Cabriniblog

Reel Talent Productions Keeps the Cameras Rolling This Summer.

2011-07-27T15:12:00.009-05:00

The Cabrini Connections' program offers a lot more than the one on one tutoring/mentoring structure that most are familiar with. In the Cabrini Connections' program we offer what are similar to electives in high school for our youth as extra learning opportunities in the form of Clubs. Currently we have an Art, Writing, Technology, and Video and Filmmaker's Club that any and all of the students that are enrolled in the one on one tutoring sessions can sign up for.

All of the Clubs do the majority of their work during the academic year, and have the option of continuing on throughout the summer months. This summer our Video and Filmmaker's Club, led by Northwestern University alumni and Cabrini Connections' volunteer Shu Ling Yong, decided to not only continue on this summer, but to apply for a Department of Family and Support Services' Mini Grant. The grant was approved in the early summer by the City to fund the Club's project of researching and putting together a documentary about health of young females and how their male counterparts seem to have more opportunities than they have when it comes to sports and fitness.

The Club's leader, Shu Ling Yong, recruited two co-leaders for the summer project, Jane Wong and Jon Vogel and together they interviewed and screened their three student interns. Cabrini Connections' veteran students Melissa Young and Marquita Fisher, along with prospective Cabrini Connections' student Alisha Ward have already begun their work of researching, interviewing, and filming for their project. They have also been working closely with the staff and participants of the Girls In The Game organization to gain more knowledge and take in key pointers for their summer project.

The student interns stopped into the Cabrini Connections' program today to do some work on-site and was visited by a very special guest. Former 1st NFL draft pick and Chicago Bear, John Tait, stopped into the program. I was able to show him around the facility, share more about the Cabrini Connections' program, and he was able to interact with the group. Before leaving the group left the facility they paused for a group picture with the special guest. Mr. Tait told me before exiting the building, "Keep up the great work!" And with more consistent connections to the necessary resources to be successful...we plan to!

During the summer months when the activity in the program slows down in comparison to the school year, it is nice to not only have the students and volunteers come into the facility, but it's also nice to see the students and volunteers continuing to work hard on perfecting their craft. The Video and Filmmaker's Club continues to be one of the most popular and productive extra learning opportunities in the program, and I can't wait to see their finished products at the end of the summer. We also would like to thank John Tait for stopping in to say hello!

We Present to YOU, the 2011 Cabrini Connections' Golf Benefit

2011-07-22T17:53:00.010-05:00

I would like to start off by saying that, WE SURVIVED!!! With temperatures reaching, if not peaking, 100 degrees yesterday, we successfully hosted our 2011 Cabrini Connections' Golf Benefit at the Highland Park Country Club. This is an annual event hosted by the organization to not only raise funds for the organization, but to also provide an opportunity for participants to network, advocate for the program, celebrate program highlights, and to HAVE FUN!
After the early morning registration, the participants headed inside to cool down and to have some lunch before the shotgun start at 1pm. Around that time we had nearly 70 golfers in the carts and ready for fun in the sun on the greens. The participants enjoyed a fun filled day out on the course, all while trying to stay hydrated and out of the sun as much as possible. But even with the heat, I'd say that all that took part in the event had a GREAT day!

As the sun began to die down and the golfers completed their rounds, the Cabrini Connections' staff, students, and volunteers headed inside to set up for the evening events of food, drinks, and the silent auction. I think EVERYBODY enjoyed this part of the evening, especially with the air conditioning included! This is the part of the evening when everybody had an opportunity to not only cool off, but to network, hear from the Cabrini Connections' Board Members, students, and myself, as the new Executive Director of the organization. And with being in this role less than a full week of hosting the biggest fundraiser of the year, I'd say it was a success.

Thanks to all of those that contributed by being sponsors, volunteering to help with the behind the scenes work the day of and the preparation leading up to the event, the GREAT staff at the Highland Park Country Club, and a VERY VERY SPECIAL THANKS to staff member Toni Pullen, the 2011 Cabrini Connections' Golf Benefit was a lot of fun. Although we did not hit the financial numbers that we had hoped for on the day of the event, we feel the actual event can and will lead to further financial support in the near and distant future. The Annual Golf Benefit, like many of the other FUNdraising events that take place in the organization looks to hit great numbers the day of, but we hope that what takes place as a result of the actual event is what will lead to future support. Hopefully everybody that was present at the event enjoyed their experience and will find ways to not only continue supporting the organization, but will share their experiences and the program to those in their network, so they too will consider being a supporter of the organization.

If YOU would like to know more about the Cabrini Connections' program please visit the website and hopefully you too will become a FAN of the Award Winning...CABRINI CONNECTIONS' PROGRAM!

Edgewood College Experience...2011

2011-07-13T10:02:00.005-05:00

The Cabrini Connections' program strives to connect people to resources; students, volunteers, parents, and even donors who are looking for a program like ours to donate...we explain to them why our program is a great selection. But for us to be able to connect people to resources we need to understand the needs of students and volunteers and also the needs of the program; but we also have to be able to collaborate with others and access those needed resources.

Dr. Tom Holub a professor at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin has been one of the many sources of resources to the Cabrini Connections' program for 13 years now! Each summer Dr. Holub and a number of his graduate students visit the program for 3 days for what we call "The Edgewood College Experience!"

This was another successful installment of that experience. We had a great group of Edgewood visitors, an outstanding group of Cabrini Connections' students, and just an overall great activity for the Cabrini Connections' program. What made this year different was the leadership that three of our most recent student alumni provided. Imann Mitchell, Cierria Tharpe, and Kanah Bradley are three of our 2011 graduates and not only signed up to participate in the experience this year, but they also served as student leaders assisting the Edgewood guests and working with the younger Cabrini Connections' students. These student leaders did a GREAT job!

Hopefully this opportunity will be the start of a lifelong relationship between the students of Cabrini Connections and the group from Edgewood. We hope that not only does the Edgewood students aim to remain connected to the students, but we also hope they will continue to try to assist the overall program by connecting us to resources they may know of. This could come in the form of new volunteers in the program, funding that our program could use, or as simple as more and more people reading and becoming a fan of the work that we do so they can possibly connect us to future resources. With our biggest FUNdraisor of the year taking place on Thursday of next week, annual golf benefit, the Edgewood College visitors could possibly participate as golfers, attend the dinner, or take advantage of the online bidding opportunity! Again, connecting people to resources is what we aim to do and we definitely want to thank Tom Holub and the 2011 Edgewood College visitors for being one of those resources for our students of the Cabrini Connections' program!

NFL Star, Barry Cofield, Calls for Support for the Annual Golf Benefit

2011-06-21T00:40:00.010-05:00

Northwestern University alumni and starting Defensive lineman of the New York Giants, Barry Cofield, will serve as the official Spokesman of the 2011 Cabrini Connections' Golf Benefit. After completing a very successful 2011 Year End Dinner, we are on to the next major event in the organization, the Annual Golf Benefit. The 2011 Cabrini Connections' Golf Benefit will be held Thursday, July 21, at Highland Park Country Club. This is one of the most important fund raisers of each year and we are looking for this year's event to be THE BEST one ever, and Barry and the Cabrini Connections' TEAM could use your help?

Mr. Cofield is a huge fan of youth and GIVING BACK to the community, and he has been a fan and supporter of the Cabrini Connections' program for several years now. In 2008 the Superbowl Champion Barry Cofield supported the Annual Golf Benefit by donating an autographed jersey to the silent action. And since that date, Barry has continued to follow highlights of the program and has continued to support the program in a variety of ways. After a recent visit to the program's facility in April, Mr. Cofield has since joined the Advisory Board and accepted a request to be the 2011 Golf Benefit Spokesman. Barry said, "I'm passionate about working with today's youth in order to make the future brighter, Cabrini Connections' is dedicated to the same goal and they are the best at what they do!"

