Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you for reading my blog! I've had more than 500 unique visitors since I started in July which is both remarkable and humbling. I care so much about the youth in our program and I do my best to transfer that feeling through my writing. I appreciate every click of the mouse and so do our kids (like Kierre Halbert who created this image in our Tech Club). Far too often, no one is listening, but I can say with confidence that a lot are.

Our holiday theme is 'Tis the Season and CC/TMC is the Reason. Please spread the word. Thank you again, and have a blessed holiday!

Youth Leadership Council Meeting 11/18/09

The 2009-2010 Youth Leadership Council held its second meeting on Wednesday, November 18th. The primary purpose of this meeting was to follow-up with ideas presented at the first meeting and to work toward those which are most promising. The Council has chosen to pursue three projects:

• Each year Cabrini Connections holds a winter clothes drive so that students who may otherwise find it difficult to get to our program can receive some thermal assistance. Savon Clark and Israel Dosie will take the lead on this project. Savon is in charge of logistics (bins, rules, sign-in/out sheets) while Israel is in charge of publicity (flyers, announcements, etc.).
• Inspired by Melissa Young's Halloween Bake Sale, De'Sean Hale (pictured above during announcements) and Ashaunti Roby are going to arrange a fund raiser for Cabrini Connections. De'Sean would like students to sell candy over the holidays. He and Ashaunti are going to research ideas and present them at the next meeting.
• Sean Mayfield and Victoria Rivera will take the lead on arranging a lounge somewhere in our center. Sean will design the layout and Victoria will figure out what furniture is needed. At the next tutoring session, they will ask around for student input.

Please be on the lookout for further news regarding these projects. Savon, Israel, De'Sean, Ashaunti, Sean, and Victoria are going above and beyond, and we want to support their endeavors as best we can. By donating clothes, money, or furniture, you will not just be reinforcing the work of these six council members; you support 76 students, 88 volunteers, and six staff who use our facilities on a weekly basis. We greatly appreciate your generosity. Thank you.

The Tutor/Mentor Conference (Net)Worked!

Last week's Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference was a tremendous success. More than 30 presentations connected 155 people who want to help inner city youth have brighter futures. You can see the list of speakers and attendees on the conference web site. Because we keep this list published, the networking started at the conference can continue indefinitely.

Here's an example of how the conference (net)worked for me. At 9am on Day One, I met Heidi Massey while I was out in the cold selling parking tickets. She was sympathetic, encouraging, and just plain friendly. Four hours later, we met at lunch and learned about each other's work. Heidi wants to start a nonprofit organization that networks other NPOs together.

12 hours after our first encounter, Heidi and I were following each other on Twitter. 30 hours after, at the close of the conference, she left me with a personal compliment that made my day. As a recent graduate, still with a lot to learn about nonprofits, I consider Heidi an asset as I move forth. I look forward to keeping in touch with her.

To extend the example... Heidi (center) introduced me to Oliver Miller (right), Community Engaged Scholarship Coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In Winter 2009, I interned at the organization that placed him, Illinois Campus Compact, so it turns out we know some of the same people. Oliver is looking to start an e-mentoring program at The Chicago School, so I pointed him to David Neils, Director of the International Telementor Program, whom I had met the previous day. It turns out Oliver had already spoken extensively with David and gleaned a lot of advice from him. Like Jean Russell said in her keynote speech on Friday, you can accomplish a lot once you have the right people in the room!

Well, with the Internet, we can always have the right people in the room! ... or at least on the same web sites. Please check out the Tutor/Mentor blog (which has links to all of our blogs) and comment. You can also become a fan of Tutor/Mentor Connection on Facebook and join the Tutor/Mentor Ning Network. Let's continue to collaborate and share ideas just like we did last Thursday and Friday, and let's begin to think about how we will plan, promote, and fund the May 2010 Conference. Thank you!

Student Spotlight: Alexandra Barcenas

Alexandra Barcenas is a 7th grader at Newberry Academy. She has always lived in Chicago and likes it a lot. The most recent fun she had in the city was seeing Jersey Boys at The Bank of America Theatre downtown. Alex lives in Logan Square with one sister and two brothers, but she has a lot of extended family in the area. For Thanksgiving they are gathering at her aunt's house and for Christmas they will be at her godfather's house. She is definitely looking forward to the holidays.

In school, Alex's favorite subject is math because "it's easy." Her most challenging subject is social studies because it's hard to understand. She plans to get better by listening in class and doing her homework. She also has the help of her mentor, Liz Jandrain. Liz and Alex are both new to Cabrini Connections this year, but you'd think they've known each other for years. Alex is shy by nature, but Liz made jokes when they first met to get through to her. Now Liz helps Alex with her homework and their goal is to get an A in social studies. Good luck!

In a few years, it will be time for Alex to go to high school. She would like to attend Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School in the south suburbs. After that it's on to college. She would like to attend DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, which is where one of her cousins went. She wants to study Spanish because Mexican culture is very important to her.

