Conference Tomorrow! 31st Since 1994.

Tomorrow we'll be hosting the Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference, at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. This will be the 16th year we've hosted these conferences. They bring together leaders of tutor/mentor programs in Chicago and other cities, along with people who are interested in starting new programs, or who are involved from a research, public education, philanthropy, or business perspective. You can read what Chris Warren and Nicole White have to say about the conference on their blogs (both work for me at Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection).

So why do we do this?

I keep connecting with former students and volunteers from past years. Many tell me how much they appreciated being part of the program. Some of the volunteers boast, just like parents, at how well their students are now doing. However, many also show how much they still need help.

That's why I keep doing this. It has meant something to hundreds of youth and adults, and it has created connections between rich and poor that would not exist if we had not enabled the connection by hosting the program.

It's still needed. That's why we need help. You can read what El Da'Sheon Nix wrote about the funding challenge, on his blog.

However, we're not the only program that needs help, or is doing good work. The purpose of the conference, and the Tutor/Mentor Connection, is to raise visibility for all programs in the city, to help each program get ideas that help them keep long term connections with kids and adults.

More than that, there are neighborhoods without any tutor/mentor programs. I received an email from the ED of another program this week, asking if I could help find a mentor for a 12 year old girl living near 63rd and Kedzie. There are few programs in that part of the city, meaning while the parent is looking for help, nothing will be there until community members, faith leaders, businesses and elected leaders provide the time, talent and dollars, to launch a program to serve that area.

By hosting the conference we help our own program, and we help others build programs in every neighborhoods.

If you think this if valuable, why not help us by becoming a sponsor, or donor?