Don't forget to visit the golf website and join the New York Giants', Barry Cofield and the Cabrini Connections' staff, by seeing how YOU can support the 2011 Golf Benefit and the Cabrini Connections' program. Barry Cofield recently stated that he will be in attendance at the golf benefit and is looking forward to assisting with the success of the event and with obtaining the necessary resources for the Cabrini Connections' program to be successful.

Barry Cofield at a Charity Basketball Game in Sandusky, OH.

"I Present to You...the 2011 Cabrini Connections' Year End Dinner"

2011-06-17T12:23:00.016-05:00

Last evening the Cabrini Connections' program capped off the 2010-2011 tutoring/mentoring year with our Annual Year End Dinner. This was truly a remarkable event filled with speeches, performances, awards, great food, nearly 250 attendees, and a special tribute to our 2011 Cabrini Connections’ graduating class! This graduating class is truly unique in the fact that:

* 4 out of 5 seniors have been in the Cabrini Connections’ program for six years!

* Those same 4 seniors were also members of the Cabrini Green Tutoring Program and upon graduating from that program in the 6th grade they continued on with our program.

* 1 of the mentor/mentee pairs have been working together since the start of the student’s 7th grade year. Meaning they have been a mentor/mentee pair for six years!

*Lastly, ALL 5 seniors will be enrolled in a college or university in the Fall of 2011!!!
-Kanah Bradley (Southern Illinois University)
-Cierria Tharpe (Illinois Institute of Art)
-Victoria Rivera (Western Illinois University)
-Whitney Hemphill (Chicago State University or Robert Morris University)
-Imann Mitchell (Robert Morris University)

Check out this video of the seniors receiving their Graduation Dollars and yearbooks!

Class of 2011 from Cabrini Connections on Vimeo.

We are not only very proud of our 2011 graduating class, but we are proud of our entire Cabrini Connections program! The Cabrini Connections' staff would like to thank everybody that came out to help us celebrate another chapter to the "Cabrini Connections' Story" and we definitely would like to thank all of the students, volunteers, parents, and donors that all played a part in putting this event together. We are thankful and appreciative for your support of the Cabrini Connections' program.

The room was electric last night and hopefully everybody still has that feel good feeling right now! Hopefully EVERYBODY will take those positive feelings one step further and share with those in your network the impact that this program has on the lives of so many people. Tell them all about the RECORD BREAKING, AWARD WINNING, the ONE and ONLY Cabrini Connections' program!!! We are hopeful that they too will want to support the program as volunteers advocates, and/or a donors!!!

Moving beyond the past to the future

2011-06-16T11:20:00.005-05:00

Tonight will be the annual year end dinner celebrating the work done at Cabrini Connections in the past year.

I've hosted these dinners every spring since 1975 in my role as leader of the Montgomery Ward-Cabrini Green Tutoring Program, then Executive Director of Cabrini Green Tutoring Program Inc, and since 1993 as President of Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection.

I won't be at tonight's dinner because I won't be officially part of Cabrini Connections after July 15. It's too painful for me to stand in front of you all asking for your help in making Cabrini Connections available to youth and volunteers for a coming year, when that call to action now will need to come from El Da'Sheon Nix and the Board of Directors.

If I were at the dinner I might want to talk about the history of the organization and show photos from the thousands that have been taken in the past 35 years. I might want to talk about what I've learned and why I've built a passion for the second part of Cabrini Connections, the Tutor/Mentor Connection. I would invite you to stay connected to me and to the information and ideas that I'm sharing on my blog and this web site.

I've received numerous awards and recognition over the past 35 years.

None have been more important to me than hearing the success of our teens and seeing the interaction they and volunteers have each year. The Dinner is special because it showcases this in so many ways. I don't want my leaving to take away the attention from what we have been trying to do at Cabrini Connections.

So I will say to all of you, "Keep the vision alive. Keep helping each other. Keep in mind that the only way we'll solve any of the problems we face is if each of us says "If it is to be, it is up to me".

Cabrini Connections is available because of the efforts of many volunteers over many years. Some of them have worked hard to find the money needed to operate the program. Over the past few years finding this money has been more difficult and that has led the Board of Directors to think that separating the Tutor/Mentor Connection from Cabrini Connections will give them a simpler story and more ability to raise the needed money.

Raising the money has always been about telling the story of why we are involved and why what we do is important to people who have the ability to give money. If all of you keep doing that you should be able to find enough donors.

I will continue to try to help from my role as leader of the Tutor/Mentor Connection and as a long-term member and supporter of the tutoring/mentoring that has been taking place in Cabrini-Green since 1965.

Congratulations on another year. Good luck in what you do to help each other in the coming years.

Cabrini Connections to be featured on Groupon!

2011-06-02T16:11:00.002-05:00

We are excited to announce that Cabrini Connections is going to be featured on Groupon.com with a G-Team campaign for three days, June 7-9! Launched in November of 2008, Groupon is a website that features unbeatable daily deals - 50 to 90% off - on the best local goods, services and cultural events in more than 500 markets and 46 countries worldwide.

G-Team is a community outreach initiative within Groupon that brings communities together to do good, have fun, and make an impact. G-Team has been working in Chicago to help mission-driven organizations like ours raise money and raise awareness, channeling the collective buying power of Groupon followers and our local supporters.

We need your help to make this a successful campaign...

1. Subscribe to Groupon (http://www.groupon.com/subscriptions/new) in Chicago before the campaign launch
2. Check the daily Groupon e-mail to view our campaign, which will be featured along the right hand side of the main deal and under the list of daily deals
3. Support the campaign with a pledge and spread the word to friends and family, encouraging them to do the same

Thank you for your support! Read and share the full announcement on Bradley's blog here: http://bit.ly/k9UZNu

NU Gives Back...To Cabrini Connections

2011-05-24T12:18:00.010-05:00

On Saturday May 21st the Cabrini Connections' program hosted a group of 14 Northwestern University students as part of the NU Gives Back: Service Day. Hundreds of Northwestern University students spent their day in various non-profit organizations, schools, and communities throughout the Chicagoland area as way of "giving back" with a day of service.

We had a GREAT group of fellow Wildcats that selected Cabrini Connections as their service site. We started the day with introductions which was great because as staff we wanted to get to know the students better, but it was also a good idea because not all of the students knew each other before the introductions. The Cabrini Connections' staff then provided the group with more information about the history of the organization and information on the present Cabrini Connections and the Cabrini Green community so that the students could have a stronger connection to the program as they completed their responsibilities for the day.

And before it was time to get to work, we provided a preview of a "Challenge" that we were going to close the day with. We asked all of the students to write down the names of five people that they consider to be their mentors and to keep those names in mind as they complete their service projects for the day. And then they were off to work!!!

The 14 students broke up into teams and completed a variety of tasks for the day. Some cleaned and organized the storage room, some students completed a mural on the wall of the front office, while others cleaned and provided maintenance work on the desks and chairs, organized the library, cleaned the desktops on all of the computers in the computer lab, and a variety of other projects that needed attention in the center. We had the music going, there was a lot of laughter, a lot of teamwork, and more and more relationship building as we all got to know each other throughout the day.

The day started around 11am and ended around 2pm, but at 1:30pm we got back together as a group to present this "Challenge." At the start of the day we discussed the pieces to the puzzle that make programs like Cabrini Connections' work. The NU students said you need students, volunteers, a safe environment, staff, and donors. We then expanded that last piece to the puzzle that was mentioned, the donors that provide financial support. As we got back together as a group a couple of students talked about their experience that day and shared that with the group. We then asked all of the student to take out their notecard with those five names on there and posed this "Challenge:" the students have to contact their five mentors and thank them for all that they have and continue to do in their lives, share their day of service experience with them, and encourage their five mentors to support their day of service efforts by making a donation to Cabrini Connections. The student that brings in the most donations by our Annual Year End Dinner will be awarded a special invite to our Annual Golf Benefit.

