Professional Documents
Culture Documents
This is one of hundreds of essays and articles created by Daniel F. Bassill, D.H.L., since 1993 when the
Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) was launched in Chicago. They are based on Dan's personal experience
of leading a volunteer-based tutor/mentor program from 1975 to 2011. These articles seek to inspire
others to provide leadership that supports the growth and constant improvement of youth serving
organizations reaching youth in high poverty areas of Chicago and other cities. Since 2011 the Chicago
T/MC has been part of Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC. Read other illustrated essays in the Tutor/Mentor
Institute library at http://www.tutormentorexchange.net .
Throughout this publication “T/MC” will be used to mean both Tutor/Mentor Connection and
Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC since both share the same goals and purpose.
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 2
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
- missing infrastructure
- poor program models
- missing follow-up
- conducted in isolation
- few programs with resources to serve mentors as well as
mentees
- missing operational expenses
In a 1994 survey of Chicago area tutor/mentor programs 120 responded, with 54% saying
they have “little or no contact with peers.” The Tutor/Mentor Connection was established
to help bring programs together to learn from each other, and to create events that attracted
public attention, and drew dollars and volunteers to all programs operating in the city.
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 10
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Fundamentals Research
for Success Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Get to know
other tutor/mentor programs and borrow
strategies and materials that you feel would fit
the type of program you want to build. Use the
T/MC web site links to research mentoring
programs in Chicago and around the country.
This strategy can work in other cities, not just Chicago. Email
tutormentor2@earthlink.net to explore ways Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
can help you create your own Tutor/Mentor Connection type strategy.
Use resources on
Tutor/Mentor
Connection web
site to support your
learning.
This concept map shows the four main sections and subsections of the Tutor/Mentor Library.
View at http://tinyurl.com/TMI-libraryFull
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 15
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 16
Access all of our resources in theTutor/Mentor Institute,
LLC website at www.tutormentorexchange.net .
Open each
section to find
ideas to support
your program
planning and
development.
Pg 17
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
Use social media and on-line forums to expand your network,
share ideas and learn from others.
https://tutormentorexchange.net/social-media
Connect staff,
leaders,
volunteers on
any of these
forums
Develop a Team
Pg 20
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Create a map showing the talent and job functions needed to build and grow your organization. Use
this to help guide your efforts to recruit volunteers to help lead your organization as well as volunteers
who will become tutors and mentors to the youth you serve.
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 31
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Pg 22
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
This graphic illustrates that there are three time frames during the day when youth can connect with
mentors, tutors and learning opportunities and that the goal of our efforts should be to help more
youth move successfully from first grade to a job and career.
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 23
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
In every neighborhood there should be a range of organizations operating in the non-school hours, not
just a few programs serving youth at one age level, or another.
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 24
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Neighborhood collaborations could result in programs working together to help youth have the
supports they need, and to help programs attract the ideas, talent and dollars needed to build world
class support systems.
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 25
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Programs that are “mentor rich” have volunteers from a wide range of business backgrounds, who model
different types of careers youth might aspire to achieve. Such programs are supported by corporate giving
strategies that recognize the value of tutor/mentor programs to future, and current, employees.
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 26
Think of ways your program builds social capital, expanding
network of “who your kids know”.
https://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2021/04/digging-deeper-into-social-capital.html
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 26
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Pg 28
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Pg 29
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Determine Structure
You could build a tutor/mentor
program focused on youth and
volunteers doing community
asset mapping, resource
mobilization, and creating
strategy visualizations.
Pg 30
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Determine Structure
Look for ways volunteers can build student motivation, study skills,
reading, writing, vocabulary and speaking skills, etc. These are habits
students can take with them into the classroom, or workplace.
Use the T/MC Links Library to see how other programs provide tutoring,
mentoring and learning supports to students. Try to build your programs
from “best practices” of other programs.
Follow the links on this
concept map to websites of
youth programs in Chicago and
around the USA and the world.
http://tinyurl.com/TMI-
Volunteer-Opportunities
Pg 31
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Define Mission & Goals How will you keep kids attending from one grade level
to the next? How will you keep them connected with
you and the volunteers over the summer.
Build Team
Pg 34
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Pg 35
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Begin Operations
Begin Operations
Remember to track student and volunteer
Recruit & Train Volunteers and Youth.
participation at every session. Create
Schedule and Action Plan reports so you can see patterns of
Determine Recruiting
attendance and adjust your activities based
Strategies on positive or negative trends.
Pg 36
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Process Improvement
Once your program is started, your job is to sustain and nurture it from
year to year, so that it is able to serve children on a continuous basis, for
the number of years it takes for students to grow to be productive adults.
This involves continuous critical review of your process, your results and
your programs, with on-going incremental additions, revisions and
deletions, based on your own results, and what you are learning from
other tutor/mentor programs throughout the country (and the world).
Each year your review should lead to your plan for the next year’s
growth. If you do this you will surprise yourself in a few years as you
look back from where you and a small group of people began your
program and see the great progress you have accomplished – and the
many lives you have affected.
Pg 38
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Pg 39
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Summary
These programs enrich the lives of the volunteers, as much as they support the
growth of youth skills and aspirations.
Pg 40
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Summary
Children can’t realize personal goals without the necessary skills. They cannot
secure rewarding jobs and personal happiness without self-esteem, a good
education and good learning habits. They can’t reach there full potential without
a network of positive role models who demonstrate these skills, and who expand
the experiences and learning opportunities for kids living in areas of highly
concentrated poverty.
Tutoring/mentoring programs are infused with these types of role models and
learning opportunities. It is up to each of us to provide the leadership and
resources needed to build and sustain such programs.
Daniel F. Bassill, President, CEO, Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, Tutor/Mentor Connection
Pg 41
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
Summary – It works.
To SUCCEED
We must recruit business
leaders who will use their
resources in PULLING
Youth to Careers
School-Time Programs
High Career
Pre-K K - 5th 5th - 6th 6th - 8th
School Track
Pg 42
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
Continuous Process
Improvement This type of organization is not
achieved in one or two years.
Recruit & Train, Begin
operations
Set Schedule and action plan
It will never be achieved without the
Determine Recruitment
strategies work done at the base of this
Find host/sponsor
pyramid each year.
Define Mission
Building a Team
Research
Pg 43
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net
Other Resources
Create a “learning organization” and draw
from this and the library of on-line
resources in the links below.
http://www.tutormentorexchange.net
http://tutormentor.blogspot.com
Http://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com
http://debategraph.org/mentoring_kids_to_careers
http://michaelcnt.blogspot.com/
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) ,www.tutormentorexchange.net tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 44
STEPS TO START A PROGRAM: A mentoring-to-career strategy of the Tutor/Mentor Connection
You are encouraged to use this for planning and training. If you find
the material valuable to you, please consider sending letter of
appreciation and encourage others to visit Tutor/Mentor Institute,
LLC web sites to gather their own program development resources.
Tutor/Mentor Connection
Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Merchandise Mart PO Box 3303, Chicago, Il. 60654
www.tutormentorconnection.org
www.tutormentorexchange.net
Email tutormentor2@earthlink.net