Expanded workshop descriptions.  



Agenda - Thursday and Friday November 19th and 20th, 2009 at Norris University Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Below is the schedule of workshops for the Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference which will be part of the next conference, to be held on November 19 and 20 at the Northwestern University campus in Evanston.   If you'd like to present a workshop at a future conference, or be part of one of the tutor/mentor program panels, such as described below, email tutormentor2@earthlink.net to discuss your involvement.  
 

Review detailed descriptions of workshops  here.

Thursday November 19th, 2009

Registration - 8:00 to 9:00 am

Keynote and welcome: 9:00 am to 9:30 am

The State of Funding for Tutoring and Mentoring Programs and Non-Profits - Jill Zimmerman, Vice-President, The Alford Group

The presentation will provide the following:
* Overview of the non-profit sector
* Drivers that will influence changes in the future
* Review of 2008 Charitable giving
* Future predictions for 2010
* 12 Recommendations for 2010
 

Presentation PDF (TC)

Strengthening NonProfits White Paper, a May 2008 White Paper Commissioned by the Wallace Foundation

 

First workshops: 9:40 am to 10:50 am - 

Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Strategies
Panel discussion led by leaders of tutoring and/or mentoring programs.  Leaders share strategies for recruiting volunteers from businesses, universities, professional groups who serve as tutors/mentors, and as board members, technology support, organizers, and capacity builders.  

Facilitated by Nicole White, Tutor/Mentor Connection; Panel Includes: Samantha Boddapati, CPS Educational Support for Students Living in Temporary Living Situations, Gregory Girsch, LINK Unlimited, Sarah Hardin, Chicago Youth Programs, Scott McFarland, SERVE Illinois Commission
 


You are the Best! Strategies to Keep Mentors Happy - Presented by Xavier Salvado, Gads Hill Center

Why are mentors volunteering in your program? What makes them choose to stay with you? What makes them leave? This workshop will explore different strategies that you can use in your program to ensure that your mentors feel that they are making a difference and are willing to stay longer with you!

This workshop will explore the reasons that make people volunteer, and how one must make sure that your volunteer position is considering all those reasons when planning the volunteer job description. The session is intended for any level of program staff (we will discuss mentoring programs, but it can be applied to tutoring programs as well).
Lessons to take away:
- Most mentoring programs would not exist without volunteers. Therefore, mentors must be considered a fundamental piece in any program decision.
- It is crucial to know what your volunteer's expectations are.
- If a mentor/volunteer does not feel engaged & valued, he/she will leave the program.
- It is easy to keep your mentors happy!
 

 

Literacy Roundtable Quarterly Meeting - Led by Jenne Myers, Working in the Schools (WITS), http://www.witsinchicago.org

Like a collection of books, The Chicago Collection is a committed group of local literacy non-profits whose missions all revolve around promoting literacy in and around Chicago for adults, children and families that need it most.

With program staff and leadership committed to meeting on a quarterly basis to discuss challenges, ideas and strategies, we hope, as a collective group, to work collaboratively as advocates for literacy related issues and to find ways to work smarter together. Participation will also reinforce and improve our strengths in the not-for-profit literacy landscape.

Summary of Literacy Roundtable meeting, PDF

 

Building a Job Training and Career Development Program for Youth  - Presented by Alex Cornwell, Associate Director and Stacy Jackson, Director of  Chicago Lights Tutoring and Summer Day Program at Fourth Presbyterian Church http://www.chicagolights.org
This workshop will explore the “how-to” of creating and managing a successful job training and career development program for high school students. Participants will learn about the resources needed, share ideas on building a curriculum, and discuss the potential challenges and overall impact of a job training program for youth.

