Speakers and workshop presenters who will be part of the June 7th conference.
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered time to present information at the
Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference. The roster is subject to change prior
to the June 7 conference. Register using
on-line form or by printing and mailing or faxing
this form.
If you would like to present a workshop or submit
handouts,
submit an idea using this form, or email
tutormentor2@earthlink.net
Workshop and Panel Participants:
Daniel F. Bassill, President,
Tutor/Mentor Connection and
Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
Dan Bassill has spent more than 40 years, mostly as a volunteer, leading
organizations that connect workplace volunteers with youth living in inner-city
neighborhoods like Chicago's Cabrini-Green. He and six other volunteers formed
Cabrini Connections in 1992 and the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) in 1993.
Through the TMC, and the Internet, Bassill leads a global learning strategy
intended to draw needed resources to all volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs,
including Cabrini Connections, in Chicago and other major cities. Bassill was a
Commissioner on the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteering and Community
Service from 2001 - 2009. In July 2011 Bassill created Tutor/Mentor Institute,
LLC as a new strategy to support the Tutor/Mentor Connection in Chicago and
similar strategies in other cities. Visit
http://www.tutormentorconnection.org ; and
http://tutormentor.blogspot.com
Marie Beasley, Graduate Student,
Morgan State University
Workshop topic: Impacting Academic Achievement by Building Scholastic
Long-Term Learners
Marie E. Beasley is a doctoral student at Morgan State University's Department
of Urban Educational Advanced Studies Leadership and Policy. In brief, my
dissertation research focuses on understanding mentor/mentee relationship and
its impact on academic achievement. I currently intern for a non-profit
organization that works to reduce risk factors and increase opportunities for
youth. My sincere passion for young students has fostered my commitment to
become involved in researching various intervention programs that support
at-risk students.
Jillayne Benjamin, Program Manager,
Working in the Schools (WITS)
Workshop topic: Building Strong Programs: How to Leverage Evaluation to
Strengthen Program Practices
Jillayne Benjamin holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and minor in Spanish from
the University of Arizona. In 2007, Jillayne completed her Master's Degree in
Child Development from Erikson Institute. Jillayne has over 10 years of
experience working with children and their families in various settings. She has
taught 2nd and 3rd grade, preschool, and lead various after-school programs.
Jillayne also completed a yearlong internship at Children's Memorial Hospital
where she coordinated the education of patients ranging from 3-18 years old.
Most recently, she was the Program Director at Common Threads, a non-profit
organization that teaches children and families about nutrition and culture
through cooking.
Brandon Bodor, Executive Director,
ServeIllinois Commission on Volunteering and Community Service
Workshop topic: Intelligence
Gathering-Network Building
Brandon T. Bodor was appointed by Governor Pat Quinn as Executive Director of
the Serve Illinois Commission on May 17, 2012. He is coming off of a
distinguished military career in the United States Army, which included combat
deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan between 2005 and 2012. Bodor is the
recipient of two Bronze Star Medals, the Combat Action Badge, and is a graduate
of both U.S. Army Ranger and Parachute schools. Bodor graduated from the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point in 2005, finishing in the top 3% of his class. At
West Point, he served as Class Treasurer, was the Director of both the Special
Olympics and Big Brothers Big Sisters programs, and spent a summer working on
HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives in a village in the southern African country of
Lesotho. He continues to serve as an Army Reservist out of Fort Sheridan,
Illinois, and is currently completing his MBA at the University of Chicago Booth
School of Business. He resides with his wife and two sons in Chicago.
James Borishade, CEO, Planned Life
Education
Workshop topic: How to motivate your teen.
James Borishade has more than 17 years of educational experience as a Teacher,
National Director and presenter. He has worked to provide innovative resources
and tools to more than 15,000 students throughout the country. While serving as
an educator, Mr. Borishade became the person other teachers would send their
students for behavioral modification. Mr. Borishade was selected by one of the
nation's leading non-profits to lead a 30 person team assigned to work with
schools implementing experiential education in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minneapolis,
Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio, Missouri and Michigan. Through this effort, he helped
forge partnerships with DePaul University; Illinois State University; Loyola
University; University of Kentucky; University of Missouri; Kansas City;
University of Wisconsin; and Ohio State University. His work with students was
recently featured in the text book, "Careers in Child Development".