I know I am biased but I feel that Cabrini Connections' is a GREAT program, but we are only GREAT because of all of those that come together to make this work. The students, volunteers, parents, staff, Board Members, community partners, and the donors! When you have all of these pieces working together, supporting each other, and working towards a common goal, success HAS to be the result. So I encourage you to become one of those pieces to the puzzle and help Cabrini Connections continue to be GREAT!

Kanah Bradley Makes Her Selection!!!

2011-05-16T13:11:00.009-05:00

As we get closer and closer to the end of the school year, we also get closer to saying good bye to our 2011 graduating class. Just recently one of our seniors made her decision on where she will be heading to continue her education. Von Stueben High School senior, Kanah Bradley, who has been in the Cabrini Connections' program since March of 2009 has made the decision to attend Southern Illinois University this fall! Kanah was researching several colleges and universities, and has decided that Southern Illinois University would be the perfect fit for her to pursue her dreams of a career in medicine.

Kanah and her mentor Autumn Sharp have been working together for nearly two years here in the program, and they also spend time outside of the program as well. Autumn said this about her student's recent decision to attend SIU, "I am excited to see Kanah graduate and move on to SIU. I think she will do extremely well and we'll see her accomplishing her goal of being a doctor."

We are not only proud of Kanah and excited about this next step in her life, we are thankful of both Kanah and Autumn sharing their time, experiences, and commitment to the Cabrini Connections' program. We are looking to create more and more life changing stories and experiences like this one, and we are going to need more and more support from others to help us create these stories. If we can get consistent financial support and resources, we will then be able to keep the center open, filled with a strong leadership of staff and coordinators, that will lead dedicated and committed students and volunteers grow in the program...and THAT will lead to more and more SUCCESS stories like that of Kanah Bradley!

YOUR 2011 Cabrini Connections' Year End Dinner

2011-05-02T14:38:00.009-05:00

Cabrini Connections' 2011 Year-End Dinner will be held on Thursday, June 16th, 6-8pm, at Cornerstone Academy, 1111 N. Wells St. (same as in past years). We are looking to make this the BEST Year End Dinner ever, and your support by attending and/or donating to the event will help us reach this goal! This event is often hailed as the best of the year, which makes it a great time to support the program with a donation.

Individuals or businesses are encouraged to donate at one of the following levels:

Homework Helper - $50
Extra Credit - $100
Student & Volunteer Achievement - $200
Honor Roll - $500
Senior Sponsor - $1,000
Future CEO/Leader - $2,500

Checks made out to Cabrini Connections can be mailed to 800 W Huron, Chicago, IL 60642.

You may also donate online via PayPal.

We are hoping that YOU will make an effort to attend this event and assist us with not only wrapping up this year on a positive note and successfully sending our seniors off to the next phase of their life, but we want you to assist us with keeping the momentum going for the upcoming year! Please complete the RSVP form if you plan on attending this year's event! RSVP for the dinner now! http://tinyurl.com/2011yed

Cabrini Connections, A New Beginning!

2011-04-25T12:16:00.008-05:00

Since 1993, Cabrini Connections, a/k/a Tutor/Mentor Connection, (the “Corporation”), a 501(C)(3) Illinois not-for-profit corporation, has operated two programs. The program known as “Cabrini Connections” is a volunteer tutor/mentor program for kids 7th through 12th grade, which is operated from its location near Chicago’s Cabrini-Green neighborhood. When the organization was formed in 1993, building an organization to provide mentoring, tutoring and other activities to support teens moving from 7th to 12th grade was its first priority.

However, the founders recognized that there was no leadership in Chicago helping small tutoring programs like Cabrini Connections get the resources they needed to grow. Thus they built a program to fill this void. That program is known as “Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC)”. T/MC now provides products and services that help tutor/mentor programs in Chicago and other cities increase volunteer involvement, improve quality, and reach more youth; thereby acting as a clearinghouse for information on best practices for tutoring programs.

On April 11, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Corporation unanimously approved a plan to move toward separating the two programs currently comprising the Corporation. The purpose of this step is to allow each program to focus on its mission, thereby allowing both programs to become more efficient and effective. The separation will be effective on or about June 15, 2011.

Upon separation of the programs, the Corporation will continue operating the Cabrini Connections program, serving youth and their families. EL Da' Sheon Nix will become the Executive Director of Cabrini Connections. The Tutor/Mentor Connection will be operated as a separate stand-alone entity. Dan Bassill, the organization’s founder, will lead the new Tutor/Mentor Connection.

Both Cabrini Connections and Tutor/Mentor Connection have been providing outstanding services for over 15 years not only to youth and families in the Cabrini Green community, but to communities throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond. With hard work, dedication, commitment, and a collective effort both programs can and will continue to provide those same great services to those that need it the most.

-------------

Volunteers and supporters are encouraged to provide full support to El and Dan as this change is being made. If you would like to be involved in the re-structuring and future direction of the Tutor/Mentor Connection please follow the articles on the Tutor/Mentor Blog and on the Tutor/Mentor Connection forum.

"Improbable" rise from poverty

2011-04-18T16:55:00.004-05:00

In today's Chicago SunTimes was a feature story about Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts, and is rise from birth in a high poverty neighborhood. He was compared to President Obama and his own rise from poverty.

In this article Patrick talks about how a teacher saw his promise and told him about a program ---called A better Chance -- that would show him another world.

This is what we're trying to do at Cabrini Connections. It's hard to measure the immediate impact because we're trying to help kids grow up.

I first learned about A Better Chance in the 1990s when I was contacted by A Better Chance Edina, from Edina Minnesota. I looked at their web site today and the page where they show the cost of their program. They say "The average cost to run the program with twelve students is $175,000.00 per year." That's over $10,000 per student.

We don't have nearly the same level of funding, and we don't send our teens to a private school, yet we have the same goals and our volunteers are trying to have the same impact on our teens. If we can show another world, maybe students will expand their aspirations and we can help them get there.

We're finishing this school year and struggling to find needed money. Due to this long-term struggle the Board of Directors has decided to narrow its focus to the Cabrini Connections program and no longer focus on the Tutor/Mentor Connection which we have led since 1993.

As we work through this change we will need volunteers and donors to step forward with even greater energy, talent and responsibility than in the past to help assure the ability of Cabrini Connections to help our kids become future leaders in their own adult lives.

More details on this new structure will be coming in the next week or two.

2011 Cabrini Madness Season Recap

2011-04-08T13:01:00.010-05:00

A Look Back on the 2011 Cabrini Madness Season!!!

After a very successful 2010 Cabrini Madness debut season, the Cabrini Connections’ program was back at it and geared up to have an even better 2011 season. And a successful season it was!!! With many new and familiar faces, with some new creative ideas and concepts, and that returning competitive edge…the 2011 Cabrini Madness season served to be a great source of program advocacy and financial support for the same GREAT cause…CABRINI CONNECTIONS!!! So take some time and let look back at what was the 2011 Cabrini Madness FUNdraising Tournament

Cabrini Madness Season: February 7th-April 4th, 2011

Number of Team: 13

Number of Participants on Roster: 126

Students (39) Volunteers (46) Staff, Coordinators, Board Members (19) Outside of the Program Members (22)

Cabrini Madness FUNdraising Events:

-Team 5D’s

Game Day Event

-Boom Goes The Dynamite Teen Party/Dance at Cabrini Connections Bowling Night at Timber Lanes

-Cabrini Loyalty Bake Sale & Guessing Contest Happy Hour Event eLoyalty Donation Bin Idea Chicago Office Jean’s Day

-The Dream Team

Birthday Causes on Facebook

-The Free Agents

Happy Hour Event

-The Golden Stars Candy Sales Campaign

-The Green Team

The Wing Thing Happy Hour Basketball Viewing Event & Concert

-Team High5ive

Snack Sales Campaign

Cabrini Madness Promotional Videos: 8 total (possibly 9)

Training Days The Decision

Maybe

Lost In The Woods

Wednesday Night Lights

Cabrini Phoneathon

Bracketology with Tim Doyle

Encouragement Promo

Teams that Advanced to the Elite 8 (+ Play in Team): -Team High 5ive, Change Makers, The Green Team, Boom Goes the Dynamite, The Golden Stars, Cabrini Loyalty, The Dream Team, Cabrini AllStars, and The Kids Are All Bright

Teams that Advanced to the Final 4: -Cabrini Loyalty, Cabrini AllStars, The Dream Team, and The Kids Are All Bright

Championship Round Teams: -The Kids Are All Bright and Cabrini AllStars

2011 Cabrini Madness FUNdraising Tournament Champion: Cabrini AllStars

"The Kids Are All Bright provided some great fireworks down the stretch to make the Cabrini Madness tournament interesting, but it was Tim Minton and the Cabrini AllStars that prevailed in the end. Tim Minton called a timeout, gathered his team together, and provided what would be the game winning speech. He and the Cabrini AllStars rallied to pull out the $6,652 to $4308 victory!!!"