All tutor/mentor programs share the goal of positively contributing to the lives of youth. Generally that means providing the insights and tools youth will need in order to have a satisfying career as adults. This workshop will explore the “how-to” of creating and managing a successful job training and career development program for high school students. The design model for job training and career development used within the Chicago Lights Tutoring Program will be shared so that participants will learn about the resources needed to start a career development program, the nuts and bolts of designing a successful program, and the potential obstacles this type of program may encounter. Ideas on building an interesting and comprehensive curriculum for youth will be explored so that participants may design a program to fit their needs.

 

How to Help Your Students Finance College.
Presented by Annette Phillips, Outreach Liaison, Illinois Student Assistance Commission

Yes, our students can go to college!  This interactive session will introduce you to ways to pay for college, trusted sources of information, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, and frequently asked questions.  At this can't miss session you will receive samples of ready-to-use printed materials and become aware of interactive tools on the Web to help families manage the cost of college.

 

Second workshops: 11:00 am to 12:15 pm 

Impact Evaluation: From Basics to Best Practices, Presented by Susie Quern Pratt and Jenny Ellis Richards, Pratt Richards Group, Evanston, IL.  www.prattrichardsgroup.com
 Every nonprofit struggles with the notion of impact - how to understand, define and measure it; good, ongoing, evaluation practice is the place to start. This session is will provide an overview of evaluation definitions, tips and tools useful for learning about and articulating your impact. Participants will become better acquainted with common evaluation terms and concepts and will leave with some new ideas for, and approaches to, evaluation work.

This session will be interactive, and is open to all - nonprofit Executive Directors and program staff, board members, volunteers. If you attended this workshop in May, come again and share how you have used this information in your own planning.

View the PDF presentation of this workshop from May 09 conference.
 

Building Communications Skills in the Classroom and After-School
Presented by Elizabeth Condon, Leap Learning Systems
Participants will be introduced to two of Leap Learning Systems programs for school-age through high school students, and youth leaders who work with students in both classroom and after-school environments.

LASER (Leap's After School Enrichment Curriculum) teaches educators working in the after-school setting key language and literacy building strategies so that they can help students with poor academic achievement in grades one through seven to improve their reading skills.  Language for Scholars teaches students effective communication skills so that they are understood and responded to positively by their teachers, employers and peers.

The presentation will review activities that have been successful in improving students' academic standing in schools and after-school centers in Chicago.  We will also touch on how to find funding for partnering with outside vendors and professional development providers.

This presentation is intended to serve leaders, volunteers and anyone who works with youth in a classroom or after-school setting.

Participants will learn best practices for engaging youth in academics during after-school hours, and how to help their students develop strong communication skills.  A review of effective evaluations will be discussed, and participants will also learn how to forge successful relationships with professional development providers.
 

Maximize Youth Potential Through Academic Mentoring, presented by David Neils, Executive Director, International Telementor Program, http://www.telementor.org
Learn how a powerful academic mentoring program can put your students on the map in the areas of academic excellence in the core as well as solid career and education planning that is challenged and supported by the best professionals in the world. Thousands of GEAR UP students have been served and we welcome participation from staff representing federal and state education programs.

This workshop is for teachers, principals, administrators, government officials, and corporate managers who are interested in substantially raising the bar on academic performance and helping students become informed, connected and engaged with the help of successful professionals serving as mentors.
 

Online Fundraising 101 for Small Non-Profits - Desiree Vargas, President and Co-Founder and Ethan Austin, Co-Founder and Second Banana, GiveForward, http://www.giveforward.org
Long gone are the days when golf fundraisers and charity galas were the only ways to raise money.  In this session you will find out why more and more small non-profits are turning towards online fundraising tools to empower their supporters to become fundraising superstars.
This session will go over the basics of online fundraising and will show you how your organization can get started.  We will discuss some of the different online fundraising platforms in the industry, as well as go over fun and easy ideas to get your supporters excited about raising money for your organization.

This session is geared towards non-profit staff members who are looking to improve the effectiveness of their fundraising efforts. It will also be informative to volunteers who would like to learn how they can more easily support the organizations they care about.

