Maps can show where tutor/mentor programs are needed, and why they are needed. Visit the Tutor/Mentor Blog, Map Gallery, and Program Locator to see examples of how T/MC is following stories in Chicago media with follow up map-stories intended to draw volunteers and donors into neighborhoods which the media point to when they do "bad news" stories and give them feature attention in print and media.

In 24 states voters cast ballots to determine who would be candidates for the next President. While that election won't be decided until November, you can vote today, tomorrow and every day, to make a difference in your community, by the way you get involved with non profit groups.  Today's Chicago SunTimes editorial says "Still Want to Make a Difference?" and gives five ways, including tutoring kids, where you can get involved.

The SunTimes editorial points to this web site, as a place to find volunteer opportunities.  Click on the Find A Program link and you can find links to web sites of more than 200 different organizations. Some have multiple sites. Some have great web sites. Some are small single sites.  They all need help from volunteers, and from donors. 

If you are overwhealmed by the information on this web site, start here, and learn how this can be a resource for not only finding a volunteer-opportunity, but for staying involved and making a difference in the lives of children throughout the Chicago region.

Not in Chicago?  The information on this site is valuable for volunteers, program leaders, donors and business leaders in every major city of the US where there are high concentrations of poverty.  If you don't have an agency like the Tutor/Mentor Connection, maintaining a database of local programs, then borrow our idea and build one.  If you need reasons why, then read the articles in the research section of this web site.  Want help?  Email the Tutor/Mentor Connection at tutormentor2@earthlink.net

On February 12 and 13, 2008 the President's Council on  Service and Civic Participation  will convein a CEO Summit, aimed at challenging corporate leaders to leverage their employees' professional skills to help the non-profit sector achieve more meaningful outcomes for communities. Learn more at

https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=157462

After the Summit, invite your CEO to review the strateges of the Tutor/Mentor Connection and become a strategic partner, using the talent of  a corporation to help develope the future and current workforce of that corporation and industry.  View the T/MC vision: http://cmapspublic.ihmc.us/servlet/SBReadResourceServlet?rid=1178301962705_378512451_14531&partName=htmltext

"This is the best conference I've attended. It's awesome!" That was what one participant at the November 15 and 16, 2007 Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference had to say. Check out the agenda at http://www.tutormentorconference.org

A few photose from the conference are posted at http://tutormentor.blogspot.com . More will be posted on the conference web site.

While we're already planning the next conference, which will be May 29 and 30, 2008. there's lots of work we can do in the next six months to make more and better tutor/mentor programs available to inner city kids.  Join us in this web site's discussion forums or on Facebook, and other networking  forums to share your ideas and find ways to collaborate.

One of the most proven ways to recruit new volunteers is to have your current volunteers ask friends and co-workers to volunteer with them.  We've created a template letter that you can use. Just personalize it with your own information and experiences.  If  you'd like to have more male volunteers, ask your volunteers to just send this to five men they know who might volunteer. If you're looking for technology help, send it to technology people.

Visit the Discussion Forum to share your own recruitment strategies or to join with the Tutor/Mentor Connection in a citywide volunteer mobilization effort.