This is a Tutor/Mentor Connection REST OF THE STORY editorial posted on the T/MC web site in December 2001.

It illustrates how we seek to follow newspaper stories with maps and inspiration that leads people to support tutor/mentor programs in neighborhoods where they are most needed.

On December 12, 2001 the full front page of the Chicago SunTimes featured a photo of Ophra Winfrey and Mark Lane, Jr. The headline said, survived gangs in movie "There are No Children Here", but not in real life.

The story in the paper told of Mark's struggle with gangs and his death just before Thanksgiving. It did not go on to tell of the struggle of youth agencies, parents and schools to provide positive alternatives to gangs, or the struggle those agencies have to keep funded, or to attract and retain volunteers.

That is The Rest of the Story.

The Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) has created a map that shows where Mark Lane was shot. The map shows that this is a high poverty neighborhood with several street gangs. The map also shows the location of tutor/mentor programs serving that neighborhood. With the map is a database that you can click into to find contact information for these programs. With this information anyone can say "the buck stops here" and take actions to support these programs in their work to save other young people like Mark Lane, Jr.

On the HOME page of this web site is a graphic that looks like a WHEEL. Click into any of the spokes and you'll find information that helps you understand poverty and the background that causes kids like Mark Lane to turn to gangs. You'll also find lists of youth agencies in other neighborhoods where the need is the same, and where other programs struggle for help. If you don't want to help one of the programs in the area where Mark was shot, help one or more programs in one of these other areas.

Chicago needs good programs in every poverty neighborhood, not a few good programs in a few good neighborhoods.

While the T/MC can post the map, we still need people to be "angry" or "passionate" about helping kids who live in neighborhoods like Mark's. There are plenty of commentaries in the December media showing that charities are having trouble raising money. Tutor/mentor programs in neighborhoods like those shown on our maps are all searching for dollars to survive into 2002 and beyond.

When someone goes to T/MC maps they can go to a database of agencies in that neighborhood and find contact information to use in making a contribution. Or they can go to a master database and find similar programs in other neighborhoods.

While the T/MC would like the Mayor, the Governor, or celebrities like Ophra to be asking citizens to visit the T/MC web site and its maps, we believe anyone can be a leader in this war on poverty and youth violence. All you need to do is find ways to tell your friends and co-workers to visit the T/MC site and get involved.

We'll know that is happening as our visit count goes up, as revenue for Cabrini Connections and every other tutor/mentor program in the city goes up, and as we see a growth in the number of tutor/mentor programs in Chicago and the number of kids served.

Please make it your New Year's Resolution to do this at least once a month.

Daniel F. Bassill
President
Cabrini Connections
Tutor/Mentor Connection  
Click here to view map of neighborhood where Mark Lane was shot..