You will learn:
   * The difference between a "donate now button" and a personal
fundraising page
   * The differences between online fundraising platforms such as Kintera,
FirstGiving, ActiveGiving and GiveForward
   * How to get your staff, donors, supporters and board members to start
fundraising for your organization

GiveForward is a Chicago-based social venture started by two people who had the idea that they could change the world by making it super-duper easy for people to raise money online for the things they care about


Tutoring Program Strategies - Jennifer Bricker and Devon Lovell, Family Matters, http://www.familymatters.org

Tutoring can be fun!  Participants of this session will explore several hands-on activities that they can adapt and bring back to their tutoring programs.  Easy-to-produce math games, manipulatives for teaching reading, and general tutoring activities will be covered.  Come discuss innovative ideas that can transform tutoring sessions from school-like bookwork to creative learning experiences, and engage a few of the experiences yourselves! 


Lunch & Networking - 12: 15 pm - 1:30 pm

12:50pm to 1:15 pm - Keynote Speaker

How Businesses and Non-Profits can Work Together by Providing Volunteers and their Skills - Tim Hogan, Partner/Creative Director, The Royal Order Experience of Design

In this session, Tim Hogan describes experience with T/MC first as volunteer art teacher, then as digital agency partner. As an introductory project, Tim's company has taken on the task of redesigning the tutormentorconnection.org website.  Small business owners with a staff of motivated volunteers and interns can dedicate skills and resources on a regular basis, when the non-profit organization is serviced as an actual client.

PDF OF Tim Hogan's presentation
 

First Afternoon workshops:  1:45pm to 3:00 pm 

Social Media Game - Twitter - How It Can Benefit Tutoring and Mentoring Programs, presented by Lovette Ajayi of Community Media Workshop.  http://www.newstips.org
It's easy to get overwhelmed deciding which social media tools your organization should use. Play the Social Media Game with Community Media Workshop to think about how to intentionally use those tools despite, or even because of, resource challenges. 

Also, if you're wondering what the hype about Twitter is and how it benefits you, this workshop is the one for you. Join as we discuss Twitter best practices and ways your organization can use it to further your mission. 

This workshop will is intended to serve those charged with advancing the missions of their organizations. Marketing and public relations staff, or anyone who does communications for their organization.

Attendees can expect to take away a better understanding of Twitter and why it has become the newest go-to place for organizations engaging in social media.
 

Student Recruitment Panel Discussion. Where do programs recruit students? How do they build regular participation, parent and school involvement?  Facilitated by Kathy Anderson, Wicker Park Learning Center http://www.wickerparklearningcenter.com/, Abby Kritzler, Dreams for Kids, Allison McKenna, Lifelink Foster Care and Latino Family Services
The speaker will talk about various ways to recruit students. The most important message she will share is that being open to the needs of the students helps a lot in recruitment as well as keeping students and getting additional students. She will discuss how thinking outside the box has always helped her over the years in getting and retaining students. Parents like to know they have options in terms of location and days and times of tutoring. They also value communication from the tutor as
well the program leader. They need to get a sense that you care about their child and that their child is not just one of the students that you work with. Also, being
available to talk with the parents and be a liaison between the parent and school is also very helpful.


Model-Coach-Fade - How to Teach Anything - Presented by Joshua Fulcher, Erie Neighborhood House, http://www.eriehouse.org
This workshop provides and teaches a structure for tutors to build a student's skill set for sustained academic improvement. It is a structure to teach virtually anything so students can work on their own. This method is used by Masters in Education programs across the nation.

This is a workshop for coordinators/directors to take back to their programs and train their tutors with. It is a training used to train tutors at Erie Neighborhood House. The workshop gives tutors a skill set or an approach to use when tutoring their student. So often we teach kids how to do one particular problem instead of how to do ALL the problems of that type. This is a method that tutors can use so that when the student goes home, they can finish their homework, on their own.