Approximate Number of 2011 Cabrini Madness Donors: Over 600!!!!

Total Amount Raised in the 2011 Cabrini Madness Season: $27,500(+) -more donations from Cabrini Madness has been coming in…

2011 Cabrini Madness Awards: We ended the 2011 Cabrini Madness season with our Annual Award’s ceremony to recognize all that made the 2011 season successful and to honor those that went above and beyond by presenting individuals and teams with some hardware. The names of the awards come from those that won the awards the previous year.

The Minton Rookie of the Year Award: Jason Tennenbaum Rising new star to the Cabrini Madness season

The TEMS Most Improved Team Award: The Kids Are All Bright

Team that started off low in the ranks and made continuous progress throughout the season

The Culliard 6th Man/Woman of the Year: Cabrini Loyalty (Team)

Person (or Team) that was not officially in the Cabrini Connections’ program, but contributed GREATLY to team’s success

The Martin Captain of the Year: Diana Restrepo Captain that led team to great success all season long

The Awesomes’ Most Valuable Event: Boom Goes The Dynamite (Bowling Night) Team’s event that brought in the most financial support

The Grunst Most Valuable Player: Tim Minton Person that brought in the most money that contributed to their team’s overall success

We had an amazing 2011 season of Cabrini Madness, but the support for the GREAT cause of Cabrini Connections' doesn't stop as that season ended. The Cabrini Connections' program is year around, and support for overall program needs to happen all year long as well. So if you missed out on supporting during the Cabrini Madness season and would still like to support the students, volunteers, and staff that make this program what it is...please submit your support here.

Help Shape Future

2011-04-05T16:37:00.004-05:00

Below is a graphic taken from a Planning Cycle PDF that I created several years ago.

For Cabrini Connections to grow and improve in the coming years we need to expand the number of people who are involved in the planning cycle and building of organizational capacity. I can coach that process for any volunteers who want to get more involved. You do not need to take a formal role as a member of the Board of Directors to take a lead or help with this process, although if you want that type of involvement we are always looking to add new people to the Board.

See Dan or El if you'd like to know more about this planning cycle and other resources that are available to help volunteers, students, donors and others become more involved in shaping the future of Cabrini Connections and the Tutor/Mentor Connection.

Future Leaders - In Development

2011-03-29T09:36:00.005-05:00

Below are two videos posted to the Internet this week. The first shows how students are building leadership and fund raising skills by their participation in the Cabrini Madness and other events that help us keep Cabrini Connections available to them and future students. As with other Cabrini Madness videos our students are the actors which helps them develop confidence in themselves. It also shows them how to use video to communicate ideas and motivate people to respond.

Encouragement Promo from Cabrini Connections on Vimeo.

The second is a new video created by Dan Bassill, that shows how Cabrini Connections is a "collective effort" of many people, over many years, to help inner city youth go through school and on into adult lives. In this video Dan shows how the the leaders and past volunteers in Cabrini Connections created the Tutor/Mentor Connection, which is a larger scale collective effort intended to draw needed operating resources to all tutor/mentor programs in the city on a more consistent basis, thus helping Cabrini Connections get more of the resources it needs, too.

This second video is also the result of a collective effort. We first learned about CamStudio from a volunteer based in the UK who used it to create these videos to show her network how one of the T/MC web sites works. She learned about us when George Siemmens, who is in Canada, wrote this blog article about the T/MC on his web site.

In both of these videos we're focusing on raising visibility, connecting leaders from different tutor/mentor programs with each other, and finding donors and philanthropic investors who will provide the capital needed to support the on-going efforts of our students and volunteers. We're also demonstrating how easy it is for any of our students, volunteers, leaders and friends to create videos that help others understand what we're doing so that they are more motivated to use their own time, talent and dollars to help us.

If our teens (and volunteers) practice this form of learning, leadership and communications over many years they will have tools, skills and habits that enable them to mobilize help from many sectors to help them solve any problem they ever face in the future.

Talent Show - This Saturday, March 26

2011-03-22T10:35:00.002-05:00

Cabrini's Got Talent" will be held this Saturday, March 26th, at 5pm at Cabrini Connections.

Tickets are only $2. Pay at the door. Cash, check, or credit card. Performers get in free.

Food will be provided potluck-style by parents. Please bring a dish for the crowd! It will be much appreciated :

Food will be served at 5pm. *Performances begin at 5:30pm* and should last about an hour.

We have 10 students and volunteers scheduled to perform, but there is still time to join them.* "Last chance" performance reviews are this week* at Cabrini Connections: Wednesday 4-6pm and Thursday 5-6pm.

*URGENT NEED:* We could really benefit from the use of a stage and a microphone and amplifier. Please call the office at 312-492-9614 if you have any leads. Thank you!

*SPECIAL NOTE:* Support one another! This is a great, cheap, convenient, student-led event - a perfect opportunity to showcase the program to your family and friends. These talented students and volunteers deserve a full house! See you there!

It's March...LET THE MADNESS BEGIN!!!

2011-03-14T12:31:00.002-05:00

Monday 3/14 - Happy Hour - Please join The Free Agents http://www.giveforward.com/thefreeagents for happy hour on Monday, March 14 from 6:30-8:30 at Redmond's Ale House [http://www.redmondsalehouse.com] (3358 N Sheffield Ave.) and enjoy FREE domestic drafts for the duration. If you are so moved to make a donation in support of Cabrini Connections in return, that'd be awesome! No minimum donation required. For more info or to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140528656014990

Tuesday 3/15 - Wing Eating Contest - On Tuesday, March 15th, The Green Team http://www.giveforward.com/thegreenteam is hosting a wing-eating contest at Cabrini Connections. Come as an individual or group and pay $10 for 10 wings per person. Teams compete in groups of 2 or 4 and the fastest two teams will face off in a bonus round for a chance to win the inaugural "Wing Bling" trophy! For more info or to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169207923129834

Thursday 3/17 - Chili Sale - Running for Cabrini [http://www.giveforward.com/runningforcabrini] will be
selling chili for only $1/bowl during the session from 6-7:45pm.

Friday 3/18 - Midnight Bowling for Cabrini Connections Event - Boom Goes The Dynamite http://www.boomgoesthedynamite.org/ is hosting a bowling charity event at Timber Lanes [http://www.timberlanesbowl.com/] (1851 W Irving Park Rd.) on March 18, 2011 from 10pm-2am. A $30 suggested starting
donation gets you unlimited bowling, shoes and loads of fun for 4 hours. Cash bar. For more info or to RSVP, visit the Evite page http://new.evite.com/services/links/3JLBICZIKG

Ongoing
Team High5ive [http://www.giveforward.com/high5ive] is selling candy and snacks and The Golden Stars [http://www.giveforward.com/goldenstars] are selling candy bars

Good to Great and Cabrini Connections

2011-03-09T17:24:00.003-06:00

The Mission of Cabrini Connection is to "Engage workplace adults in structured activities that make a life-changing difference for youth living in economically and educationally disadvantaged neighborhoods." At last June's dinner Tangela Smith Marlow told of how Cabrini Connections has had a transformative impact on her life. This video captured these words.

