The Map Gallery is up!

This piece of news is a bit old, but it's new to this blog. While I was on vacation, the Tutor/Mentor Connection's new Map Gallery went live for all the world to see. If you're a loyal reader of this blog, you probably know that I have been working with Mike Trakan, who uses GIS technology to create maps showing different areas of Chicago such as state senator's or alderman's districts and where the tutoring and mentoring programs are, the percentages of those living in poverty, and where there are failing school in their district. Or he will create maps showing different businesses throughout the city such as CVS Pharmacy or CitiBank in relation to the same sort of things. If you want to read the story behind the blog, Mike keeps a very interesting and thought-provoking blog himself called Mapping for Justice. I encourage everyone to look at the map gallery and read Mike's blog and become better-informed about what tutoring and mentoring programs are out there, and where programs need to be created.

If, after looking at the Map Gallery and reading Mike's blog makes you want to do something about helping at-risk youth succeed, there are many things you can do. Of course, we encourage you to sign up to be a volunteer either at Cabrini Connections or by looking through the Tutor/Mentor Program Locator and finding a program near your work or home. You can also donate online using PayPal.

If you're wanting to do something a little more active to help kids, you can sign up to play in our Jimmy Biggs Memorial Golf Tournament at Highland Park Country Club. TODAY, Wednesday July 15th is the last day to sign up to play in the tournament, which is tomorrow, Thursday July 16th. If you're not a golfer (I'm not one either) but enjoy eating and drinking (I know I do!), then you should come to our dinner and silent auction, which will be at 6pm at the Highland Park Country Clubhouse. There are lots of great prizes to bid on including a basketball signed by NBA stars and footballs signed by members of the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers and by members of the New York Jets. Read more about the great prizes to bid on in my colleague, El Da'Sheon Nix's blog.