Using Maps to Create Collaborative Strategies. Presented by Daniel Bassill, President, and Mike Trakan, GIS Map Developer, of Tutor/Mentor Connection (http://www.tutormentorconnection.org  ).
Bassill and Trakan will overview collaboration strategies and uses of maps to draw volunteers and donors to different neighborhoods of a city, and to all tutor/mentor programs in each neighborhood.  The speaker will also show how Google Maps can be used to locate potential business, church and civic partners in the same neighborhood of tutor/mentor programs.  Demonstration of http://www.tutormentorprogramlocator.net will be included.

 

Second Afternoon workshops:  3:15 pm to 4:30 pm 

 

Creating Great Connections - The Basics of Brain Development - Presented by Deborah McNelis - Brain Insights
This workshop provides an overview of the basics of brain development. Through visual demonstrations you will gain insights into how you can have more impact on the learning brain. With this understanding, ideas are are also presented on how we can spread the word to those that can support of the needs for all young children.

This is designed for volunteers, leaders, and funders. It is meant to inspire everyone in an effort to support learning at any level.

 

Incorporating Writing Strategies into a Tutoring Program.
Presented by Patrick Shaffner, and Kait Steele, 826 CHI 
One of the largest areas of academics that students lag behind in is writing. Find out how one program incorporated writing into their tutoring program and has made writing fun for thousands of kids not just in Chicago - but in Boston, Los Angeles, Michigan, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle too!

 

Issues of Non Profit Management - 10 Tips for Staying Ahead in this Economy Presented by Jennifer Paul and Liz Livingston Howard, Northwestern University Center for Non-Profit Management, www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/research/nonprofit/index.htm

All nonprofit organizations are facing significant challenges in this economy. However this is not the time to suspend fundraising and marketing activity. This session will help leaders review critical elements of successful fundraising and marketing strategies.

This session is geared for nonprofit leaders and will help them review critical elements of fundraising and marking, think about key ways to maintain your strengths, and discuss current strategies to engage and cultivate stronger relationships.

 

Talking To Youth About Dating Violence - Presented by Mary Adele Revoy, Adolescent Development Specialist, Revoy Presentations, www.whoisrevoy.com

An educational seminar for mentors on the basics of adolescent brain development and the dynamics of teen dating violence. Topics include: basics of early and adolescent brain development; changes during puberty; thinking areas still developing; power of emotions; risky behaviors & passion; and the dynamics of dating violence.

This educational seminar is for leaders, volunteers, mentors and parents on the basics of adolescent brain development and the dynamics of teen dating violence.  Topics include: the basics of early and adolescent brain development; changes during puberty; thinking areas still developing; the power of emotions; adolescents' interest in risky behaviors & passion; and the dynamics of dating violence. Participants will receive information that will help them understand and relate to developing adolescents.  For example, participants will discuss how puberty is related to brain development and how both can impact decisions and behavior.  Moreover, participants will participate in a fun activity to understand the thinking areas that are still developing in the adolescent brain.  In addition, participants will be given ideas on how to talk to youth about healthy dating practices and what kind of dater they want to be.  These ideas will be supported by a packet of worksheets and handouts that the adults can share with the youth.  If time allows, information will also be shared on the youth workshop that is offered in schools and community groups that address the changes in their own brains and considerations when they date.

 

Friday November 20th, 2009

Registration - 8:00 am to 9:00 am

9:00 am to 9:30 am:  Keynote and welcome:

Testimonial from a former student. 
Isaiah Brooms, Director of Admissions at Westwood College - Virginia Ballston Campus
Isaiah Brooms is a long time alumni of The Cabrini Green Tutoring Program (Currently, Cabrini Connections). Formerly a teacher in the Chicago Public School System, he relocated from Chicago to recruit, coach and teach at a private school in Indiana, and is currently the Director of Admissions for Westwood College located in Arlington, VA. Isaiah spent his formative years living in Cabrini Green. However, at the age of fourteen he was awarded an academic scholarship to attend a private boarding school in Indiana. That experience changed the course of his life and set him on the path to who he is today. He attributes all his success to God and to the amazing mentors and coaches that invested the time and energy into helping him become a healthy child and more importantly giving him the courage to dream big.

