Note: This article was written in 2008. Ideas still relevant in 2016.
Dan Bassill writes in his latest blog about one of the biggest challenges faced by non-school tutoring and mentoring programs: A lack of funding for general operations. In fact, Tutor/Mentor Connection (where I work) is in the same building as Dan's T/M program, Cabrini Connections (which works with kids from the Cabrini Green neighborhood)... so I've had the unique opportunity to witness these funding struggles from the front-row.
But funding isn't the only challenge faced by a not-for-profit like a T/M program. Work is also ongoing to recruit talented, dedicated staff and volunteers who will make long-term commitments to being part of such programs.
And while, on occasion, small successes in recruiting and fundraising are celebrated (allowing operations to continue quarter-by-quarter), ideally, programs need to be sustained for years so that relationships can form, and volunteers and business partners can influence student aspirations and career choices.
If only more businesses would invest in tutor/mentor programs, long-term, as part of their own human capital development. Dan explains, "If we can help more kids from poor neighborhoods move to jobs and careers, we diversify the workforce, and help find new workers to replace retirees who will be leaving the workforce over the next 15 years." Furthermore, it stands to reason that kids who gain skills through tutoring and mentoring move onto higher education and careers... escaping poverty... and ultimately having more cash in hand, as consumers, to ensure the growth of local markets for a business' goods and services.
In past blogs, I've looked at how companies like CVS actually do have a strong philanthropic presence in the community. Today, I've created maps that help show how some of the major banks in Chicago might support the growth of tutor/mentor programs in neighborhoods where they have branch banks, and help recruit volunteers who travel to and from work via the major expressways, as volunteers, leaders and donors.
Banks whose locations I have mapped include:
Please click on individual links to see how these maps can be used as tools to help banks and tutor/mentor programs work together for the benefit of everybody.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Banks and Tutoring/Mentoring: Park National
One of a series of maps, created in 2008, that show how area banks can help themselves by helping tutor/mentor programs, Park National:
Branches in the West and South parts of the city could be meeting places for community and business partners working together to help create new tutor/mentor programs in under-served areas. Park National has also been a sponsor of the annual Cabrini Connections Golf Benefit.
Its branch in Roseland is near Salem Baptist Church which is led by State Senator James Meeks. That branch of Park National Bank could be a catalyst in the Roseland/Pullman area, for the growth of tutor/mentor programs.
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
(click on the map above to see "full-sized" version)
Its branch in Roseland is near Salem Baptist Church which is led by State Senator James Meeks. That branch of Park National Bank could be a catalyst in the Roseland/Pullman area, for the growth of tutor/mentor programs.
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
Banks and Tutoring/Mentoring: MB Financial
One of a series of maps, created in 2008, that show how area banks can help themselves by helping tutor/mentor programs, MB Financial:
Branches in the North and Northwest part of the city could support tutor/mentor programs in this area, and help encourage volunteers from the suburbs who work at other businesses, to become part of tutor/mentor programs in areas where it has branch banks.
Interestingly, MB Financial has been a sponsor of the annual Cabrini Connections Golf Benefit since 1995. This is a perfect example of how local businesses in the Chicago community area can band together to host workplace fund raising, and other benefits, that support the operations of tutor/mentor programs in areas where they do business, while also supporting the role the Tutor/Mentor Connection takes in creating these maps and encouraging networking and information sharing.
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
(click on the map above to see "full-sized" version)
Branches in the North and Northwest part of the city could support tutor/mentor programs in this area, and help encourage volunteers from the suburbs who work at other businesses, to become part of tutor/mentor programs in areas where it has branch banks.
Interestingly, MB Financial has been a sponsor of the annual Cabrini Connections Golf Benefit since 1995. This is a perfect example of how local businesses in the Chicago community area can band together to host workplace fund raising, and other benefits, that support the operations of tutor/mentor programs in areas where they do business, while also supporting the role the Tutor/Mentor Connection takes in creating these maps and encouraging networking and information sharing.
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
Banks and Tutoring/Mentoring: Citibank
One of a series of maps, created in 2008, that show how area banks can help themselves by helping tutor/mentor programs, Citibank:
(click on the map above to see "full-sized" version)
There are Citibank locations throughout the city, with branches in areas where there is a dire need for more volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs. In these neighborhoods, Citibanks can advocate for tutoring and mentoring on several levels - from helping to fund new and existing programs, to recruiting volunteers, to hosting meeting places.
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
(click on the map above to see "full-sized" version)
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
Banks and Tutoring/Mentoring: Chase Banks
One of a series of maps, created in 2008, that show how area banks can help themselves by helping tutor/mentor programs, Chase Banks:
(click on the map above to see "full-sized" version)
Chase branches are throughout the city, but there is a strong concentration along the Kennedy, and stretching through the North side of the city. You can click on the map image and see an enlarged version. As you look at each map, our goal is that volunteer teams form, who lead an on-going learning and leadership process, using the branch bank as a meeting place, an advocate for local programs, and even a potential site where kids and volunteers can meet once a week during non-school hours.
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
(click on the map above to see "full-sized" version)
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
Banks and Tutoring/Mentoring: Charter One
One of a series of maps, created in 2008, that show how area banks can help themselves by helping tutor/mentor programs, Charter One:
(click on the map above to see "full-sized" version)
Charter One's locations in the Southwest and South part of Chicago could help increase the number of tutor/mentor programs in this area, working with churches and other banks in this area.
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
(click on the map above to see "full-sized" version)
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
Banks and Tutoring/Mentoring: Bank of America
One of a series of maps, created in 2008, that show how area banks can help themselves by helping tutor/mentor programs, Bank of America:
(click on the map above to see "full-sized" version)
While there a dozens of locations throughout the city, notice the concentration in the area between the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways, as well as the Northwest part of the city. If teams form at one, or more branches of a bank with many locations, each team may take a different role in supporting neighborhood tutor/mentor programs. If these teams connect and share ideas via the Internet, and company-organized events, they learn from each other and build relationships that help in the workplace, as well as in developing and sustaining tutor/mentor programs.
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
Banks and Tutoring/Mentoring: Banco Popular
One of a series of maps, created in 2008, that show how area banks can help themselves by helping tutor/mentor programs, Banco Popular:
Mostly concentrated on the west side, on the fringes of some of the highest poverty regions in the city, Banco Popular branches along the Kennedy Expressway, and near Ogden Avenue can advocate for tutoring and mentoring on several levels - from helping to fund new and existing programs, to recruiting volunteers, to hosting meeting places.
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.
(click on the map above to see "full-sized" version)
Mostly concentrated on the west side, on the fringes of some of the highest poverty regions in the city, Banco Popular branches along the Kennedy Expressway, and near Ogden Avenue can advocate for tutoring and mentoring on several levels - from helping to fund new and existing programs, to recruiting volunteers, to hosting meeting places.
To learn more about the benefits of volunteer involvement for businesses, and how tutoring and mentoring can assist workforce development, please take a look at the following Tutor/Mentor Institute document.
And for more information on why tutoring and mentoring makes sense in general, please read this document.