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Creating Knowledge Networks as part

of Information Sharing and Problem


Solving Strategy

This presentation introduces 4-Part Strategy piloted since 1993 to help youth in high poverty
areas connect with volunteers in organized tutor, mentor and learning programs. It's a
strategy that can be applied in any social sector problem solving.

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4-Part Strategy for Expanding Systems of Support for Inner-City Youth.
Supporting Growth of Mentor-Rich Programs in Metro Area.

2021

Our goal is to expand the


network of adults and
organizations helping youth
from first grade to first jobs
and future careers.
1973
Dan Bassill, Founder of Tutor/Mentor Connection in 1993, and Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC in
2011, led a volunteer-based tutor/mentor program from 1974 to 2011. He first became
connected to his mentee, Leo, in 1973. They are still connected today. Learn more at
http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/dan-bassill
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Problem: Helping inner-city kids move from first grade, through high school
and into jobs and careers requires systems of support that reach youth in
EVERY high poverty neighborhood of the city and suburbs for two or more
decades of continuous support.

Challenge:
Getting more people
involved and keeping them
involved for many years.

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For CHANGE to occur (or outcomes be achieved):
All four parts of this strategy must happen concurrently and for many years.

We all want more young people


to be safe, finish high school and
college, and be prepared for 21st
century jobs and careers.

The Tutor/Mentor Connection developed a 4-


Part Strategy over the past 1993-2011 years.

This has been continued by Tutor/Mentor


Institute, LLC since 2011.

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This information-based, networking strategy is a cycle that repeats for many
years, and is available to anyone in the world with access to the Internet.

4
2

T/MC 4 part strategy can be found at - http://tinyurl.com/TMC-4-Part-Strategy


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While the http://www.tutormentorexchange.net site is a portal that anyone
can use to develop their own solutions, it also includes visualizations and
maps that illustrate my own ideas of how the information can be used.

Vance wrote: “I found Dan's work to be very similar to that of Webheads except that his is
much more focused on a tangible social goal. But both are exemplary attempts at bringing
social media to bear on scaling our efforts beyond our immediate circles of those we can reach
directly.

Feb. 2012 http://learning2gether.posterous.com/dan-bassill-and-the-tutormentor-connection-in


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Step 1: Collect and organize “all that is known” about successful non-
school tutoring/mentoring programs and apply that knowledge to expand the
availability and enhance the effectiveness of these services to children
throughout the Chicago region.

"When nonprofit and community leaders share ideas, insights and information in ways that promote
social impact...knowledge-sharing can improve organizational effectiveness.  When we share what
works and what doesn't... it results in accelerated learning, less reinventing the wheel, better service,
and measurable results."
 2003 quote by Mr. Tim Wilmot. Chief Knowledge and Evaluation Officer, Charles and Helen Schwab
Foundation

“Learning from Others. Don't Re-invent the Wheel” 2021 blog


http://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2021/04/learning-from-others-dont-re-invent.html

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1 Knowledge as Political Power
"Knowledge and Praxis of Networks As a Political Process" written by
Yannick Rumpala from the University of Nice, in Nice, France. Read
more at http://yannickrumpala.wordpress.com/tag/networks/

“Mapping networks of information and people can reduce the feeling of


complexity that any individual today can have when face with the world
around him, the feeling of an inability to grasp this world. This feeling of
overwhelming complexity leads to passivity. The visualization of
networks can be a way to make the world perceptible again and
improve the comprehension of it.”

Process improvement, collaboration, knowledge management, innovation articles –


http://tinyurl.com/TMI-ProcessImp-Collaboration

Learning and network building blog articles - http://tutormentor.blogspot.com/search/label/learning

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Map showing range of information in Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Library.
http://tinyurl.com/TMI-libraryFull

In these concept maps, many nodes


1
contain links to additional maps or to
web sites with relevant information.
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Each cMap opens to new page with information related to topic.
http://tinyurl.com/TMI-WhyShouldBusinessInvest

In these concept maps, many nodes


1 contain links to additional maps or to web
sites with relevant information.
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Map opens to section of Links Library with multiple links relevant to topic.
1
Links in library
point to web
sites that host
their own
information, and
additional links
related to same
topic.

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For instance Twitter
post

As a result of participating in an April 1, 2021 webinar


focused on the Digital Divide I posted information on
Twitter, then included it in the Tutor/Mentor blog at
http://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2021/04/building-support-for-
digital-access.html

a) I then added links to the webinar and related material to a


concept map at http://tinyurl.com/TMI-DigitalDivide-Issues and to a
sub-section of the Tutor/Mentor Library that focuses on the
Digital Divide issue. Links to that part of the library are on the
concept map.

b) I also shared this as a post on Linkedin


https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tutormentor_digitalaccess-digitallearning-digitaldivide-
activity-6783448629609861120-yZ3l

others by posting
Thus, as I learn new ideas, I make those ideas available to
ia. This is an on-
them in my library and calling attention to them in other med
going process.

