The Tutor/Mentor Connection has created a wide range of resources that can be used in Chicago or any other city to support the growth of volunteer-based ttor/mentor programs which connect youth with volunteers from a variety of different work and college backgrounds.
One of these is the Chicago Program Locator which can be used to find contact information and web sites for volunteer-based tutoring and/or mentoring programs in the Chicago region and to support leadership strategies that make well-organized programs available in more poverty neighborhoods of the city and suburbs. See this at http://www.tutormentorprogramlocator.net .
Use the site to build your own needs analysis map, adding layers showing poverty and poorly performing schools in different parts of the city.
Use the map to build collaborations, linking programs, businesses, hospitals, faith groups and/or universities operating in the same zip code, community area, political district, etc.
Another resource is the Tutor/Mentor Connection web library. This graphic outlines the four sections of the library. Click on the nodes and new maps will open, leading to web libraries with information anyone can use.
The Program Locator was built with funds received in late 2008, which ran out in early 2009. Thus, it still has bugs that need to be fixed, and the data needs to be updated reflecting 2010 census info and changes in businesses. We'd like to share this with other cities and can do this if leaders in those cities provide some of the resources and talent needed to continue to update the platform and make it usable in other places.
If you have other suggestions or questions about the purpose of the site, please share your ideas. As you begin to use the site, please tell others what uses it offers. If you'd like to partner or become a sponsor, please send me an email.
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