 

First workshops: 9:40 am to 10:50 am - 

Understanding Tutor/Mentor Program Distribution in Chicago. Examples of student learning as a practical application.
In this session first year students from DePaul University will discuss what they have learned about Chicago, and what they have learned about the different tutor/mentor programs operating in Chicago. 

The goals of this project were describe as: "This quarter, our Explore Chicago: Growing Up in Chicago class will be researching, analyzing and projecting the need for Tutoring/Mentoring services in various areas of the city. We are working closely with Cabrini Connections, a tutoring/mentoring program that serves the children who live in Cabrini Green, a Chicago Housing Authority complex located near the corner of Halsted St. and Chicago Ave. The students will also be writing narratives about their work in the hopes of sharing information about tutoring/mentoring programs in Chicago with other interested people. Watch for the students’ weekly posts and follow the progress of their research."

Meet the students and read their Explore Chicago blog articles. Read more about this project.
 


Two Part Workshop 9:40am till 12:15 pm - Building Community Engagement: A Global Model with Local Foundations, Presented by Eric Davis, Founder of the Global Citizen Experience
GCE helps design and run customized demonstration programs -- from summer programs to school-year workshops -- that give schools and organizations the opportunity to provide customized professional development for their staff.  GCE helps instructors plan design and implement programs that connect curriculum across the spectrum of subjects and extend classroom learning into neighborhoods, cities, and the world at large.

This is a "working workshop."  We recommend that administrators, education coordinators, and teachers participate, ideally in teams of 2-5 people representing one organization.  We will work through portions of the assessment and visioning phases necessary to build school-year and summer programs.
 

The Breakthrough Network Model - no superstars needed, Presented by Bill Curry, Chief Operations Officer, Breakthrough Urban Ministries, http://www.breakthrough.org
Often youth leaders feel the pressure to be everything to every student. The pressures are great, so finding ways to share the burden and the joy is important for a youth leader to last in the field.  The Breakthrough Network Model suggests an innovative approach to growing mentoring relationships among a community of students and community of volunteers. This interactive workshop could be a significant breakthrough for you and the kids you serve.

This workshop is intended to reach out to those starting up a program, as well as those who are in programmatic decision-making positions. The Breakthrough Network model works to surround each child/youth in the program with at least 7 caring adults who aren't paid to be in the life of the child.  The approach runs programs that build needed skills in the student while increasing their access to long-term opportunities through the personal network they grow while in the program. The life transitions that take place for volunteers often leaves the student feeling abandoned, and the mentor feeling guilty when they leave a relationship.  The Network Model works to decrease these feelings by not relying on a single mentor, rather builds that village that will partner with the parent to raise the child.


Nonprofits and Social Media: Well Worth the Effort! - Presented by Holly Massey, Networker, Non-Profit Ingenuity http://npoingenuity.blogspot.com

Does your organization use social media?  Are you afraid of twitter?  Do you utilize YouTube?  This workshop will help professionals and volunteers learn about and become more comfortable utilizing social media.

Through actual demonstration, participations will learn how they can utilize social media to publicize what they are doing, connect with like minded individuals and work more effectively with children and youth. Even if you are VERY afraid of social media, you will come away with a comfort level and an understanding of what it is all about.

Tutor/Mentor Connection is now on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tutormentorteam as a result of attending a workshop like this in the May 2009 conference.
 

Second workshops: 11:15 am to 12:25 pm - 

Quantifying the Need: A multi-organizational collaboration to develop a statistically valid methodology for the quantification of desired frequency tutoring and mentoring programs - Presented by Bart Phillips, President of the Board, Community-Building Tutors and Meredith Wroblewski, American Statistical Association
Attendees will hear an overview of a project underway designed to develop a novel approach to influencing public policy around the necessary financial support of tutoring and mentoring programs in political districts. The project centers around the development of an objective measurement system designed to quantify the necessary frequency of tutoring and mentoring programs in communities of varying socio-economic status.

