Interactive map shows access to jobs

I attended a Community Development Conference in Chicago and this opened up a wide range of new resources that I was not aware of and that might be useful to those working for the well-being of young people and families.

One speaker was from the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. When I visited his web page I found this information about "Transit Access, an interactive mapping application associated with the Missed Opportunity transit report, which presents metropolitan and neighborhood-level information on how transit connects workers to jobs in the nation’s 100 largest metro areas. See the map at http://www.brookings.edu/metro/jobs_and_transit/map.aspx

Use maps to change the political will!

I encourage you to take a look at the Kids Count Data Center, which is provided as a service of the Anne E. Casey Foundation. You can make your own maps using the data on the site, or if you are a GIS expert, you can download the data and use your own GIS. I don't have a lot of time to dig through this DataCenter to know what types of maps can be produced, but I hope it has the capacity to go beyond state level to view the data at the city or county level. There is such a difference between poverty in big cities like Chicago and the rest of the state of Illinois that a statewide report does not really show how bad things are in the big cities.

Furthermore, I would like to see an example of how the maps can be used to build public involvement in actions that reduce poverty based on information shared by many organizations via the Internet.

I posted this article to show how maps could be used to mobilize enough votes to pass legislation regarding high school drop out issues.

I posted this article to show how people can make their own map stories using the Tutor/Mentor Program Locator.

And, I posted this article to show how people can communicate these ideas to their own networks and take responsibility for "expanding the choir" of people involved, and who ultimately vote for public policies favorable to helping the poor and the organizations helping the poor.

I'd be happy to spend a couple hours with your organization or company to help you understand and apply these ideas. I'd love to help your school create a Tutor/Mentor Institute Club, where students learn to apply these ideas so they can have a greater impact on what adults to to support their own learning opportunities.

Map of Citizen Engagement

I encourage you to take a look at this site which includes a growing map of people involved in social change throughout the world.

This is a project of Edgeryders and Citizens in the Lab, who "want to collect examples and showcase the cultural innovation which is shaping a new way of making our way in the world. We are interested in new kinds of employment, social enterprises and other projects which embody new values, cultural centres, galleries, projects and teams. If it's a place that people can visit, so much the better - take a tour in your own city or while you are traveling, and see some of the New Planet."

Business for Good Map

The map below is created by the US Chamber of Commerce and is a great tool to show business involvement, by company and by category, all over the world.

If this map does not open, visit this page to see the actual map.

If we can connect with the people leading this effort perhaps we can combine the map-making purposes of the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC so that over time a map of business involvement in tutor/mentor programs in all parts of the world would show involved from more and more business groups in a larger number of places.

Furthermore, if we can connect with their marketing groups then at key times of each year company communications, PR and social media would be encouraging people to volunteer, donate, or join learning circles where they could do more to help every tutor/mentor program constantly improve their impact on youth and the volunteers who are involved.

Concept Maps Connect information and people

One type of maps that we've been piloting shows the geographic areas of the Chicago region where well-organized tutor/mentor programs are most needed. Leaders can use maps like this to organize actions that support existing programs with volunteers, dollars, technology and ideas, while helping new programs start where too few exist.

Another type of map can help organize information or show the connection of people and ideas who all share the same goals, but who may not yet be connected to each other. This concept map shows high school drop out prevention resources, ideas and people that I've connected with over the past decade.

While I've been creating these maps I keep looking for teams in high schools, colleges, businesses and/or faith groups who will share this work with me, not only mapping resources to help Chicago, but mapping resources to help kids in any part of the world! Introduce yourself on Twitter or Facebook. Let's connect!

Advertising Plan to Support This Site

Below is a list of advertisers who have paid a fee to have their web site listed for six or 12 months. We appreciate this support because it helps us continue to do the work we do. If you'd like to be included email tutormentor2@earthlink.net

Visit this link to learn more about advertising opportunities on this blog and four other blogs and web sites hosted by Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC.

Health & Wellness
Meet Charles Brooks, a long-term friend of the Tutor/Mentor Connection and Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC and read about his wellness journey to good health. Join Wellness Talks on Blog Talk Radio. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/trivitawellness . Join Friends of Nopalea on Facebook.

Note: we are testing this concept. Advertisers will be added as they apply.