I constantly encourage others to duplicate it.


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Maps and Visualizations are part of the Knowledge Sharing Library

1
We use maps to
show all parts of
Chicago region
where
tutor/mentor
programs are
needed AND
where existing
programs are
located.

Tutor/Mentor Program Locator


Interactive Map - archive page:
https://tinyurl.com/ProgramLocatorMap-archive

With a map we can emphasize a need for distributed programs and


resources in all poverty areas of the region. We must move away from
idea of a few good programs in a few places. See articles showing uses
of maps at http://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com
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Maps and Visualizations are part of the Knowledge Sharing Library

We use graphics
to communicate
ideas,
understanding
that “pictures are
worth a thousand
words”

Graphics like this emphasize a need for programs reaching each grade
level, and operating in all time frames, along with engagement from
business as well as volunteers and parents.
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Step 2 – dramatically increase the number of people looking at
the knowledge and ideas we collect and share on our web sites.

How many millions of people will need to be


engaged, and inspired, before dollars are
flowing consistently to youth support
organizations in all places where they are
needed?

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2 Apply multiple strategies to increase daily reach and frequency

Public awareness strategy:


http://tinyurl.com/TMI-AwarnessPlan
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2 Learning in on-going. Must be sustained and grow over many years.

Many Owners Needed in Many Places


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2 Events like Tutor/Mentor Conference help build public attention.

Tutor/Mentor Conference
held in Chicago every six
months between May
1994 and May 2015

Volunteer recruitment
campaign held in
Aug/Sept since 1995

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2 Engage many in communications and network-building

Media stories
draw attention
to need for
tutor/mentor
programs. Blog
strategies point
readers to
knowledge in
Tutor/Mentor
Library.

Rest of the Story Strategy: http://tinyurl.com/TMI-RestOfStoryInterns

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2 Tell the REST OF THE STORY after negative news is reported

Media stories draw attention to need for tutor/mentor programs. Blog


strategies can leverage these stories and point readers to knowledge in
Tutor/Mentor Library. Students in middle school, high school and college
can create these stories following news in their own neighborhood or
communities that they adopt.

Unleash personal power - http://tinyurl.com/TMI-Be-Difference-Maker

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Help Build
Understanding &
3 Motivate Actions of Many
People in Many Sectors.

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3

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3 Helping volunteers, donors who
don’t live in poverty, and who
have not spent much time
thinking about the infrastructure
and systems of support needed
is an on-going effort to change
how support is generated for
tutor/mentor programs
throughout a geographic region
like Chicago.

Use resources at
https://tinyurl.com/Law-Justice-Poverty-Links
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As result of steps 1-3
4 more people help
mobilize resources
needed by EVERY
tutor/mentor program in
the Chicago region and it
other cities.

Motivating pro-active actions of


individuals is goal

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This is one of many slides created
to help build understanding and
support collective efforts.

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This cMap shows 4-part strategy and help needed in every part.

1
This is an on
going effort with
the need for
many people to
share roles for
2 each step in the
strategy. Multiple
4 owners create
decentralized
strength and
ensure that
youth will have
on-going support
from adult
networks.
3

This version of T/MC 4 part strategy can be found at -


http://tinyurl.com/TMC-4-part-strategy-planning
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As more people get take on
roles that encourage people
they know and work with to
become volunteers, donors,
leaders, tutor/mentor programs
will develop diverse support
networks and multiple channels
of on-going financial support.

Such programs will keep


leaders in place longer,
building deeper organizational
2021 knowledge and stronger
relationships with youth,
volunteers and community
enabling longer and more
influential connections with
young people as they move
through school and into adult
lives.
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This is my network where I share these ideas. Imagine if many people are sharing
and applying these same ideas in their networks. That's what's needed.

Goal: Connecting talent, ideas,


dollars to places throughout city.

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Form a group and begin to share this information in formal and informal
settings. Browse the web sites below and use the information available from
each web site.

1 http://www.tutormentorexchange.net
http://www.tutormentorconnection.org
2 http://tutormentor.blogspot.com
http://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com
http://tutormentorconnection.ning.com
3

4 Dan Bassill
Connect with Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC on
http://www.twitter.com/tutormentorteam
http://www.facebook.com/TutorMentorInstitute

Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, Tutor/Mentor Connection


Merchandise Mart PO Box 3303, Chicago, Il. 60654
Email tutormentor2@earthlink.net

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