Steve Braxton, Bishop, Light of Illinois Diocese
Workshop topic:
Stopping
The Violence: The embodiment of core values and keys components that must be
employed and embraced
Rev. Braxton is a faith leader, mentor, coach, youth counselor and crisis
intervention professional. He is also an advisor, Restorative Criminal Justice
Facilitator, moderator and presenter.
Daniel Cotter, Vice President,
General Counsel & Secretary, Fidelity Life Association, Chair of the
Executive Committee of Layers Lend A
Hand to Youth
Workshop topic: Mobilizing
Business and Professional Volunteers
Daniel Cotter is a founding Member of Korey Cotter Heather & Richardson, LLC, a
full-service law firm serving business needs. Dan is Chair of Lawyers
Lend-A-Hand to Youth and is Treasurer of the Chicago Bar Association. He
provides services to many startups, small businesses and non-profits and
counsels them on various aspects of their businesses. He is a frequent lecturer
and writer on various topics. Daniel Cotter recently returned to the practice of
law inhouse at Fidelity Life Association, where he is Vice President, General
Counsel & Secretary.
Kelly Fair, Founder/Executive Director,
Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring
Program
Workshop topic: Panel Discussion-How
to Build Collaborative Support from Business and Professionals
Kelly Fair is a graduate of Howard
University and holds a master's degree from the University of Iowa. As an active
member of the Chicago community, Kelly serves on the Bronzeville Community
Action Council, the Advocacy Council of Women Employed, Inc., and previously the
Christ Universal Temple Board of Directors.
As a manager at McGraw-Hill, Kelly implemented launch campaigns
for two innovative literacy programs as well as implemented training for Chicago
Public School research studies. At Christ Universal Temple, she served as a
program manager and curriculum designer for the Project Achieve College Prep
Program.
In the Summer of 2009, she founded the Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program.
Polished Pebbles focuses on making sure girls understand the importance of
being good communicators in all areas of life. Kelly is passionate about
communication for several reasons, including her training as a speech language
pathologist, but also because she was an extremely shy girl when she was in both
elementary and high school. Therefore, her mission is making sure that girls
are involved in activities and experiences that clearly demonstrate to them how
important effective communication skills are to their personal lives, academic,
and future professional success. Polished Pebbles has served over 300 girls
ages 7-17 years old, through 7 sites at University of Chicago Charter Schools,
Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Housing Authority. Over 100 volunteer
mentors throughout the Chicagoland community, Bloomingdale's Department Stores,
the Microsoft Store, ThoughtWorks, IIT, and 107.5 WGCI have supported the
program. Their latest efforts include launching a South African Virtual
Exchange Program this Spring. You can find more information at www.polishedpebbles.com.
Gary Goldman, Author, Empowering Students to
Transform Schools
and President, KidzAmerica.net
Workshop topic: Creating Caring and Safe Youth Centered Communities
Gary Goldman holds an M.A. in organization
development and is a nationally recognized leader in education reform and youth
empowerment for over 25 years. His mission is to empower students and adults as
leaders, change agents, and lifelong learners who work collaboratively for
building healthy and safe communities. He is the co-author of Empowering
Students to Transform Schools. He has worked to build sustainable and healthy
communities in Chicago K-12 schools and communities across the nation. Goldman
has developed a comprehensive youth-centered community model and is working
collaboratively on a national Education Empowerment Plan utilizing the power of
innovative and sustainable youth/community development. He has been featured in
the media including CBS, NBC, ABC, WGN, CNN, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago
Tribune, and has hosted his own weekly Chicago radio show, A Voice for America's
Children. He has presented at major conferences including the Illinois Mayor's
Conference, National Governor’s Conference, United States Mayors
Conference, and the Council of Great City Schools. Mr. Goldman has published
articles nationally on his innovative work and has guest lectured overseas and
at major universities including Northwestern, DePaul, Loyola and the University
of Illinois on educational leadership and reform and student empowerment
Derrick Grace, President, GRACE
Media Group, Film Producers of
Award Winning {www.onthefrontlinemovie.com}
On The Front Line
Workshop topic: Panel
Discussion - Peace Summit ideas
As president of GRACE Media Group, Derek Grace has produced
documentaries and promotional videos for the past 20 years. Before pursuing a
career in video production, he spent 10 years as a computer programmer and
systems engineer with the IBM Corporation. Derek has been passionately involved
with, and deeply committed to youth programs for many years. He has produced
several video projects that deal with day-to-day issues that teenagers face, but
has not produced a video more important and urgent than ON THE FRONTLINE: Taking
Back Our Streets.