This presentation is aimed at leaders of tutoring and mentoring programs as well as community leaders and leaders of educational institutions. The presentation will start with a detailed overview of the project plan which will highlight the roles of the invested parties: Tutor Mentor Connection; American Statistical Association; local elected officials at the Alderman, state representative, and state senate level; administrative leaders from the Chicago Public School system and the Noble Charter School Network; and business leaders. The presentation will conclude with the proposed methodological approach that will be implemented to quantify the need for tutoring and mentoring programs in various communities.

Following the presentation, the attendees will be asked to contribute their perspective on the variables necessary to quantify the need for tutoring and mentoring programs in different communities, different quantitative and qualitative results of effective tutoring and mentoring programs, and standard metrics that should be put in place to evaluate the impact of tutoring and mentoring programs. Participants will have the opportunity to shape the statistical model that will be developed.
 

Mentoring Program Strategies - Issues and Best Practices. Panel Discussion  

Panel includes Joel Newman, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley, Christy Beigh-Byrne, Director of Mentor and Volunteer Services, Chicago Youth Centers, Elliott Donnelly Youth Center, Rose Mabwa, Mercy Housing Services

Mentoring programs have their own special needs and issues that differ greatly from tutoring program. Talk to a panel of mentoring program leaders on ways to make your mentoring program a success!


Engaging Athletes, Business Leaders and Celebrities as Advocates for Volunteer Based Tutor/Mentor Programs, panel discussion
In this panel discussion current and former college and professional athletes and business leaders will discuss ways to draw attention and support to volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs throughout a large metropolitan area,  and ways that they might work together to build more consistent year-round support of all tutor/mentor programs in their host city.  College and professional athletes and coaches are encouraged to attend. This PDF illustrates how Kurt Kittner, University of Illinois and NFL quarterback, draws attention to Cabrini Connections, and other tutor/mentor programs in Chicago.

Facilitated by Steve Miller, President of Legacy Mortgage Corporation
Panel members:
Kurt Kittner, University of Illinois and NFL Quarterback, associate with Jones Lang LaSalle, Americas.  Commentator with Illinois Football broadcasts on WIND (560 AM) radio..

El Da'Sheon Nix, Northwestern University and current Administrative Coordinator of Cabrini Connections

Megan Godfrey, former University of Illinois golfer and tutor/mentor at Oxford Learning in Arizona

Visit http://www.giveforward.org/cabrinitmc to see a campaign led by Kurt Kittner and El Da'Sheon Nix, to raise money for Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection.

 

 

Lunch & Networking - 12: 30 pm - 1:20pm

1:20pm to 1:45 pm - Keynote Speaker -

Presented by Valdis Krebs, http://orgnet.com/  and Jean Russell, http://nurture.biz/

PDF OF Thrivable Networks Presentation

Together, Valdis Krebs and Jean Russell explore, explain, and empower thrivable communities. Valdis specializes in social network mapping and analysis. Jean specializes in weaving and thrivability. Together, we work with both online and offline communities in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Valdis has worked with organizations such as IBM, CDC, Cleveland Foundation and Barr Foundation. Jean works with organizations including PeopleBrowsr, Community Media Workshop, and Inspired Legacies. Together, Valdis and Jean are working with several on-line social networks to weave thrivable communities.

Social network mapping allows us to see how communities and organizations work together. It helps groups understand how their connections help them be more thrivable.  In thriving communities, information and resources flow smoothly from where these assets exist to where they can be best applied. There is a sense that the well woven community becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Possibility and opportunity abound.

