Thanks + Giving: Plan Ahead

On November 30 the Tutor/Mentor Connection will be hosting a one-day conference in Chicago. It's aim is to share information that helps more and better volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs be available for inner-city youth.

While I lead one of these programs and know from personal experience how these programs transform youth and adults, I also know how hard it is to find dollars to operate consistently from year to year. Thus, at this conference my goal is to draw programs leaders together to share ideas, build visibility, and to find ways to work together to draw needed dollars to all tutor/mentor programs, not just Cabrini Connections.

One strategy for this is to share some of the research that shows the need for learning supports, and for non-school programs. Here are three reports I encourage you to read and share with others:

The Essential Supports for School Improvement, published by the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago.

Policy Brief: Promoting a Systematic Focus on Learning Supports to Address Barriers to Learning and Teaching, found at the UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools . Open the What's New section and follow the links to the Student Support Initiative.

The Big Lie: Reframing Expectations of Afterschool Programs, by Dr. Robert Halpern of the Erickson Institute.

If life were a game of 'tag' then my purpose in writing this blog is to 'tag' others who will then carry this message into their own network of friends, family and co-workers. If these people 'tag' others, we can reach millions of potential volunteers and donors, who will be willing to share some of the blessings they celebrate during Thanksgiving and the year end holidays with one or more tutor/mentor programs operating in Chicago or other cities.

I hope that Cabrini Connections and the Tutor/Mentor Connection are among the organizations that you support with your donations.