Conference Focuses on Strategies That Help Volunteer-based Tutor/Mentor Programs in Chicago
On November 30, the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) will host a one-day Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference at DePaul University, 1 E. Jackson, Chicago, Il. The aim of the conference is to draw leaders, volunteers, donors, media and business partners into a discussion of capacity building and collaboration strategies that can lead to more and better tutor/mentor programs in Chicago neighborhoods. Call 312-492-9614 for information.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 18, 2006 -- Tutor/Mentor Conference focuses on strategies that help volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs reach youth in high poverty neighborhoods of Chicago.
While recent research reports presented by the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago and even a Nobel-prize winning economist, indicate that tutoring/mentoring programs can have a positive impact on improving school performance, there still are too few of these programs in most Chicago neighborhoods, and too few dollars to fund the programs that already operate in Chicago and most other major cities.
On November 30, the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) will host a one-day Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference at DePaul University, 1 E. Jackson. The aim of the conference is to draw leaders, volunteers, donors, media and business partners into a discussion of capacity building and collaboration strategies that can lead to more and better tutor/mentor programs in Chicago neighborhoods.
On November 15, the Chicago Sun Times donated $2 million dollars to the Abraham Lincoln Lend A Hand Program, which funds tutor/mentor programs in Chicago. This is the result of collaboration efforts led by the Tutor/Mentor Connection. The goal of this conference is to involve more community leaders in the type of collaboration that can generate this type of support for volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs from other major corporations in Chicago and in other big cities.
Among the speakers:
| | - Dr. David L. DuBois, Professor in the Division of Community Health Sciences within the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
- Troy Ratliff, Executive Director, The Joseph Kellman Family Foundation and Spruiell D. Weber White, Senior Program Officer of The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Penny Sebring, Ph.D, Founding Co-Director, Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago
- Dr. James Kulich, Executive Vice President and Professor of Math at Elmhurst College.
- John L. Hosteny, Corporation for National and Community Service and Ted Gibbs, Office of Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, and Director of Service Learning for the State Board of Education
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The conference agenda and complete list of speakers can be found at http://www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com. Capacity is limited to 100 people. There will be no walk in registration.
Leaders of volunteer- based tutor mentor programs, faith-based mentoring, and organizations that focus tutoring, workforce development, diversity, philanthropy, education reform, as well as business leaders interested in social investing and employee volunteerism, are encouraged to attend.
The T/MC and many of the volunteer based tutor/mentor programs that participate in the Conferences, focus their services on youth living in extreme poverty. "We know that connecting volunteers and youth in long-term mentoring and in a variety of learning and enrichment activities can have a profound affect, not only on the youth, but on the adult volunteer" reports Daniel F. Bassill, president of the Tutor/Mentor Connection and a 33 year leader of a Chicago based tutor/mentor program.
"What tutor/mentor programs need is a consistent source of funding, which should come from business and private sector donors, not just government. That's the Tutor/Mentor Connection's goal," says Bassill. At Bassill's http://tutormentor.blogspot.com blog, he demonstrates how individuals can collaborate and work together to create business partnerships, such as the Chicago Sun Times and the Abraham Marovitz Lend A Hand Program. "We aim to help others in Chicago and in other cities duplicate this," says Bassill, as part of our own effort to create greater daily visibility of tutoring/mentoring in Chicago.
There is still time to register, although seating is limited. The conference will be held on November 30 at DePaul University, 8th Floor Conference Center, 1 E. Jackson, Chicago, Il. The full agenda and registration information can be found at http://www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com.
HISTORY - The Tutor/Mentor Connection, formed in 1993, maintains a comprehensive database of Chicago area tutor/mentor programs, a web based resource library, and organizes events such as the conferences to connect tutor/mentor programs with each other, and with volunteers, donors, business partners and media.
Learn more at http://www.tutormentorconnection.org or call 312-492-9614.
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