Friday afternoon workshops: 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm - 

Nudge the Net -- how do you mobilize your network to accomplish your goals?, Presented by
Valdis Krebs, http://orgnet.com/
Jean Russell, http://nurture.biz/

Building a  useful thrivable network is more than "networking" or it's on-line equivalent: "facebooking."  We build a thrivable network not just for ourselves but for those around us. When we each improve our individual networks, we all improve our community network -- as long as we are connected and have open flows amongst us.

The old strategy in human affairs was: be between -- be the gatekeeper around what you know and what you have. Only allow select individuals or groups through the gate. Much of the world still works this way, especially hierarchies and bureaucracies -- you must pay to play. With the internet, and the transparency it allows, a new strategy is coming into play: be among -- be the connector of those around you.  By developing the skill and reputation for connecting others, many will be drawn to you. Your network will grow for others will want to be connected to you -- to key individuals and groups you have access to.

Valdis Krebs and Jean Russell will walk you through this new strategy of  building a thrivable network. You will learn the process, and experience the practice through workshop exercises.  Valdis and Jean will explain the three, interconnected aspects of building a productive and thrivable network.

1) Know the Net -- how do you understand  your network and what it is today?

2) Knit the Net -- how do you improve your network to what it could be?

3) Nudge the Net -- how do you mobilize your network to accomplish your goals?

You will leave the workshop with actionable knowledge and simple rules you can use every day to improve your  network and that of those around you.
 

Inspiring others to Dream Big - Sandra Garest, Executive Coach and Senior Dream Manager, Floyd Consulting, http://www.floydconsulting.com

This session provides an overview of The Dream Manager Program and ways to apply the concepts in relationships and organizations.  It will engage participants in finding creative ways to lead others on their journey to finding and pursuing their passions and removing barriers keeping them from achieving their full potential.

Since the release of Matthew Kelly's best-selling book, The Dream Manager, countless organizations have explored ways to apply the concepts from the book to their people and teams.  Organizations are seeing how the concepts from the book encourage people to improve relationships, achieve dreams, advance personal health, foster work-life balance and inspire teamwork.

How can volunteer organizations and mentoring relationships inspire people to identify their dreams and provide ways to encourage them to go after those dreams?  What are the ways in which companies, teams, families and mentors can implement concepts from The Dream Manager in their ongoing activities and culture?  This session will provide a brief overview of The Dream Manager Program, provide ways to apply the concepts from the book to their work and teams and engage the audience in finding creative ways to lead others on their journey to finding and pursuing their passions.

Intended Audience:
Anyone interested in pursuing his or her dreams or anyone who has an interest in helping other people pursue their dreams should attend.  While the session is appropriate for anyone interested in applying the concepts to their personal life, it is particularly appropriate for managers, program leaders or mentors who would like to create innovative programs to help students, volunteers or members feel supported to go after their dreams and goals.

Expected Take-Aways:
After attending this session, participants will:
- Understand how The Dream Manager can positively impact organizations, teams and families
- Have participated in a Dream Session to expand their personal Dreamlist
- Be able to lead a group through a Dream-Storming session
- Have brainstormed possible ways to apply the concepts from the presentation to their own organization

-Have identified 3 dreams or goals that they can work on in the next 90
days
 

IDES Career Resources Network - Presented by LaMarr Johnson, Illinois Department of Employment Security
Demonstrations of One Source/Career Resources website that contain resources essential for establishing a career plan are illustrated. Introduced are 3 steps to a successful career plan: Explore Interests, Find Careers That Match & Develop A Plan of Action.  Topics included: Interest Profiler, Skills Assessment, Job Search, CIS Portfolio; Reality Check.

Live internet or power point demonstration of IDES One Source/Career Resources Network website. It will serve tutors, counselors, advisors, mentors and parents that advise others in the academic area.  Lesson 1: How to select a career. Lesson 2: Create portfolio to save assessment results and create/save resumes, course plans & favorite files.

