place few

are used to draw volunteers and
operating dollars directly to programs.
The Tutor/Mentor
Institute, LLC, and the
Tutor/Mentor Connection
have been piloting uses
of maps like these since
1993. Our maps are
intended to support
actions by leaders, who
work to make high
quality tutor/mentor
programs available in
more places.

See uses of maps at

http://tutormentorexchange.net/mapping-the-programs
Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC 2011 - tutormentor2@earthlink.net
On our web sites we link to
organizations that represent specific
areas of expertise. We call these
“hubs”
Fund Raising

T/MC Web Site

Volunteer
Recruitment

Tutoring

These hubs could be in different

cities, or even different countries!

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As HUBs link to each other more
knowledge is shared...

Hub

Hub

Hub

…and greater traffic circulates to

each organization in the network

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Our aim is to share ideas that
individuals and leaders will use...

…to reach into their own networks

and inspire more people to become
involved as volunteers, donors,
leaders, etc.
Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC 2011 tutormentor2@earthlink.net
As leaders from business, government,
media, etc. build year-round strategies
that draw attention to these ideas …

$ $
$ $

We can increase the amount of dollars and number of

volunteers becoming involved in tutor/mentor programs
in many places ...

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This can increase funding
opportunities, visibility, and impact

Hub

Hub

Hub

…for all members of the network

Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC 2011 tutormentor2@earthlink.net

We just need to find leaders who see
their role as intermediaries who

…stimulate the flow of dollars,

talent, ideas to all members of
the network

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The Tutor/Mentor Institute Strategy

This graphic illustrates a 4-part

strategy that has been developing
since 1993 by the Tutor/Mentor
Connection in Chicago.
http://tinyurl.com/TMI-4-Pt-Strategy
Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, 2011 - tutormentor2@earthlink.net
 The Tutor/Mentor Institute Strategy

 Collect, organize and share information that can be used by anyone

working to help youth born in poverty move to jobs and careers.

 Create technology and web based platforms that incorporate maps and
other visualization tools that enhance understanding of where high
poverty areas exist and what organizations are already working in
some of these areas, as well as blueprints showing actions leaders can
take to help fill these neighborhoods with high quality programs.

 Stimulate ownership of T/MC strategy and ideas in business, media,

faith groups and non profits who work collectively to Increase the
Number of people who find and use this information on a regular basis.
Increasing the number of Network Users from 15,000 to 15 million
over the next 10 years is a challenge many must accept.

 Create and support learning circles in businesses, colleges, high

schools, faith groups, etc. where this information is reviewed weekly,
just a scripture is discussed weekly in faith groups, and learning is
taking place daily in schools all over the country. Recruit a network of
apostles who help facilitate understanding and use of this information.

 Increase flow of volunteers, dollars, technology, ideas, trained leaders

and many other needed resources directly to tutor/mentor programs
operating in all poverty neighborhoods, while also providing dollars
and talent to support the role of the Tutor/Mentor Institute and
citywide networks like the Chicago Tutor/Mentor Connection.

 Use maps, documentation systems and other visualization tools to

understand scope of the Tutor/Mentor Connection network, the
distribution of resources and the growing distribution of programs that
result and to give public recognition to those who lead in these efforts
so that others will want to duplicate their efforts.

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 Components
 Tutor/Mentor Institute – www.tutormentorexchange.net
– Hosts ideas that others can use; planning wikis, etc
– Points to all other resources in network
– Blogs, forums and other daily commentary

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Tutor/Mentor Institute Outcomes

 Better knowledge available to any stakeholder

o Less reinventing of the wheel
o Lower costs to acquire knowledge
o Constant innovation opportunities
 Better Decisions, Greater commitment to long-term
actions needed to support youth to careers
 Increased visibility for all members of the network
 Increased revenue for innovation, support systems and
infrastructure
 More experienced leadership; career ladder for
individuals within the tutor/mentor field
 More involvement of business

Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute LLC, 2011 - tutormentor2@earthlink.net

 Greater Support to
Tutor/Mentor Programs in every
Poverty area
 A flow of visibility, volunteers and dollars
 Reduce costs of fund raising
 Better communications tools
 Greater involvement of volunteers
 Better training, staff support and staff retention
 Greater diversity of volunteers and learning
activities within programs
 Integration of education-to-careers with youth
development goals
 Better programs in more places

 More help for more youth in all neighborhoods of

any city

 More kids stay in school and are prepared

for jobs and careers of the 21st century

Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, 2011 - tutormentor2@earthlink.net

 We face a number of challenges to
accomplish what we're trying to do
 Collecting and organizing all that is known about what works in
helping kids to careers is obviously is a huge task. There is a
wealth of information already available to be mined, and new
information is constantly being created.

 Creating interactive systems that collect, organize, display and

share information while they also draw volunteers and dollars to
every part of the support system is a critical first step that will
enable all the rest of the work we do.

 Identifying stakeholders, both on the program/service side and

on the volunteer/business resource provider side, and
maintaining database/email/invitation lists is a huge challenge

 Building a Wal-Mart-like advertising and PR campaign is

something we must accomplish via partnership with business
because we'll never have the dollars.

 Creating a learning system and facilitating the understanding

and use of the knowledge. We need to build a virtual university,
as well as a host university, where we can educate leaders to
the various roles that must be played over the next 50 years

 Creating a virtual organization of leaders and stakeholders from

all parts of the world who will inventory their own assets and
bring those to this process as needed and on an on-going basis
is essential.

 While the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) piloted this strategy,

beginning in 1993, and the Tutor/mentor Institute, LLC has
maintained it since 2011, we now seek one or more universities
to adopt it and lead it into the future.
Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, 2011 - tutormentor2@earthlink.net
Learn More. Get Connected.
 Additional PDF essays like this are available at
http: www.tutormentorexchange.net
 Join a tutor/mentor discussion and use the links
library at http://tutormentorconnection.ning.com

 Invest. Be a sponsor. Send dollars to help us do

this work. Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC is available
to support growth of tutor/mentor programs and
networks in any city.

 Become a partner or a volunteer- help us develop

these ideas and technologies so they can be
available in your own community.

 Help find university partners who will adopt this

strategy and donors who will invest in such
programs.

Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Tutor/Mentor Connection
c/o Daniel Bassill
Merchandise Mart PO Box 3303, Chi, Il 60654
Email: tutormentor2@earthlink.net
Skype: dbassil Twitter: @tutormentorteam

Copyright Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, 2011 - tutormentor2@earthlink.net