In the Feb. 27, 2007 Chicago Sun Times, the feature editorial focuses on the high drop out rate for Chicago Public School Students, and demands action from CPS to solve the problem.  I wrote about this on my blog and I hope you'll read the article and pass it on.

I want to focus on is the opportunity that the business community has to help solve this problem.  On February 13th, a CEO Summit on Volunteerism was held in New York City.  Jim Morsch, Chair of the SunTimes Judge Marovitz Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth Program, was an attendee.  Jim summarized what took place and his comments are posted below:

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CEO Summit on Corporate Volunteerism

Jim Morsch, Butler Rubin Saltarelli & Boyd LLP,

Chair, Exec Committee, SunTimes Judge Marovitz Lawyers Lend a Hand to Youth Program (http://www.lend-a-hand.org ) participant, observation:

• The goal is to have corporate America donate $1 billion worth of volunteer hours over the next three years.  
• Deloitte and Target are going to do $50 million in volunteer hours themselves; Intel has pledged $1 million in volunteer hours to celebrate its 40th Anniversary this year.
• The movers and shakers behind the movement, besides those companies, are the Case Foundation, Taproot Foundation and the Points of Light Network.  The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation is involved
• They are trying to replicate the pro bono culture and tracking that the legal community has used for years.  It is fairly clear how this can be transferred to other professional service firms who charge or at least track employee time by project but more difficult for other corporations.
• A consensus is out there that giving money will not fix the profound problems being addressed by community service organizations as (1) there is a limit to the amount of money out there, (2) money neglects building infrastructure and skills at CSO's, and (3) it is more effective to teach CSO's how to fish than to simply hand them fish.  Another way of saying this is that corporations think they have more human than financial capital to throw at societal problems.
• Skilled volunteerism, matching a company's expertise with a particular community need, is what many corporations prefer because it enhances their employees' skills, puts out the right message about the company, and is more likely to lead to better, long term results.  The example given was a securities firm does not want to be out building homes for Habitat for Humanity and would rather that pro bono work be left to carpenters while they find a way to drive financial capital to homes for the poor.
• Most corporations do not have formalized pro bono programs, policies or tracking systems and are just getting started with their programs and have no accurate idea or what is being done pro-bono wise in their companies.
• An attractive approach to corporations is to give them a problem to solve (i.e., drop-out rate in Chicago schools) rather than simply ask for their money or volunteers.
• The issue of supporting start-ups versus well establish CSOs is a live one, with lots of companies asking for guidance on how to choose between start-ups and make sure they use the money and volunteers provided well.  Corporations are saying that we are not giving away money and volunteers any more simply because a CSO is involved in a good cause or even has a good idea if it cannot deliver results.
• A follow-up meeting will be held in Chicago in mid-April with Mayor Daley hosting (invitation only).

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On May 29 and 30 the T/MC will host its 29th Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference since May 1994.  We want to engage the busienss community in solving the drop out crisis and turn it into a workforce development and diversity opportunity.  We want to engage corproations and their leaders and employees as partners in a long-term stragey that makes volunteer-based tutoring and mentoring programs available to youth in every high poverty neighborhood of every big city in America. 

I'm recruiting speakers and workshop leaders now and one way for business to be involved is to organize workshops where they share their expertise in marketing, planning, communications, team building and technology with non profit organizations, while they learn from us and each other new ways where they and their employees can become strategic partners of tutor/mentor programs and owners of this strategy.

Email tutormentor2@earthlink.net or call 312-492-9614 if you'd like to discuss the CEO Summit, the role of mentoring in a workforce development strategy, or other ways to become involved with the Tutor/Mentor Connection.

I encourage you to visit the Mentor Michigan web site and look at the many ways this state is promoting mentoring. They have a searchable directory, using a map of Michigan to locate programs in specific parts of the state. They have many on-line resource for networking and capacity building. They have obvious commitment from the Governor and the State Commission on Volunteerism.  It's a great resource for mentoring in Michagan and for other states to emulate. Visit http://www.michigan.gov/mentormichigan/ to learn more.

If you're from Michigan, I encourage you to come to Chicago on May 29 and 30, and in November, to be part of the Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference.  Share what  you're doing and help build visibility for volunteer-based tutoring/mentoring programs from throughout the Midwest and the rest of the USA.  To host a workshop and show what you're doing, visit http://www.tutormentorconference.org and fill out the workshop presenter form.

Youth Tutoring/Mentoring Program Leaders,

Are you  wondering how to quantify your strategy in preparation for the new school year?

Now is your last chance to register for The Center for What Works' Performance Measurement training session for Youth Tutoring/Mentoring Programs.

The training webinar, or web-based seminar, will be held on:
This Monday, July 16th from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. CST.
  
If you can't attend based on scheduling, we are offering another one on: September 5 from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. CST.
          
In this two-hour workshop, participants are given a short overview of performance measurement and then guided through the process of attaching outcomes and indicators to their current strategies. The training webinar serves as a hands-on, practical session in which participants will leave with a specific set of metrics they can begin to actualize within their organization. Registrants will receive call-in information and other instructions before the event.

In response to a recent Youth Tutoring/Mentoring Performance Measurement training, one of our webinar participants said:

Again, The Center for What Works wants to remind you that this is the last chance to register for Monday's Performance Measurement training. Register now while spots are still available.

Please forward this email to any friends/colleagues who might be interested.

Very best with your performance measurement efforts,

Debra Natenshon, CEO
The Center for What Works
tel 773.398.8858/fax 773.227.0837
http://www.whatworks.org
Benchmarking for Nonprofits

Two former human resources marketing executives have recently published a line of very creative career mentoring guide books that can satisfy multi-dimensional objectives of neighborhood mentoring programs. The guide books contain valuable content and make mentoring fun for volunteers and the kids they hope to reach.

Titled, CareerWise: Grow Up. Get a Job, the colorful and easy-to-use guide books help mentors and kids of all ages explore the many possible answers to the important question “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

 They also provide practical information about the working world and the many exciting options that exist no matter a child’s background, skill level or education. At the same time, they help develop reading, vocabulary, presentation and job hunting skills and help adults stress the importance of staying in school and the connection between strong values and achieving dreams in life.

Content includes:

·          entertaining and valuable activities that mentors and kids can do together to uncover motivating interests, talents and dreams;

·          a charming fairy tale, Sophie & Her Fairy Godmentor that excites kids about their life choices and all the adults who are ready to help them succeed;

·          Basic work-world vocabulary words (in English and Spanish) that provoke valuable discussions about the benefits of having a job and how kids can get the most out of one;

·          Practical tips and advice about how to behave and what to expect in the workplace;

·          1001 job titles in every industry to explore and consider.

Materials can be reviewed at. www.GetCareerWise.com

12th Annual National Learning Communities Conference
Students at the Center

November 7-9, 2007
Indianapolis, Indiana