VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH T/MC > Tutor/Mentor Connection

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Tuesday, August 22, 2006

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH T/MC
By nsbyrer @ 4:52 PM :: 574 Views :: Cabrini Connections, Events, T/MC, Volunteering

It takes a village to raise a child. Volunteers are needed who will use their talent to help build strong tutor/mentor programs. Not everyone can be a one-on-one tutor/mentor and not everyone can be a high powered fund raiser. However non profits have the same functional responsibilities of for profit businesses. Since dollars are so scarce to hire professional staff, volunteers are needed to play important roles in these organizations.

Call us (312-492-9614) or email (tutormentor2@earthlink.net ) if you are interested in helping the Tutor/Mentor Connection on one or more of the project areas described in this article.. This list is organized alphabetically. Volunteers can serve on more than one committee and can also be one-on-one tutors/mentors in Cabrini Connections or any other tutor/mentor program in Chicago or another city at the same time as they volunteer with the T/MC.

Participate in on-line Tutor/Mentor Connection Forums. Become part of elearning and e-collaboration teams that build the capacity of the Tutor/Mentor Connection and support the growth of tutor/mentor programs in all parts of Chicago and in other major cities.

Forums have been set up in the Discussion area for some of these subject areas. If you are interested in participating, you can simply log into a forum and introduce yourself. If there is no discussion focused on a specific topic, that means no volunteer has yet come forward to lead the discussion.

If you are interested in this role, email tutormentor2@earthlink.net so we can help you set up a discussion group in the portal.

Communications Committee - There are dozens of powerful stories in every volunteer-based tutor/mentor program. However, there are not enough talented writers telling these stories, and aggregating them on web sites, blogs, in books, or in TV programs, so that they collectively create a public appreciation for what a tutor/mentor program is and where they are needed. Writers are needed to research, and write the tutor/mentor story. This can be part of an organization?s volunteer recruitment and recognition strategy. It can be part of a training strategy.

Volunteers are needed who can do desk top publishing, build and maintain web pages, do photography, build relationships with media and who can Blog the tutor/mentor message through the Internet. Volunteer roles can be on-going or by project. Time commitment: varies

Computer/Technology Committee - The committee is responsible for developing and implementing the technology plan for the Tutor/Mentor Connection. This ranges from determining the technology needed, to getting the technology from a variety of fund raising efforts, to working with teens and volunteers to maximize uses of the technology. Time Commitment: Approx. 4-8 hours per month

Database/documentation/ Technology Committee - Do you know about RSS feeds? Are you familiar with XML or GML databases? If so, you are the kind of volunteer who can help the T/MC develop and maintain interactive databases that collect and share information about tutor/mentor programs in Chicago and other cities, and about the foundations and businesses who support these programs. The primary goal of this committee is to develop an Internet-based database that collects information from various entry points and supports multiple users and purposes. Volunteers working on this project should have extensive experience in database design, but can be located in any part of the world.

Educational/Training Resource - In the LINKS library we have set up sections with links to on-line learning resources, and to programs that model innovative forms of tutoring, mentoring, youth development, and college and career readiness. We are looking for volunteers who will take a role in organizing training through the Discussion Section of this portal, through the May and November Conferences, and through eConferences. The goal is to help leaders, volunteers and students find the many learning opportunities that are on the Internet, and maximize the use of these resources in tutor/mentor programs all over the country. Time Commitment: Appox: 1-4 hours per month

Evaluation and Documentation Committee - An Evaluation forum has been set up in the Discussion portal. The volunteers who work on this committe are willing to go beyond talking about what needs to be done, or what resources need to be available. They work together and with the T/MC to innovate and create evaluation and management systems that make it easier to collect and document actions and outcomes from volunteers, students and other stakeholders, as well as to analyze, evaluate and share this information with an extended network of program leaders and supporters throughout the country.

Fund raising/Innovations in Philanthropy- Without increasing the flow and distribution of flexible operating dollars to volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs, and to intermediaries like the Tutor/Mentor Connection, it will be nearly impossible for the nation to make a significant impact on the movement of youth living in concentrated poverty through school and into careers. We seek volunteers who will work together to innovate new ways to create revenue that supports dozens of programs in every city, not just one or two high profile programs in a few neighborhoods. Time Commitment: Approx. 4-6 hours per month

GIS Mapping/Youth Apprentice - The maps hosted on T/MC web sites have been created by volunteers. A GIS and Database Discussion forum has been set up to attract additional volunteers who will work with the T/MC to make this capacity available on a more consistent basis. This team will also innovate ways to make an Internet based GIS available to tutor/mentor programs in many different locations, and who will teach teens to create map views and web pages that show where tutor/mentor programs are needed and where they are located. This is a career development activity. Time Commitment: Approx 4-6 hours per month.

Net-Worker - The easiest, and possibly most important role anyone can take is that of a Net-Worker. This is someone who actively spreads the word about tutoring/mentoring to others. Just by encouraging someone to visit this web site you enlarge the army of tutors/mentors and resource builders in Chicago. You can spread the word through church sermons, web site links, email, letters, word-of-mouth.

Chicagoland Tutor/Mentor V olunteer Recruitment Campaign Committee - A discussion forum exists for the Volunteer Recruitment Campaign. We seek volunteers who will take a lead in organizing activities that generate public awareness and draw volunteers and donors directly to the T/MC and to other tutor/mentor programs in Chicago and in other cities. Time Commitment: Approx. 4-6 hours per month

Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference and Volunteer Training Committee - Each May and November the Tutor/Mentor Connection organizes a conference in Chicago and eConferences on the Internet. These focus on strategies that help all tutor/mentor programs have the training and leadership needed to be successful. They also create public awareness that increase the flow of needed resources to all tutor/mentor programs. Volunteers are needed to help organize the conferences, recruit and train speakers, recruit sponsors and donors, etc. A focus of this group is the education of business, media and philanthropic partners so that tutor/mentor programs and networks become established in hundreds of places around the country. Time Commitment: Approx. 3-6 hours per month

While we need help, hundreds of other tutor/mentor programs in Chicago also need help. If you want to volunteer at Cabrini Connections (http://www.cabriniconnections.net/ ) or in another neighborhood program, visit the Program Locator to find contact information for other programs in Chicago. Use the on-line Links library to learn about the various types of tutor/mentor programs that operate in different parts of the country and learn where and why these programs are needed.

If you are interested in exploring your involvement in any of these volunteer roles, please introduce yourself in the forums, or email the Tutor/Mentor Connection.

It does take a village to raise a child. Each of the roles described above need to be filled by talented, dedicated and responsible people.