Derek wants viewers of ON THE FRONTLINE: Taking Back Our Streets to understand
that there is something that we all can do to prevent gun violence. He based the
entire documentary on the belief that "If we ALL do a little, a LOT can be
done".
Guillermo Gutierrez, Urban Involvement Coordinator,
BUILD, INC
Workshop topic: Mentoring
Urban Youth
BUILD' Mission is to engage at-Hope youth in
the schools and in the streets so they can realize their educational and career
potential and contribute to the stability, safety and well being of our
community.
As a practitioner of Positive Youth Development Guillermo Gutierrez has been
servicing the greater Chicago community providing resources as well as
advocating for marginalized youth to create self sustainability paths of success
for youth. Through and Asset Based Approach Guillermo has transformed lives with
array of youth with challenges from being incarcerated to self esteem
challenges.
Terrence Harrington, Executive Director,
Helping Others Provide Excellence
Workshop topic: Nonprofit communicators
workshop: Web sites and Newsletters that Work
Terrance brings skills from the nonprofit, business and military sector to his
services as an executive coach and capacity-building consultant and trainer on a
range of topics, including raising funds from individuals, foundations and
corporations, board development, organizational development, marketing and
strategic planning. In addition to providing consulting services, Terrance
develops high-impact training and educational programs focusing on building the
effectiveness, capacity and sustainability of nonprofit organizations, and
strengthening management and leadership skills of executives and board members.
He has been coaching and consulting for nonprofit organizations for more than 10
years.
Rena Henderson Mason, President,
Bold Agenda, www.boldagenda.net
Workshop topic:
Building Muscle on your Board - Recruiting, Retention and Evaluation
Rena Henderson Mason leads Bold Agenda, a consulting firm focused
on empowering board and staff leaders to embrace change, push bold ideas and
build great teams through a range of cycles. Currently, Rena serves on the Arts
Alliance Illinois board and brings knowledge of housing and social services
through her former board service.
Prior to launching Bold Agenda, Rena spent over 20 years helping scale
businesses in the food, commercial real estate, publishing and investment
banking industries. Rena has an MBA from Harvard University and Bachelorâ??s in
Finance from Georgetown University. She is a BoardSource Certified Governance
Trainer and experienced facilitator.
Jordan Hestermann, Founder/Executive
Director, Becoming We
The People
Workshop topic: Ten tips to be a More Outstanding Leader
Jordan Hestermann is the Founder and Executive Director of Becoming We The
People, a non-profit organization working toward ending poverty as a means of
realizing equality through several initiatives. She received her bachelor's
degree in management and marketing from DePaul University and will receive her
MBA from California State University in December. She leads workshops and
seminars regularly on leadership, networking, business-related topics,
communication, poverty, racism, and more.
Kevin Hogan, Manager of Development
Communications for the Saint Anthony
Hospital Foundation
Workshop topic: How Many, How Often, How Well, THEN How Much - Guide for fund
raising
Kevin Hogan has worked for the Saint Anthony Hospital Foundation in Little
Village returning from teaching English as a Second (and Third) Language to
elementary and high school students at a public school in Tapa, Estonia. Before
living and working a couple of hours from the Russian border, Kevin was the
Manager of Corporate and Foundation Grants for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.
Prior to working for the Y, he was a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Bernard Key,
Technologist,
Key Link
Technologies
Workshop topic: Building Collaborative Support
from Business and Professional Associations, panel discussion
Bernard Key, Technology Consultant for Key Link Technologies has been involved
in the community and schools for the past 20 years. As a consultant, he was one
of the lead project managers responsible for deploying wireless technologies in
Chicago schools in the 90s. Mr. Key implemented, designed and deployed WIFI
solutions for over 100 public and private schools and community centers. His
wireless infrastructure
design is now a standard for many of the inner city schools. As a result,
students are not confined to the classroom, desk or building.
