Conference helps expand Tutor/Mentor Network

Last Friday nearly 100 people gathered at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago for a 34th Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference since May 1994. Visit the conference site to see the list of speakers and agenda.

The graphic shown here illustrates how a small group of volunteers has been growing since the November 2009 conference when Valdis Krebs introduced Social Network Analysis with this presentation. In the past year different volunteers have been learning to use SNA software to map the range of different organizations coming together at past conferences. This is one of the maps created since then, which you can see on this blog article.

These network analysis maps are intended to illustrate the role of a tutor/mentor program, and the Tutor/Mentor Connection, of bringing together a wide range of people and organizations so they can each expand their own knowledge and networks, leading to an increased ability for tutor/mentor programs in different parts of Chicago and other cities to stay available to youth, and constantly improve their impact.

I've written about conferences and network building in the past. I've also written about how difficult is to find the money to do this work as well as it needs to be done. I encourage you to read through the articles we've written. If you'd like to meet to learn more, just call 312-492-9614. If you see a way your company, foundation, faith group and/or university can help, or take a role, please get involved.