During the next weeks and months members of the Cabrini Connections community are urged to take part in deep thinking and strategic planning that determines the future of this organization beyond the current school year.

We have provided an organized structure for more than 18 years, thanks to a core group of leaders and a wide range of donors and volunteers. It has never been easy and there has been constant change in the leaders involved. Yet with the help of volunteers who step forward to take over for those who proceeded them, we have continued to provide this space for others to try to have an impact.

If you look at the Program Locator map and search for tutor/mentor programs serving high school kids, you see only 82 listings of places that we know of doing some version of what we try to do here. Many neighborhoods have no programs. Many programs are smaller that we are. Thus, just making Cabrini Connections available and keeping it here for 18 years is a measure of success.

We have many resources on the Cabrini Planning Wiki that you can put everyone on the same page as to the history of Cabrini Connections, it's mission and purpose.

One wiki is titled Good to Great. In this we talk about key values, products and services that we offer.

It's time for new eyes and new leaders to be looking at this information, update it for the future, and take the ownership role that assures the organizations has the resources to achieve this mission.

During future tutor/mentor sessions we'll begin to introduce this planning process to current volunteers and students. If you'd like to take an active role in this process please contact El Da'Sheon Nix or Dan Bassill at 312-492-9614

So Much More Than Tutoring and Mentoring...

2011-03-07T16:43:00.008-06:00

Cabrini Connections is a tutoring and mentoring, volunteer-based program, but we are so much more!!! Besides tutoring and mentoring services, we provide not only site based resources for our participants, we also provide off-site opportunities that we feel can and will assist the students with their current and future academic and career goals. One of the many resources that we provide are college and university trips, and today we visited DePaul University!

Over the years we have visited many of the colleges and universities in the Chicagoland area, but what made this trip a little more unique than the rest was the fact that this entire opportunity was set up by a parent of one our current students. Rhonda Parrow, mother of 2nd year student Aaliyah Griffin, is a graduate student at DePaul University and she is involved with a program at DePaul that sets up tours similar to the one we went on today. There were a total of 5 students and 2 staff that took part in this opportunity, and although it was a smaller group, those that attended had a very positive experience.

The visit started with lunch at the Welcome Center and we also were provided an hour long admission's presentation given by a current DePaul University student. This presentation provided the group with any and all of the information about the school, financial aid, classes, social life, and more! Following the information session we then were greeted with our tour guide and he walked us around the campus providing us with more information about the life of a DePaul University student. One of the biggest attractions for the group was the student center on campus which serves as one of the main meeting places for DePaul students to eat, play games, socialize, AND....do homework.

Our group spent a little over two hours on the campus and it was a great opportunity for the students and staff to get more information about the university, what it takes to get into the school, life after graduation, and the opportunity to just envision themselves walking on a college campus in the near future! We definitely want to thank Rhonda Parrow and the DePaul University for providing us with this great opportunity, we greatly appreciate the great service that we received today.

Good to Great and Cabrini Connections

2011-03-03T16:06:00.003-06:00

As we head to the final months of the 2010-11 school year I encourage volunteers, staff, students and supporters to spend time reading sections of the Cabrini Connections planning wiki such as this section titled Good to Great.

Each year is a cycle where we begin to look from one year to the next, with new volunteers growing into leadership roles. As more members of our community become familiar with these planning documents, more become owners and more talent is unleashed to help us succeed in connecting youth and volunteers in life-changing mentoring and tutoring.

The wikis can be edited (they need editing) and new ideas can be added. As our teens look at these they can become more engaged in shaping the direction of Cabrini Connections and of their own futures.

As you have questions or want to discuss the information and ideas please contact Dan or El or set up a time when groups can discuss this information.

They Brought Their "A" Essays!!!

2011-02-28T11:52:00.005-06:00

We officially wrapped up our Black History Month festivities in our last two sessions of the month of February on a very high note. After weeks of promoting the "Bring Your A Essay" contest for Black History Month, we were honored to announce the names of the students that received the Runner Up Prize and the Grand Prizes.

The essays that we received were very well done and definitely reflected that the students not only were focused during the documentary, but it also showed how the documentary directly affected them and those around them. And that is exactly what we were looking for in this essay, we were looking for students to observe the "Bring Your A Game" documentary and reflect on the film and how it relates to the their life.

During our Wednesday Night session we had the pleasure to present freshman student, Arden Harris, with the Grand Prize of $50 and she was also presented with an additional special prize. Wednesday Night mentors Matt and Barbara Barnes donated 2 televisions the previous week, and Arden was able to take her pick out of which tv she would like to take home as well! Before receiving her prizes, Arden shared with the group a little about her essay and said, "be sure to get your education because no matter what you want to do in life you will need an education." And that statement holds true to not only the students that were present, but the adults in the room understand her point as well.

On Thursday Night we were able to provide a runner up prize as well. Wells High School, Whitney Hemphill, received recognition and the runner up prize of the 2nd donated tv. Whitney's essay was well done also and displayed how important her education is to putting her in a position to obtain the career she is looking for and providing for her own family.

We congratulate all of the students that entered the contest this year and encourage all of the Cabrini Connections' students to take advantage of opportunities like these. Not only are there usually prizes attached to these contests, but they also provide other valuable lessons that can be utilized in and outside of the program.

Arden Harris' "A" Essay:

Many young African Americans grow up doing things they see others do. They grow up thinking that it is ok to stand on street corners all day and not want to do anything or be anything in life. According to the film Bring Your A Game, what most young people do not see is that in order to become a famous rapper, an NBA basketball player, or a politician, you have to get an education. The young African Americans who do not want to do anything in life are the same ones who taunt others who try their best in school, so that they can get ahead. What many young people do not realize is that a good work ethic and a good education will help them in the future but they have to do the rest.

No matter what profession young people choose it’s important that they stay in school. However, Bring Your A Game shows that 25% of Caucasians, 30% of Asians, and 50% of African Americans drop out of high school each year. To many young African Americans it is cool to get bad grades, act defiantly, and get into trouble. Those same young people aspire to become NBA basketball players or even rappers; what they do not realize is that education is important for success. In the movie people from different professions like rappers, authors, and mayors come together and show that no matter what they wanted to become, education came first.

Putting education first is not always easy. These young people cannot do it alone; they need guidance from people who are willing to help them achieve their short-term, as well as their lifetime goals. Young people need to learn that in order to get ahead that may have to make many sacrifices, but in the end it will be worth it. Instead of going to the biggest party of the year, they may have to be at home studying for that big physics test because that is going to get them to places that they want to be in life, but that party won’t. As a community, everyone needs to step up to help young African Americans because, just like a ripple effect, every action that a person in the community makes affects someone else around them. In the words of Robert Francis Kennedy, “It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.”

By: Arden Harris

Cabrini Madness. Cabrini Future.

2011-02-17T11:17:00.008-06:00

I’d like to share a few thoughts with readers about the importance of the current Cabrini Madness Fund Raising Campaign.

Cabrini Connections is a volunteer-based organization. I’ve led it since 1993 after leading the Montgomery Ward/Cabrini-Green Tutoring Program from 1975 to 1992. *see timeline.

Until 1990 I was a volunteer myself, with a full time advertising job. Every year for the past 35 years I’ve made an effort to enlist other people to share the responsibility for helping inner-city youth and workplace volunteers connect in a meaningful and life-transforming process.