 

Discussion of Findings from Tutor/Mentor Connection  Survey: What are the issues most important to you?
Panel Discussion led by Nicole White, Tutor/Mentor Connection Research and Networking Coordinator and Mike Trakan, GIS/Mapping Coordinator - Tutor/Mentor Connection, www.tutormentorconnection.org

We asked programs to rate what were their most important priorities at the start of the 2009-2010 school year? There were eight needs for the programs to prioritize. Nicole White summarized survey comments on her blog. These are posted below..

1. Finding operating dollars - This was the need that was given a high priority by programs and 53.9% said it was the highest priority. 18.8% said it was the 2nd highest priority, 6.3% said it was the 3rd highest priority, and 18.8% said it was the 4th highest priority. No one said it was the 5th 6th, 7th, or 8th highest priority.

2. Recruiting and retaining volunteers - This was the need that was also listed as the highest priority by 43.8% of the programs. 25% said it was the 2nd highest priority, 18.8% said it was the 3rd highest priority, 6.3% said it was the 4th highest priority and 6.3% said it was the 5th highest priority. No one said it was the 6th, 7th, or 8th highest priority.

3. Training volunteers - While I think is a very important need, because where is a program without properly-trained volunteers - it was judged by most to be the 5th highest priority with 40% responding that way. No one thought it was the highest priority, 13.3% felt it was the 2nd highest priority, 33.3% said it was the 3rd highest priority, 6.7% felt it was the 4th highest priority, no one felt it was the 5th highest priority, 6.7% said it was the 7th highest priority and no one thought it was the 8th highest priority.

4. Legal support - This was felt to be the least important need right now with 78.6% responding that it was the 8th highest priority. No one said it was the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th highest priority. 7.1% said it was the 6th highest priority, and 14.3% said it was the 7th highest priority.

5. Technology support- I was surprised that this was also not a very popular need with 42.9% saying it was the 7th highest priority. We always are looking for volunteers to help us with updating our websites and fixing our computers. Maybe programs don't realize how important their websites are for marketing and publicity and how important it is to have computers to help the kids learn. Anyway, no one said it was the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd highest priority, and 7.1% said it was the 4th highest priority. 21.4% said it was the 4th, and 21.4% said it was the 5th highest priority. 7.1% said it was the 8th highest priority.

6. Marketing and publicity - I feel like this coincides with funding because programs won't get funds if people don't know about them. This is why 35.7% said it was the 2nd highest priority even though no one said it was the highest priority. 21.4% said it was the 3rd highest priority, and 21.4% said it was the 4th highest. No one said it was the 5th highest, 14.3% said it was the 6th highest, 7.1% said it was the 7th highest priority, and no one felt it was the 8th highest priority.

7. Parental support - This was the only other need judged to be the highest priority other than finding funds and recruiting volunteers. 6.7% said it was the highest priority, but the majority of people judged it to be either the 4th or the 6th highest priority with 26.7% responding those ways. 6.7% also said it was the 2nd and 3rd most important need, 13.3% said it was the 5th highest priority, and 6.7% said it was the 7th and 8th highest priorities.

8. School Support - This was not the biggest priority either with the majority of the responses saying its the 6th most important priority at 26.7%. No one said it was the highest priority, 6.7% said it was the 2nd highest priority, 13.3% said it was the 3rd and 4th highest priority, 20% said it was the 5th highest priority, 13.3% said it was the 8th highest priority, and 6.7% said it was the least of the needs.

This will be one of the final workshops/discussions of the two-day conference. However, it is one that we hope will propel people into further networking and collaboration with each other, and the Tutor/Mentor Connection, in the next few months, so we can innovate solutions to some of these challenge.  Plan to attend and bring your own ideas.

 

 

 

Workshop Tracks:

There will be 4-5 workshops available during each time slot with time between each for networking and information sharing among participants.  The T/MC invites participants to think of the conference as a meeting place where they can bring a group who are interested in creating more tutor/mentor programs in a specific area, or in a specific focus area, such as health careers, technology, arts, etc.  Thus, if you'd like to organize a single workshop, or a conference within the conference, please contact us online or call 312-492-9614









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