Alex's ultimate goal is to be a singer when she grows up. She dreams of becoming a star and meeting Zac Efron of the High School Musical film series. (I'm sure he would love to meet you!) She is also a fan of the Twilight series, part two of which came out last weekend (New Moon). In her spare time, Alex likes to play sports, read and volunteer. She plays shortstop in baseball, she recommends The Spiderwick Chronicles, and she volunteers at the library.

We are very thankful to have Alex in the program and we wish her all the best!

Volunteer Spotlight: Liz Jandrain

Liz Jandrain graduated from Loyola University Chicago in May 2008 with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources (HR). Since then, she has been working as an HR Assistant at Quarasan, a full service conceptual developer of content for publishers of educational materials and products. They work with their clients to create products that help kids learn and teachers teach.

Liz's job is to help with anything that needs to get done. She helps the Vice President and Director of HR; she recruits and hires new talent; she handles orientations and paperwork; she runs the holiday committee and wellness program - the list goes on. "I love to work with people," says Liz. "I help people do what they do better." In HR, you help the employees, which means Liz helps new, current, and former employees with their needs. She credits getting her job to the internship she had at Quarasan while still in school. "It's important to build your resume up," she says. "Any activity that will set you apart from anybody else is good."

Liz is happy with her current job, but she does dream of having her own boutique hotel or candy store in the future. She also wants to start a family. Right now she has no family in Chicago, but she does have a boyfriend and a cat to keep her company. She is going home, though, to spend Thanksgiving with her family. Liz grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but she moved to Columbus, Ohio, when she was seven, which is where her parents still live. Her sister is a teacher in Phoenix, Arizona, she has a brother in the Navy in Washington, D.C., and she has another brother who goes to school in Dayton, Ohio. Liz is looking forward to Thanksgiving because she loves to eat. She is the self-proclaimed "Queen of Thanksgiving." Her favorite dishes are sweet potatoes and cranberry relish.

Liz heard about Cabrini Connections from fellow volunteer MC Nelson, who is also an employee at Quarasan. MC set up Cabrini Connections as the beneficiary to a gift basket raffle at their company last year. Liz works with 7th grader Alexandra Barcenas on Wednesday nights and loves coming to tutor her. "I think I get as much from going as [Alex] does," she says. "To hear the students' hopes and dreams and positivity... to have that, personally, is great."

In addition to social studies, Liz has been helping Alex with her shyness. Her tips for mentors faced with shyness are to keep asking questions and, if you get no answer, talk about yourself. Also, "try and be funny," she says. "Get some emotion out of them. Kids are silly." Great advice, Liz! We're happy to see that you and Alex are getting along well. Thanks for setting a great example!

One day away

The Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference is just one day away! (Tomorrow!) I've been counting down for a week now and we're almost there! Here is some of what's in store for Day One:

• In her morning keynote speech, Jill Zimmerman, VP of The Alford Group, will address "The State of Funding for Tutoring and Mentoring Programs and Non-Profits."
• Alex Cornwell, Associate Director of Chicago Lights Tutoring and Summer Day Program, will lead a workshop on creating and managing a successful job training and career development program for high school students.
• Ethan Austin and Desiree Vargas of GiveForward will lead "Online Fundraising 101 for Small Non-Profits. We have had great success with their platform!
• In the afternoon keynote, Tim Hogan, Creative Director at The Royal Order of Experience Design, will discuss how business and non-profits can work together by providing volunteers and their skills.
• Play the Social Media Game in an afternoon workshop led by Lovette Ajayi of Community Media Workshop. (And don't forget to tweet your thoughts throughout the conference with hash tag #TMC09.)
• Deborah McNelis of Brain Insights will provide an overview of brain development in her workshop through visual demonstrations which demostrate how you can have more impact on the learning brain.
  

You could attend all of these workshops in succession tomorrow, but there are plenty more to choose from (at least four in each of four workshop time slots). See the agenda for a complete breakdown with descriptions. For more details on the conference and to register, visit http://www.tutormentorconference.org/. Thank you.

Two days away

The Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference is just two days away! Here is some of what's happening on Day Two:

• Former Cabrini Green Tutoring Program student Isaiah Brooms, now the Director of Admissions at Westwood College - Virginia Ballston Campus, will give the opening keynote.
• Bill Curry, COO of Breakthrough Urban Ministries, who I met this summer, will lead a workshop about his organization's innovative approach to growing mentoring relationships among a community of students and a community of volunteers.
• EL Da' Sheon Nix, former Northwestern University football player and current Administrative Coordinator at Cabrini Connections, will discuss how to engage athletes, business leaders and celebrities as advocates for volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs.
  
• Valdis Krebs and Jean Russell will explore, explain, and empower thrivable communities in the afternoon keynote address, "Understanding Social Networks."
• Sandra Garest, Senior Dream Manager at Floyd Consulting, will help participants find and pursue their passions in her afternoon workshop, "Inspiring others to Dream Big."

For more details on the conference and to register, visit http://www.tutormentorconference.org/ or call 312-492-9614. Thank you.