When we became a non-profit in 1990 this meant we also had to recruit volunteers to serve on a Board of Directors, which is required for non profit status, We also had to find volunteers to help with raising the funds needed to operate. Our first Directors were people who had been tutors/mentors. Over the years others have come as a result of relationships with incumbent board members. Some still have started out as tutors/mentors, such as Ray Dowdle, Victor Trotter, Mike Hayes and Mike Ozmeral.

Our Directors are no different than any of the volunteers with Cabrini Connections. We don’t have people who come from wealthy families or who lead big companies and can control donor decisions. We’ve relied on advertising and network-building to tell our story and find new donors every year. Yet we know that good fund raising is a result of good relationships and family ties.

Over the years we’ve had the bad luck to loose some of our strongest supporters, such as the Montgomery Ward Company and HSBC North America due to their own business conditions. That means instead of growing revenue each year we’re often struggling just to replace money that won’t repeat from the previous year. This year for instance, we will need to replace $20,000 given by HSBC North America in 2010 which won’t repeat in 2011.

It’s this inability to keep major donors involved from year-to-year that makes philanthropy such a difficult model for building long-term organizational success. Read more about challenges facing non profits.

I’ve had many people help me in my 35 years of leadership. In 1978 one adviser said “If you don’t write your plan on paper, you don’t have a plan.” Thus, I’ve written down the reasons we offer tutoring/mentoring, the strategy, and what it takes to be successful. However the number of people who actually read this each year was pretty small because of limited ability to make copies available to a large network of people (and lack of time/interest). With the Internet I’ve put many of my ideas and the annual plan on the Internet so anyone can look at it, with the goal that more people will share ownership and responsibility for our success. We still don’t have many people reading this, but it is now available to anyone who is interested.

What does this have to do with Cabrini Madness? Everything.

This event has enlisted more students, volunteers and alumni in telling friends, coworkers and family about what we do and asking for donations than any other event we have offered. As a result, more people are beginning to look for information to show why a program like this is needed and how we show that donors should support us when there are so many other causes in the world demanding donor attention and investments.

I hope that means more people will read the articles I write at and more people will take time to review this animated map showing the information we share on our web sites. As you build your own understanding, you’re better prepared to tell others.

However, asking people for money is only the first reason that Cabrini Madness is important.

We need to be building a network of volunteer and alumni leaders who can support any future staff who join the program. While El and Bradley are doing a great job, they may choose to go to other jobs and careers (especially if we can’t find the money to pay them or provide adequate working conditions and support for their efforts.)

In the past when we’ve had leadership transition, I’ve been here to help recruit and train new staff. I’ve drawn from the annual plan that I’ve written to provide a structure that new people could use as they grew their own understanding of their role as a leader.

However, I’m 64 and can’t be counted on to be here for more than a few more years…if that long. Thus if we are to continue to provide a safe and supportive place where volunteers and teens can connect, and that continues this connection into alumni years, we not only need to find secure funding that can attract and keep people like El and Bradley with us, but we also need to build a volunteer leadership corps that will provide us with program coordinators, group leaders, fund raisers, and Directors who can work together and who have a history with the program and a passion for what we do, and who have a deep understanding of the strategy and resources of the organization.

This volunteer leadership will continue the traditions of Cabrini Connections and make the hiring decisions that give us new staff and Directors in the future.

I feel my role is to coach a new generation of leaders who will support the continued operations of Cabrini Connections, and who will help make sure that programs like Cabrini Connections are available in all poverty areas of Chicago and other urban areas. The ideas I share on the Tutor/Mentor Institute serve that purpose.

As you brainstorm ways to motivate friends to provide donations to your Cabrini Madness team, realize that the cost of space, insurance, technology and utilities alone is more than $100,000 each year. We must find grant makers and benefactors who will provide major gifts each year--as well as continually growing the list of people who made donations of $5.00 to $2500--from among the people we talk with as we compete for Cabrini Madness Donations.

Use this chart to develop your outreach strategy and prioritize who you try to share information with. It shows that the people in your immediate network are connected to other people in their own network. And some of these people may be connected to people who can make major gifts. These are the people we need to be reaching. We need to find ways to show them why we are important and why they should invest.

This is an on-going process of learning, network-building and relationship building. It requires the involvement of many people, including our alumni and their families, not just myself and our small paid staff or the volunteers on our Board of Directors.

Cabrini Madness and events like this will determine what Cabrini Connections will be in the future....or if it will still exist 10 years from now.

The 2011 Cabrini Madness Season is Underway!!!

2011-02-14T16:35:00.007-06:00

The 2011 Pre-Season of Cabrini Madness ended last Thursday and the regular season has gotten off to a pretty nice start. We have a total of 13 teams (same as last year) that have entered the season and all are looking forward to an opportunity to be the 2011 Cabrini Madness Champions come April 4th!!!

Returning champions, The Dream Team (formally known as Guaranteed Victory) entered the season as the fan favorites and held the 1st place ranking nearly the entire pre-season before the returning Changemakers took the 1st place position and moving The Dream Team into 2nd place. Team Captain, Shannyn Nellett (Writing Club Coordinator) is confident that her squad can make a run for the title this season.

Here is a complete list of the 2011 Cabrini Madness Team:

1. $970 ... Change Makers
2. $683 ... The Dream Team
3. $140 ... Team High5ive
Tie 4. $50 ....... Cabrini Allstars and The Green Team
6. $45 ..... The Blue Chips
7. $35 ..... Boom Goes the Dynamite
Tie 8. $30 ..... Running for Cabrini and Cabrini Loyalty
10. $10 ..... The Kids Are All Bright
11. $0 ....... Team 5Dragons
12. $0 ....... The Free Agents
13. $0 ....... The Golden Stars

Here is where you can view the official 2011 Cabrini Madness Bracket and follow your team as they navigate themselves through the tournament and to keep up with all of the latest Cabrini Madness news and updates check our our version of espn.com here

If you are not on a Cabrini Madness team, but would like to support the program you can either select one of the current teams and become a "Fan" of their team or you can donate to the overall program here. We sincerely thank all for their effort, advocacy, and support.

~GOOD LUCK~

Black History Month at Cabrini Connections

2011-02-04T15:04:00.005-06:00

Each year in the Cabrini Connections' program we come up with some type of Black History Month project/contest that looks to bring out and/or enhance the skill set of our youth. We provide projects that cause the students to do research, work on their writing skills, test their creativity, and assist them with their public speaking skills. We feel that these skills can and will be helpful not just for the Black History Month project here at Cabrini Connections, but in everyday life in the present and in the future.

This year the project comes from a short documentary that Cabrini Connections' staff members EL Da' Sheon Nix and Bradley Troast observed last year, and we have been brainstorming ways in which we could incorporate the documentary into the Cabrini Connections' program. 'The Twenty-First Century Foundation (21CF) has partnered with actor–director Mario Van Peebles and producer Karen Williams to create BRING YOUR A GAME. The film that will use screenings accompanied by community discussions as a catalyst to transform the lives of urban youth. Using a cinematic style influenced by popular culture and employing innovative technologies, the film details strategies that have improved the lives of Black men and boys. It underscores how essential educational achievement and high school graduation are to survival and success in today’s world.'

Not only is the documentary a powerful tool that many people, both old and young, could use, but the documentary is an audio and visual example of what we try to demonstrate on a weekly basis here at Cabrini Connections. We want all of our youth to understand the pros and cons of the decisions they make, to take advantage of any and all resources made available to them, to network, and to continue to strive for all of the many goals they set even through adverse conditions.

With that being said, we used the documentary as our inspiration for the 2011 Black History Month Project here at Cabrini Connections. The project is titled "Bring Your A Essay." The students will have to first view the documentary and then take the time out to complete a one-page reflective essay. The students have the opportunity to use the documentary to reflect on their life in general, the life of someone they know, or how the documentary compares to the society as a whole. The essays will be due before the last sessions of the month, and we will take time out the very last sessions of the month to allow the participating students to showcase their essay. We will also reward the student that has the winning essay with a $50 cash prize.