During project deployment, Mr. Key recognized the need to implement technology,
engineering, science and math in the inner city schools. To address the
gap, Key Link Technologies (KLT) was born. KLT’s mission is to bridge the
digital divide while mentoring our youth with opportunities. The company
consists of two divisions –the technology group focuses on WIFI development,
research and
network solutions. The Engineering Group focuses on student technology
enrichment programs. Students from kindergarten to college are engaged in
robotics, RC (Radio Control) Engineering and WIFI deployment as well as other
technology projects.
In 2005, National Association of Black
Engineers (NSBE) Alumni Chicago Chapter awarded Mr. Key for his robotic
after school enrichment programs and community commitment.
In the 2006, NSBE, After School Matters and Motorola contracted Mr. Key to
organize a US FIRST Robotic Program for Englewood Technology Preparatory High
School. The first year rookie team finished 13th out of 60 teams and advanced to
number two seed in the Midwest Finals.
NSBE awarded Bernard 2007 Technologist of the Year at their National
Convention's 30th Annual Golden Torch Awards. He helped organize Windy City
CARES, a mentoring circle city of the National CARES Mentoring movement started
and spearheaded by Susan Taylor.
Dr. Tony Kline, Ph.D., Assistant Professor,
Elementary Education,
Ball State University
Workshop topic: The Two Year Waits: Today's Crisis in Male Mentoring
Tony Kline, Ph.D. is an assistant professor for the Department of Elementary
Education at Ball State University, where he teaches courses focusing on
pre-service teacher training, social justice, and practicum instruction.
Tony has founded and now directs two immersive learning programs that serve the
educational needs of local and international communities. Tony was
recently identified by Phi Delta Kappa International as an Emerging Leader, an
honor recognizing top educators under 40 from around the world for their
leadership. In 2012, Ball State named him the university's recipient of
the Excellence in Teaching award.
Shanna McLeod,
Program Evaluation Manager,
Working in the Schools
Workshop topic: Building Strong
Programs: How to Leverage Evaluation to Strengthen Program Practices
Shaunna MacLeod holds a B.A. in
Psychology from the University of Toronto and a Master's Degree in Education
(Reading Research) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Shaunna has over
10 years of experience in program evaluation and research design. She has been
involved with multiple university-level research projects, focused on reading
and writing development, as well as an investigation into the ways in which
students critically examine information while engaging in online reading. At
WITS, Shaunna continually strives to strengthen our evaluation process through a
mixed-method approach which involves collecting data from multiple
stake-holders. Shaunna considers herself a life-long volunteer, and volunteers
weekly with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Sheila Merry, Executive
Director, Illinois Mentoring Partnership
Workshop topic:
Enhancing
the Infrastructure: Collective Impact through Volunteerism and Mentor Connector
Organizations
Sheila M. Merry has over 20 years of
executive leadership experience in the nonprofit sector. Before joining the
Illinois Mentoring Partnership, Ms. Merry served as Executive Director of the
Jane Addams Juvenile Court Foundation spearheading juvenile court reform. Ms.
Merry has substantial experience directing specialized foster and residential
care programs and has served as a senior researcher at the Chapin Hall Center
for Children. In addition to creating a Special Big Brother Big Sister Program
serving developmentally disabled state wards, she has been a mentor herself for
most of the last 25 years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Policy
from Northwestern University and a Masters in Social Service Administration from
the University of Chicago.
Debra Natenshon, CEO, The
Center for What Works at The Rensselaerville Institute
Workshop Topic: “Understanding your funders: Are they grant-makers or
investors?”
Debra B. Natenshon is the CEO for The Center for What Works. She is an
influential leader in
the field of outcome-based thinking and practical management. Ms.
Natenshon successfully re-launched The Center for What Works™ strategy and
infrastructure and led all efforts until March 2011, when she and WhatWorks
joined forces with the outcome practice of The Rensselaerville Institute.
Together with the Urban Institute, she completed ground-breaking research to
develop outcome frameworks that are currently used by a wide spectrum of
foundations and nonprofit organizations. She bridges research with practice in
highly effective engagements across the social sector. She is a member of the
Alliance for Effective Social
Investing and has advised many leading organizations, including GuideStar,
FSG Social Impact Advisors and McKinsey.
Ms. Natenshon founded the Chicago chapter of Net Impact, a global
network of leaders changing the world through business. She holds a
masters degree in organizational management from the SIT Graduate Institute in
Vermont.
