Congressional District 7

Enlisting Political Leaders: Mapping a

Tutor/Mentor Strategy

This is an idea essay created in the mid 2000s by the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) as part of a strategy to provide
information and support actions that lead to the growth of long-term, volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs in high
poverty areas. T/MC founder Dan Bassill led such a program in Chicago for 36 years. Since 2011 the T/MC has
operated as part of Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC. Learn more about its mission. History and strategy at
http://www.tutormentorexchange.net.

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net

 Adult tutors & mentors can make a life-enriching difference in the lives of inner-city children and
youth...if they are connected in organized programs that provide on-going support to the youth
and volunteer.
In the following pages we use the 7th Illinois Congressional District as example of how maps can
be used by elected leaders. This is not intended to single out the elected representative of this
district because this process of leadership needs to be taking place in dozens of political
districts in Illinois and other states.

Read more articles showing how political leaders can support this strategy:
https://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com/search/label/map%20gallery%20-%20politics

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net, tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg. 2
Great programs in every poverty neighborhood…. not a few great programs.
The goal of the Tutor/Mentor
Connection (T/MC) is to help
comprehensive, volunteer-based
programs grow in every high poverty
neighborhood of the city and suburbs.

T/MC seeks to support leadership in

every industry, in churches, and in
universities, that mobilizes volunteers,
leaders and donors to support
Tutor/Mentor programs throughout the
Chicago region.

As an example, this map shows places

that that received 2007 donations from
the Lawyers Land A Hand Program.
Note: While the Lawyers Lend A Hand Program
discontinued its grants to Chicago tutor/mentor
programs in 2021 and now focuses on operating its
own, single, tutoring program, this still remains a
model of what business and professional groups could
do to support programs throughout a city.

View 2005 description of Lawyers Lend A Hand to Youth

http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/images/PDF/corboy-presentation2.pdf
Pg. 3
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net
 Look at the Whole District
Not Just one or two places in the district
This presentation shows ideas leaders in a
Congressional or Legislative district could
use to mobilize public and private leaders
and build support for tutor/mentor programs
in parts of the district with high poverty and
poorly performing schools.
Look for more maps like these in 2008-2011
articles at http://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net ,
This map shows that part of the Illinois 7th
Congressional District has high levels of
poverty, with many poorly performing
public schools.
It also shows locations of organizations who
provide various forms of volunteer-based
tutoring and/or mentoring during non-school
hours. Websites of these organizations can be
found using the Tutor/Mentor Program list at
http://tinyurl.com/TMI-ChiProgramLinks
High poverty areas are places where a
comprehensive tutor/mentor program strategy,
engaging volunteers from beyond poverty who
pass through the neighborhood every evening
as they go from work in the LOOP to the West
and South Suburbs, could become an
expanded learning support system for kids in
these neighborhoods.
tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg 4
 The T/MC has been trying to help people learn about
availability of volunteer based tutor/mentor programs since
1994. This on-line platform was built in 2004.

Between 2004 and 2015 anyone could

use the Chicago Tutor/Mentor Program
locator to search by age group, type of
program and zip code to find contact
information for non-school, volunteer-
based tutor and/or mentor programs in
different neighborhoods ….if they exist.

While this is now only an archive, it still

serves as a model for what needs to be
available in Chicago and other cities. It
just needs investors and tech talent to
build it and creative marketing to teach
people to use it.

* Tutor/Mentor Program Locator Search - archive page: https://tinyurl.com/ProgramLocatorSearch

* Tutor/Mentor Program Locator Interactive Map - archive page: https://tinyurl.com/ProgramLocatorMap-archive

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg 5

Leaders need to form learning circles, to focus on solutions.

This
could be
your
elected
leader.

LEARNING
CIRCLES

A learning circle is a group of people with a common background, or interest, and a recognized source of information,
who meet regularly to learn about an issue, and discuss ways to incorporate what they learn into their lives. Churches
do this weekly when groups of people gather to discuss scripture. To solve problems of poverty and poor schools, such
circles need to be in business, churches, hospitals, and in affluent areas, as well as high poverty areas.