The value of the students participating in this project is much more than a cash prize of $50. This project will create an opportunity for the students to observe a great documentary that they can and will hopefully share with others, will provide an opportunity to enhance their writing skills and public speaking skills, and will simply be more information they can use in their everyday lives.

In 2009 Whitney Hemphill, now a senior in the program, took home first place in the Black History Month Project contest by putting together an amazing powerpoint presentation that was directed toward President Barack Obama and his Administration. The project called for students to find creative ways to communicate to President Obama about their lives and the changes they hoped that he could provide in their lives, schools, homes, and community.

Cabrini Connections' Monthly Mixers!!!

2011-01-24T13:53:00.006-06:00

All throughout the year the Cabrini Connections' staff is always looking for ways to better the quality of the program and to continue doing the things that are going well. One of the items we wanted to address is the community factor in the program. Annually we have nearly 100 active volunteers that are in the center on a weekly basis. Around 80 are mentors and the remaining 20 are Volunteer Coordinators, Club Coordinators, and College Zone Coordinators, but the nearly 100(+) volunteers come in different nights and the mentors are usually working with their individual student when they are here for the sessions.

Bradley and I wanted to find opportunities for our volunteers to get to know one another, share ideas and tips about tutoring/mentoring and more, and really just find a way to enhance a one on one tutoring/mentoring program set up with by strengthening the community feel. Over the summer we put the idea in writing and during out summer meetings with volunteers we shared the idea and several volunteers took on the role of a Monthly Mixer Committee member!

Monthly Mixers are simple; each month the Monthly Mixer Committee picks a bar, club, or lounge and encourages all volunteers, staff, board members, and friends of the program to come out and have a good time on the set day and time. Since the intention is really just for people to come out and have a good time, they try to pick places where it is free entry and only incorporates a fundraising component if offered by the venue. As a small non-profit, volunteer based program we are always looking for funding throughout the year, and with the Mixers we wanted to just have fun and not use these events as fundraisers.

The original committee members are 2nd year volunteer Matt Golden, veteran volunteer Melissa Iwami, veteran volunteer Autumn Sharp, and 1st year volunteer Jennifer O'Rourke. Currently Matt Golden and Melissa Iwami are leading the Mixers and gearing up for the January Monthly Mixer. This month we will be heading to Casey Morans on this Friday to have some fun, and thanks to veteran volunteer Shannyn Nellet that works at Casey Morans there will be some great food and drink packages for all guests of Cabrini Connections. If YOU are free this Friday and want to network and get to know more about Cabrini Connections' and the MANY people that make the program a success, make an effort to attend this Mixer and/or others in the future!

Cabrini Madness 2011...IS HERE!!!!

2011-01-14T10:43:00.007-06:00

Last year Assistant Program Coordinator, Bradley Troast, and Administrative Coordinator, EL Da' Sheon Nix, came up with a FUNdraising Tourney based off of the NCAA March Madness tournament.

Students, volunteers, staff, board members, and friends of the program separated into different teams, put together a simple or very detailed fundraising page on Giveforward (to collect donations) and after those two things were done...THE GAMES BEGAN!!!

The mem

bers of the teams just found creative

ways to advocate for the pro

gram as a way of bringing in donations. There were pizza and snack sales, pool parties, birthday party fundraisers, social events for volunteers, grants were completed, just a lot of fun and creative ways to help their team win the tourney...all while bringing in the funds needed for the program. Here is where you can get tourney information from last year.

Bradley and I made the tourney fun by coming up with all of this fun and creative videos that we used as a play off of college basketball, NBA, SportsCenter etc. Here is the first of 9 videos that we put together.

The 2011 season is just about ready to start and we are excited to see what this season will bring and who will be crowned the 2011 Cabrini Madness Champion!!! This opportunity is open to ANYBODY that is interested in joining in our efforts to raise awareness and funds for the Cabrini Connections' program. Please contact EL Da' Sheon Nix or Bradley Troast for more details.

DON'T MISS ANOTHER GREAT SEASON!!!

Alumni News

2011-01-10T17:50:00.003-06:00

LaShaun Crosby (with the orange shirt) sent me this message on Facebook.

I already received a Master degree in Education back in 08 and I will be graduating with my second Masters in June of this year. I will be receiving a Masters of Arts in Teaching and Learning. Also this summer I hope to begin drafting a mini book that will be composed of motivational, academic planning and esteem building activities that will be used to guide students in the city..Also it will contain a mini bio of my life growing up in Cabrini and how Ive grown into the person I am today...I hope to get it published one day and distributed to multiple schools throughout the city..Im in here Chicago.

All three of the students in this photo were part of Cabrini Connections in the mid 1990s and all have college degrees. LaShaun and Marquita Hall have graduate degrees.

We hope to help other students achieve this success in the future. If you're one of our alumni, please get in touch and tell us your story.

Right Back At It in 2011

2011-01-06T16:33:00.006-06:00

After what was hopefully a very nice Holiday Break for all of staff, students, and volunteers, we kicked off our Winter Quarter of the 2010-2011 tutoring/mentoring year in excellent fashion. With nearly 80 students and nearly 100 volunteers in the program, it looked as though we never had a break. The Wednesday night students and volunteers packed the center and got right down to the productivity they had been putting forth during the first quarter. Many pairs started the night off catching up with each other and talking about the holiday break, but all then got right into the academics and worked diligently throughout the night. Both students and volunteers compiled attendance at nearly 90% on the very first night!!!

The Thursday night set of volunteers and students were not to be out done at all. The productivity throughout the night was great and the attendance for both the students and volunteers exceeded the program's goal of 80%. It was a wide variety of activities taking place within the center. From students and mentors catching up from the holiday break, completion of the day's homework, and playing of games to job and college searching, and the planning of new and exciting student led fundraising projects.

All week the center has been buzzing with activity as if we never took a break at all. We like to use a lot of work analogies here at Cabrini Connections as a way of setting the tone and setting the example today of what it will be like in a career tomorrow. With that being said, we would like to thank all of the volunteers, students, parents, donors, and fans of the program for doing all that they can to ensure that we were back in the workplace in 2011...and for continuing to work just as hard, if not harder, that in 2010. Know that the reasons that hardships that many of our students face on a daily basis in their schools, communities, in their homes ect...doesn't take a day off, therefore programs and the people that make them up to combat those hardships can't take a day off either.

~More To Come in 2011~

Dreams Become Reality for Former Mentee and Mentor!

2010-12-29T16:09:00.004-06:00

Below is a GREAT story of the power of the Cabrini Connections' program and how not only the students benefit from being involved in the program, but how the volunteers that work with the students benefit from seeing all of their hard work, dedication, and commitment pay off. This is not only another great entry in the Cabrini Connections' story, but another example of why programs like Cabrini Connections need to be put in place in neighborhoods all over the country.

Just wanted to share with all of you that a couple of weeks before Christmas I had the distinct honor of watching Diara Fleming graduate from Northern Illinois University. It was one of the most amazing things I have witnessed. In just over 4 years, Diara has worked her way through NIU to graduate with a GPA of over 3.0. She plans to go on to graduate school as soon as possible.

For those of you who don't know Diara, she was a bright student at both Cabrini Green Tutoring and the Cabrini Connections. She graduated from Walter Peyten High School and went straight to NIU. Although the road was not easy for her- Diara has done tremendously through her career at NIU and I am confident she will accomplish amazing things. Diara will tell you that she could not have graduated without the support of many others outside of her family which simply did not provide the support she needed.

I tell you this not to be boastful in any way of my involvement- but to stress how critical it is for programs like Cabrini to continuing pairing up tutors/mentors so they have the support network they need to be successful.

