Visual Thinking. Are You Asking?

Below are some images that I've created over the past decade to focus attention on the planning needed to make mentor-rich youth supports available to K-16 youth in every high poverty area of Chicago and other places.  Click on each image to enlarge and read what is shown.  

Three elements in this graphic. The "mentoring kids to careers" shows need for 12 years of continuous support. The "challenges" map in the middle shows barriers that need to be removed.  The map of Chicago emphasizes the need to use maps to show where kids need extra help, the availability of existing programs, and the flow of resources, etc.

This further emphasizes "mentoring kids to careers" is a long-term goal. It's not enough to have a great program serving kids at one grade level, or in one neighborhood. 

Think through the entire process.  Stories about violence or poverty lead us to want to connect kids with tutors and/or mentors. However, to reach kids in high poverty areas of big cities for many years we need organized programs.  Many are needed. Maps can show this. So  how do we generate the flow of resources to build and sustain great programs in more places? 

Tipping points. Are you thinking of how many talented, dedicated, informed people are needed to staff the many tutor/mentor programs needed in big cities like Chicago. Or in rural areas and reservations? Are you also thinking of ways to educate people in business, philanthropy and/or politics so they become more proactive in providing the operating resources each program needs?   This needs to be a degree program at one or more universities.  

Visualize the planning process.  At the right is the goal of helping kids in all high poverty areas get the support they need to move from birth-to-work. At the left is a reminder that we need to influence leaders and build public will to provide operating resources to support needed programs for many years.

YOU can make a difference.  Be the YOU in this graphic. As you look at my articles and visuals find ways to share these with your family, co-workers, friends and wider network. 

These images have been used in past blog articles along with hundreds of others.  You can find some collections of images on my Pinterest page.   

Maybe the easiest way to find specific images is to do a search on Google using "tutor/mentor" plus any word on this Tag cloud.

Then look at the images page.  Many will be ones that I have created ( or interns working with me have created) and used in blog articles or PPT essays.  

Below is a presentation showing some of the graphics I've created. 

Tutor/Mentor Institute, llC Strategy Graphics from Daniel Bassill

As you look at my visuals I encourage you to copy those you like into Power Point, then share them with others. Or create your own versions. Share them with me and others on one of these social media platforms. 

If you know of other websites and/or blogs where people are sharing visualizations like I do, especially focused on helping kids in poverty areas, please share them with me.  Ideally there will be at least one person or group in every city doing exactly what I've been doing.

Want to help?  Visit my "fund T/MI" page and send a small contribution.