The Tutor/Mentor library is a source of information for such groups. https://tutormentorexchange.net/resource-links

Pg 6
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net
 Baptists, Catholic and Christian Churches

The next three

slides show the
type of analysis
that could be
done for any
political district.

While there are many churches in low income areas which could be meeting places for youth and
volunteers, there are many faith communities in the more affluent parts of this district who could be providing
volunteers, dollars and leadership to support the growth of comprehensive tutor/mentor programs, and to
open doors to college and jobs as youth grow older.

See more articles showing strategies faith groups could adopt.

https://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com/search/label/faith%20group
Pg 7
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net
Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian Churches

While there are fewer churches from these denominations in the high poverty areas, there are many in more
affluent areas, that could be providing volunteers, dollars and leadership to support the growth of comprehensive
tutor/mentor programs, and to open doors to college and jobs as youth grow older.

Review the suggested communications strategy for Faith Communities at:

http://tinyurl.com/TMI-Strategy-Faith-Community
Pg 8
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net
 Hospitals and Colleges in the 7th- Illinois District

Hospitals face “costs of poverty” and workforce development issues, while universities seek to create a diversity
pipeline and have meaningful engagement with their communities. At each hospital or university on this map,
learning circles could form, developing engagement strategies that help more youth in the area surrounding each
hospital or university, or throughout the entire district.

View additional maps/articles featuring hospitals

https://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com/search/label/hospitals

This article shared ideas for involving hospitals and public health organizations:
https://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2018/08/using-maps-in-planning-chicago-west.html
Pg 9
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net
 The goal should be to help youth in
all neighborhoods get through school
To SUCCEED
and enter a job/career by age 25. We must recruit business
It takes a village to make this a reality. leaders who will use their
resources in PULLING
Youth to Careers

A comprehensive Tutor/Mentor
Program is where the village can
come together to achieve this.
School-Time Programs
High Career
Pre-K K - 5th 5th - 6th 6th - 8th
School Track

3-5 PM Non-School Programs After 5 PM and Weekend Programs

To SUCCEED
T/MC GOAL: SUPPORT THE
We must help tutor/mentor GROWTH OF TOTAL QUALITY
program leaders, volunteers, MENTORING PROGRAMS THAT
schools and parents be more
effective in PUSHING HELP INNER CITY YOUTH REACH
Youth to Careers REWARDING CAREERS

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg 10

 Using Internet connections, each group can learn from others, and can provide
volunteers and dollars to each tutor/mentor program in the district.
Every time one leader
talks about tutoring/
LAW FINANCE mentoring, they need
Religion to end by pointing to
the map of Chicago
and saying, “we
need good
Hospitality & Engineers, programs in
Entertainment Architect every poverty
area”
Web
Hub
Http://www.tutormentorexchange.net Hospitals;
Politics
Health
Care

Universities
& Publishing
Tutor/Mentor Technology, Communicat
Connection Science ions, Arts,
Media

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg 11

 Connecting With Others on Internet
http://debategraph.org/mentoring_kids_to_careers

It's been the goal of the Tutor/Mentor

Connection since early 2000s to connect
resource providers, program leaders,
researchers, parents, youth, educators and
political leaders in an on-line learning and
planning community.

This Debategraph site is one example where

we've shared our ideas and invited people to
connect.

Social media platforms have been another

place, that have been used since 2009.

The reality is that there are probably

thousands of places. That's one of the
problems.

View eLearning Goals (ask elected leaders to establish such a system)

http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/conferences-and-online-forums/88-e-learning-goals

Read Tutor/Mentor article about mapping complexity

https://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2022/11/mapping-complexity.html

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg 12

 Anyone, adult or youth, can be a leader who can launch a learning
circle within a church, company, or school. Someone needs to be
the catalyst to make this happen.

Every elected representative can be such a

catalyst, using maps to mobilize resource for all
parts of a district where extra help is needed, and
to show where they are having an impact.

Flags on these maps could indicate which

churches, colleges or hospitals have active
strategies. They could also show which programs
have benefited as a result of the actions
undertaken by elected leaders.

