Visit http://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com to view a map showing locations of organizations who participated in the May 29 and 30 conference which was held in Chicago. While the conference is over, the issues we focus on are not yet solved. There are not enough volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs in high poverty areas, and the infrastructure to support programs is weak. The map reinforces this and can is intended to encourage volunteers and donors to contact the various programs who participated in the conference to offer time, talent and dollars.

You can learn more about the May conference agenda at http://www.tutormentorconference.org/descriptions.asp .  You can browse the attendee list to see who registered, and to contact people  who you'd like to network with.  Hopefully this helps more people working to support tutoring/mentoring in different locations stay connected, and find ways to help each other.

We're now beginning to look forward to the August/September Volunteer Recruitment Campaign and a November networking event and conference.  If you would like to share information about your tutor/mentor strategy, or share expertise in fund raising, marketing, evaluation, collaboration, etc. use the presenter form on the conference site to submit your workshop proposal so you can be part of a future conference.

We have more than 1400 links on this web site, to people and organizations whose knowledge we value, and share so others can learn from you.  The conference is an oppportunity for some of these organizations to meet face-to-face, share what they do via workshops, and expand the network of people who work together to help kids move from poverty, through school, and into jobs and careers.  The conference is a grass roots, collaboration, of many different organizations who share the same ultimate goal.  We hope you'll make time to join us in online forums or upcoming events.

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.

This week two events are being held which connect college and business volunteers with inner city kids. You can read about these on the Tutor/Mentor Blog and the Cabrini Blog. 

Our use of blogs illustrates a strategy small non profits can use to tell their story and reach potential volunteers and donors. As you develop your Back-to-School Volunteer Recruitment Campaign, think of using a blog, and of linking your blog to the Tutor/Mentor Blog, as part of a strategy to get the attention of a greater number of potential volunteers.  Just email your web address to us, or introduce yourself with a comment on the Tutor/Mentor Blog or in the Discussion Forums on this site.

If you lead a business, professional group, health care organization, church or alumni group, and want to lead a strategy where you connect your network to tutor/mentor programs in Chicago or in your own community, email tutormentor2@earthlink.net for our help in developing this strategy.