Rev. Mitchell Sholar, Executive
Director, City Harvest Headstart Outreach Ministry
Workshop Topic: Expanding Social Capital -
Neighborhood Network Building
Mr. Mitchell
Sholar, founder and CEO of City Harvest Headstart Outreach Ministry provides the
North Lawndale Community with workshops that are both beneficial to ex-felons
and their children as well as youth in the community. Lessons are taught
understanding that everyone represents the social capital of their community and
that change comes from residents. While outside influence can only help the
community by scratching the surface, those who live within a community are the
true vessels of change. As the director of CHHOM, Mr. Sholar's first involvement
in N. Lawndale was the result of being a mentor to youth within the community
through the mentorship program provide by Dr. Betty Allen-Green Executive
Director of Chicago-Lawndale AMACHI Mentoring Program. His devotion and
dedication to the youth in the community lead him to become appointed by Dr.
Allen-Green as a lead coordinator for the Chicago-Lawndale Amachi Agency chosen
to help resolve the problem of violence within the community by implementing a
program called the NRI (Neighborhood Recovery Initiative) employing youth from
within the community to provide positive messages through their outreach
activities funded and approved to reduce the negative impact of violence through
educating the community with literature of positive messages, and conversations
by youth involved from agency.
Mr. Sholar and CHHOM has also worked closely with schools in the neighborhood, and during the summer presented The Penguin Project at Chalmers Elementary School. Principal Dr. Nolan opened up the gym and allowed CHHOM's volunteers access to several students who were on the 'cusp' and needed an outlet, and place where they could be safe in a non-threatening, entertaining environment. The Penguin Project recognizes the lack of intensive nurturing experiences some children face, and the constant violence they are bombarded with outside, and provided - through games, projects and positive reinforcement exercises - an environment that challenged the youth to work cooperatively, ask questions, and feel the pride that comes from completing fun projects in a lovingly controlled environment, at the school where they were already comfortable.
Jacquita Smith, Founder/Director, Seeds of Success Youth Development Project
Workshop Topic:
Strengthening The "Linked In" Your Change: Using
Social Media to Improve Organizational Capacity
Jacquita earned a B.A. in Journalism and a
B.A. in Geography/Urban Planning from The University of Alabama before pursuing
graduate studies in Urban Policy Studies/Non-profit Management from the Andrew
Young School of Public Policy at Georgia State University. She considers herself
a "professional volunteer" who is dedicated to empowering youth, mentoring other
mentors, and increasing the organizational capacity of small nonprofits.
Having lived in the South her entire life, Jacquita decided to move from
Atlanta, GA, in 2010 to get a taste of Chicago.
Sue Sowle, Director, Youth Enrichment and Initiatives,
McGaw YMCA, Evanston, IL
Workshop Topic:
Volunteer Recruitment and Screening
Sue Sowle is Senior Director of Youth Initiatives and Enrichment at the McGaw
YMCA in Evanston. Sue is a licensed clinical social worker with 15 years of
experience 11 of which have been in the mentoring field. Sue is an Evanstonian
who is happily married and the mother of two boys ages 22 and 15.
Rev. T.W. (Rev. Terry Weston) from TW’s Ministry
http://www.twministry.webs.com/
Workshop topic: Panel Discussion - Peace Summit ideas
Rev. T.W has more than a decade of ministry and engineering experience.That
allows TW’s Ministry to integrate engineering and ministry principles to develop
programs that address real community problems from a Faith Based Initiatives
perspective. TW’s Ministry, faith based initiative principal, is to commit
to God’s Church, Congregation, Constituent and Community, as well as to all who
are served by them.
Reverend Terry Weston, a native of the Chicago Suburban Village of Maywood,
Illinois was raised by a single mother with Mississippi values and Spiritual
beliefs. TW’s overcame many of the obstacles that face the children, youth and
young adults of today, including growing up poor, in poverty and in a polluted
gang and drug infested area.
TW’s Ministry assisted local agencies in community-based gang prevention and
community-based children, youth and young adult self development programs from
1994 to 1997. TW’s Ministry is partnering {1997 to present} with agencies
(churches, congressional, counties, educational, foundations, and organizations)
on Faith Based Initiative community programs.
Rafael Yanez, School Visitation Team, Special Activities Section, Chicago Police Department
Workshop topic:
Mentoring Programs
in High Crime Areas: An Observation of Mentoring Programs in Chicago’s Englewood
Neighborhood
