Think of this as a "Paetron" or "Go Fund Me" page.
The Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) has been a gift to Chicago and the world since it was conceived in 1993 and launched in January 1994...23 years ago! Help continue this vision.
 

 

View this TIMELINE to see growth since 1992.   Read Dan's 2016 Holiday Appeal Letter

Look at the other "intermediaries" in Chicago and around the country. Do they offer the same range of resources and ideas? Have they been doing this for over 20 years?
 

 

See past print newsletters.   See past media stories.  See 10-21-2015 Chicago Tribune story

Leaders in business have talked of the importance of sharing knowledge, such as in this
2003 quote by Mr. Tim Wilmot. Chief Knowledge and Evaluation Officer, Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation:

"When nonprofit and community leaders share ideas, insights and information in ways that promote social impact...knowledge-sharing can improve organizational effectiveness.  When we share what works and what doesn't... it results in accelerated learning, less reinventing the wheel, better service, and measurable results."

In 1998 the Tutor/Mentor Connection launched its first web site with the help of volunteers from the Cabrini Connections* program. In 2004 a searchable directory was launched and in 2005 the Tutor/Mentor Blog was launched. In 2008 an interactive, map-based directory was launched (but now needs talent or donations to keep it working).  Through the years T/MC has responded to questions from parents, social workers, media, volunteers and people looking for information for starting programs, or for sustaining them. 
 


More than 1000 organizations have participated in 42 Tutor/Mentor Conferences held between May1994 and November 2014. See story about visualizing conference participation.   Dozens of media stories have been generated that focus on tutor/mentor programs in all parts of Chicago, not just one tutor/mentor program in Cabrini Green. Many people have benefited from the information we collect and share.

Funding for this work never has been consistently available and has been even more difficult to obtain since 2001 due to the dot.com financial melt-down after 2001 and the great recession that started in 2008, as well as man made and natural disasters throughout the past 15 years. 

Despite these obstacles Dan Bassill, founder of the Tutor/Mentor Connection, has continued to persevere on a vision that mentor-rich tutoring, mentoring and learning programs like the programs he led at Montgomery Ward since 1974, should be available to k-12 youth in all high poverty neighborhoods of every major city in the country.   See Why I do This article from October 2015.
 

 
The Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC was created by Daniel F. Bassill in July 2011 to support the on-going activities of the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) in Chicago and to help similar groups grow in other cities.  Rather than create a new non profit T/MC our goal is to embed this strategy in many different institutions and support it with consulting and services of a Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC.

*Since mid 2011 the Tutor/Mentor Connection has operated separately from the Cabrini Connections direct service program.


This map shows the platform Dan has been trying to build for more than a decade. It shows many areas where others can share ownership and responsibility for building this platform and for encouraging others to use it.

What VALUE does this platform offer?  View this PDF to see how this benefits business, non profits, and anyone spending time and dollars aimed at helping youth in poverty move through school and into jobs and careers.


Rather than trying to be the single leader in a huge city, the T/MC and now T/MI, have sought to provide an information platform that all leaders can use to innovate ways to support tutor/mentor program growth in more places.  While there is one map for Chicago there are thousands of leaders.

Resources supported by your contributions, sponsorship and/or partnership

Chicago Tutor/Mentor Program Locator Interactive Map Directory
Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conferences
Tutor/Mentor Chicago Youth Program Links library
Tutor/Mentor Institute
Tutor/Mentor Institute Concept Map Library
Tutor/Mentor Blog and Mapping for Justice Blog
Tutor/Mentor Connection Library
Monthly eMail Newsletter
Tutor/Mentor Connection Forum and Social Media Network

 

On crowdfunding sites like "GoFundMe" people are raising money for hospital bills, college fees, arts projects, etc. Many are not 501-c-3 non profits.

If you have made a gift to the Tutor/Mentor Connection in the past, please recognize 24 years of work, and the VISION of Dan Bassill,  with a 2017-18 gift of $20 or more.  Become a volunteer, advocate and/or partner and help Dan find sponsors, investors and partners to build this platform for future use.

 

Use PayPal to send your contribution

Mail your gifts to
TUTOR/MENTOR INSTITUTE, LLC
c/o Merchandise Mart PO Box 3303
Chicago, Il. 60654

Use this form to contact Dan Bassill and Tutor/Mentor Institute

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