Such leadership would contribute to the growth of

learning circles, and in the growth of
comprehensive volunteer-based learning support
systems in every neighborhood with high poverty
and poorly performing schools.

Are your leaders taking this role?

Your Elected
Representative
Pg 13
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net
 Part of this may already be happening.
• The Tutor/Mentor Connection was established in 1993* to collect “everything that is known” about
what others are doing to help kids participate in tutoring and/or mentoring. That’s a lot of
information to try to gather.

• Thus, we suspect there are many leadership initiatives in place that we do not know about. Many
churches, hospitals and businesses may have strategies in place to support tutoring/mentoring,
that are not included in the T/MC knowledge base.

• Thus we encourage those who are already involved in helping tutor/mentor programs grow in this
district, or other parts of Chicago, to submit information, using the forums at
http://tutormentorconnection.ning.com , or by posting comments on
http://tutormentor.blogspot.com

• Through the Internet we seek to learn from others around the world, while offering our work as a
template that they could duplicate.
As we collect more about what is known, we make more information available to everyone
working to help kids, in the Chicago region, and around the world.

• This is information that anyone can use to improve what is being done to help kids in high poverty
neighborhoods have access to comprehensive, volunteer based tutoring and/or mentoring
programs.

• Connect and share your ideas on social media. See where we are located:
https://tutormentorexchange.net/social-media

*In July 2011 the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC was formed to continue to support the Tutor/Mentor
Connection strategy in Chicago and to help similar intermediary groups grow in other cities.
Pg 14
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net
 See Maps for other Districts
http://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com/search/label/politics

Using donated software the T/MC made maps like this between 1995 and 2011. You can see
faith group maps at
https://mappingforjustice.blogspot.com/search/label/map%20gallery%20-%20politics
Pg 15
Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net, tutormentor2@earthlink.net
 Want more ideas? View this essay about using maps of political districts in violence
prevention strategies. Using Maps in Violence Prevention -
http://tinyurl.com/Maps-Violence-Prevention
Pg 16

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net

 Learn more, ask questions
Why are tutor/mentor programs needed? How does poverty impact learning? Find articles and
research on this and related issues in the library section of
https://tutormentorexchange.net/resource-links/law-justice-links

See more Tutor/Mentor articles about using maps

https://tutormentor.blogspot.com/search/label/maps-a

History: The Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) was launched in 1993, along with
the Cabrini Connections tutor/mentor program, by Dan Bassill and a small group
of volunteers who wanted to do more to help 7 th to 12th grade teens living in
Cabrini Green succeed in school. The leaders recognized that to help the teens in
one program, an infrastructure needed to be created that would draw consistent
support to all volunteer-based tutoring and/or mentoring programs in the Chicago
region. They created the T/MC to respond to this need.

In June 2011 the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC was created to support the T/MC
strategy in Chicago and to help similar intermediary groups form in other cities in
future years

Email tutormentor2@earthlink.net or connect on one of our social media

Daniel F. Bassill sites (http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/social-media ) to discuss ideas
D.H.L. for collaboration and capacity building among programs, or between cities.

Founder, leader, Tutor/Mentor Tutor/Mentor Institute is not a 501 (c) 3 non profit, yet it focuses all money
Connection (1993) and raised toward activities that help volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs grow in
Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC many places where they are most needed. Your support, investment and
(2011) involvement is essential for this strategy to be successful

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present), Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present) www.tutormentorexchange.net , tutormentor2@earthlink.net Pg 17

 Want to get involved?
To learn about tutoring and/or mentoring in different zip codes, visit the
Tutor/Mentor Library at :
https://tutormentorexchange.net/chicago-area-program-links

Read more about how maps and visualizations can be applied in a

leadership strategy.
http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/mapping-the-programs

If you know of additional programs, or can help update this information,

contact the Tutor/mentor Institute, LLC at the address shown below.

Or schedule a ZOOM call with Dan Bassill

- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tutormentor/
- Twitter @tutormentorteam
- Facebook: Tutor/Mentor Institute
https://www.facebook.com/TutorMentorInstitute
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielf.bassill/
- MastodonCloud -
https://mastodon.cloud/@tutormentor1