Since 1995 the Tutor/Mentor Connection has worked with Chicago Access TV to post listings of tutor/mentor programs on the TV 42 bulletin board during August, as school was starting and all programs are looking for volunteers. In addition to the TV42 bulletin board, a slide show has been shown on TV27 on a continuous basis.  This will repeat again in January and August 2008.

You can see what the slide show looks like at http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/Partner/CC/RecruitmentCampaign/CANTV_ad.asp 

This is an example of how programs in Chicago and other cities can generate public awareness that helps every program get volunteers.  If businesses, hospitals, colleges, churches and civic/social groups create similar presentations and show them as part of their own advocacy, with links to the Program Locator on the T/MC site, then all programs will benefit, not just the single program with the great PR department, or the great connections to business or media.

If you develop such a strategy, please share news about it via this forum.