For more than 30 years I have use advertising-based communications to mobilize volunteers to be tutors, mentors, leaders, advocates, etc. in a volunteer-based tutor/mentor program that I've led in Chicago.   For the first 17 years I did this as a volunteer, while holding advertising responsibilities with the Montgomery Ward Corporation.   From my advertising I learned how big companies support multiple stores, in multiple locations with centralized strategies and local management.

 In 1990 I left my corporate job and turned this work into a non profit career. In 1992 I formed Cabrini Connections, a tutor/mentor program serving 7th to 12th grade youth living in the Cabrini Green area of Chicago. At the same time, I formed the Tutor/Mentor Connection, with a goal of helping programs like Cabrini Connections grow in all high poverty neighborhoods of Chicago. Using the Internet we now share what we and hundreds of others working with kids are learning, as we network and educate those who could help us (resoruce providers, volunteers, etc.) so that we have a more consistent flow of resources to do our work.

 While I started my leadership using a typewriter and duplicating machine to reach 100 people a week. I now use the computer and Internet to reach thousands of people a weeek.   However, my strategy has not changed from what I learned in advertising.

 Our goal is to build reach and frequency of our message, with a goal of drawing customers to our web sites, and to the many different tutor/mentor programs that can be found using the Program Locator and Links on the site.

 Most of our technology has been supported by volunteers, thus I'm pleased to introduce myself in this forum and encourage   you to visit our web sites for ideas that you might apply, or that   you might help us develop.

The main sites are

http://www.tutormentorconnection.org

http://www.tutormentorconference.org

http://www.tutormentorprogramlocator.net/programlocator/default.asp

http://www.horizonmapping.net/projects/tmc/tmc_gallery/Tutor_Mentor_map_gallery.html

http://www.cabriniconnections.net

http://tutormentor.blogspot.com