Wishing everyone at Cabrini a very Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

Courtland

The Right Playbook vs. The Right Personnel

2010-12-23T13:41:00.012-06:00

In the NFL there has been a handful of teams that have dominated the league in the last 10 years. Teams such as the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianpolis Colts etc...There are many factors that have contributed to the success of these teams over the years. Some would argue that they have some of the best players in the league, the most knowledable coaches, an outstanding front office, an unrivaled playbook, or a combination of it all. For whatever reason these teams have continued to dominate the National Football League and the impressive part is that the dominance has and continues to be consistant over the years.

As I continue to attempt to draw comparisons of the Cabrini Connections program to an NFL team, I wonder what truly does lead to success. Does success come from having great players that perform a step above the rest and the playbook is secondary; or if put in the 'perfect' system with an extensive playbook the players will come together in a way that leads to success of the team? Many people will argue both sides.

As a former athlete, but a current Head Coach here at Cabrini Connections I'd have to say it is a combination of both. This tutoring/mentoring game that we are playing is constantly evolving and the outside factors that affect our players such as poverty, underachieving schools, lack of parental invovlement at times, should cause a chain reaction to the thoughts and approach that the coaches and front office respresentative have to take to prepare our players for success Meaning that the playbook that we use should change as well. Just like in the NFL, something that worked in the 50's may not work or be as effective in the present and if you have a quartback that can't throw over 20 yards it wouldn't be smart to keep calling for the Hail Mary.

Since this is one of our bye-weeks for the holiday season, I studied all of the plays in the current playbook for the Cabrini Connections' program and there were a lot of plays, packages, and schemes that were either outdated or did not look like a good fit for the current personnel. With the current personnel there are some great talent in the players and coaches that has led to some huge wins in the past two seasons. At at recent Award's Banquest the Cabrini Connections' TEAM was honored as the #1 TEAM for Mentoring across the 6 Regions of Chicago, which is like winning the Super Bowl in this sport.

But there will be no parade through the streets of Chicago, no trip to Disneyworld, no car for the MVP of the the big game. Due to our personnel, our playbook, our fan base, our lack of a marketing/advertisement department, or a combination of all four...our season and maybe even the entire franchise could be coming to an unfortunate end. So tell me sport's world which one is it, The Right Personnel or The Right Playbook that leads to success?

Happy Holidays from Cabrini Connections!

2010-12-20T16:49:00.000-06:00

Click here to donate.

"Cabrini Connections Does It AGAIN..."

2010-12-16T15:06:00.006-06:00

I just wanted to share some really good news on the Cabrini Connections' front. Assisted Program Coordinator, Bradley Troast, and I(EL Da' Sheon Nix, Administrative Coordinator) just returned from a Delegate Agency Meeting hosted by The Department of Family and Support Services. This is where we get our funding from the city each year. DFSS host 3-4 Delegate Agency Meetings a year where all of the programs that are funded by the city of Chicago are invited. The last meeting of the year is the meeting geared towards thanking all of us for the work that we do for the city and most importantly the youth.

The Cabrini Connections' staff are proud to announce that Cabrini Connections received the Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Performance in Youth Opportunities for the 2009-2010 Year (official hardware coming in January). We were recognized as the #1 Mentoring program across all 6 regions of Chicago!!!!! And...this is our 2nd year in a row. So I guess we can be considered Back to Back Champions!!!

With there being so many programs and organizations across the City of Chicago that are doing great work that benefits youth, adults, schools, and communities as a whole...it is a great honor to be one of the programs at the top of that list. We are not only appreciative of this recognition, but we are also thank for all that make this type of opportunity a reality. So we would like to definitely the volunteers that share their time, talents, and knowledge with the youth in the program, the students that are volunteers as well because they are not forced to come to the program. These students want to be here in Cabrini Connections, and take advantage of the resources so they can put themselves in a position to be successful in the future and to reach all of the goals and dreams they have. I personally want to thank all of the staff here at Cabrini Connections for all of the hard work and dedication you all put into making project.

Lastly, I want to thank a group of people that may not get enough credit or recognition for their contributions to the success that we have in Cabrini Connections, and this group is the donors. There are so many donors that I've never personally met and maybe have net stepped foot in the center, but you support shows that you believe in the program, the work that we do, and maybe most importantly...the youth! Know that without your support there is no way we could do the work that we do for the youth and volunteers we serve. With your continued support we will not only be able to keep the doors open, I'm confident that we will continue to provide the best possible services we can, we will earn more awards, and we will continue to turn "Dreams Into Reality"

~2 YEARS IN A ROW AND COUNTING...~

Cabrini Connections - the past Decade

2010-12-16T13:49:00.003-06:00

Below is a chart showing Cabrini Connections students who participated until their senior year and graduated each year since 1997.

This is one of several charts that Dan Bassill, President of Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection, posted on the Tutor/Mentor Blog.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to keep an organization like Cabrini Connections in business for so many years, or what the strategy is to connect our teens and volunteers?

We posted many of the organizational planning documents on wikis more than 3 years ago with the goal that a growing number of students, volunteers, staff and donors would read them, and begin to share in the effort of shaping the direction and success of the organization.

For us to be a true "learning organization" and share these habits with our teens, we need to find time to look at this information, reflect on it, and share it with friends, family and potential investors.

This 4-part strategy illustrates how the information we collect and share can be used to help Cabrini Connections and its students, and can be used by anyone else to help young people in other parts of Chicago.

Have a safe and happy holiday. I hope you enjoy reading this material.

"Once in Cabrini Connections...ALWAYS in Cabrini Connections"

2010-12-13T16:28:00.007-06:00

The Cabrini Connections' program has over 800 volunteer alumnus and over 500 student alumnus and we truly feel that once you have been a part of the program you will always be a part of the program...and the network. Earlier today, Bradley Troast (Assistant Program Coordinator) and I received a surprise visit from former volunteer Stephanie Rogers and former student Aarion Woods.

Stephanie started in the program as a tutor/mentor in the Fall of 2008, but in the first couple of weeks changed her role and began in the College Zone part of the program where she remained there for a couple of years. During her time as an active volunteer Stephanie not only assisted students and volunteers on a weekly basis, but she also either joined efforts or came up with other projects that assisted with bringing in resources for the entire program. Stephanie remains connected to the program through the internet and by visiting from periodically and by sharing information to the staff, volunteers, and students that are still active in the program. Ms. Rogers also makes an effort to donate to the program.

Aarion Woods joined the program in the Fall of 2008 as well and was paired with, now Board Member, Mike Ozmeral. Aarion faced a lot of adversity outside of the program, but worked extremely hard to be as consistent as possible with his attendance and taking full advantage of program resources. Unfortunately Aarion's homelife and lack of resources forced him to become inactive in the program. But Aarion's strong personality, charm, and his willingness to continue overcome adversity has put in a position where he is now working and taken courses to get necessary certification at his place of employment to move up in the ranks. During his visit today he was all smiles and displayed a sense of pride when talking about what he has been going through...but more importantly how he has overcome those obsticles.

Thanks to first year volunteer, Brian Kamajian, Bradley and I were able to share a great job opportunity at the Wyndham Hotel with Aarion who immediately contacted his good friend AND Cabrini Connection's alumnus, Lawrence Brown, to share the information about the job. Before hanging up the phone both Aarion and Lawrence made plans to travel to the Wyndham on Thursday during the open timeslots to acquire more information about the job opportunities.

Bradley and I definitely enjoyed catching up with Stephanie and Aarion and to hear about all that they have been doing outside of the program, but it also felt good to exchange information and resources as well. This is a perfect display of how the Cabrini Connections' program is one big network and how that network can and should benefit any and everybody that has, is, or will be a part of the Cabrini Connections' TEAM.

Volunteers Step Up To Organize FUNdraisers

2010-12-06T15:56:00.006-06:00

We have had several volunteers AND students answer the call of doing what they can to get the resources needed to keep the doors of the program open. Here are a few of many ideas and efforts that are currently in place. Please make an effort to support these events and share with those in your network

Santa's Naughty or Nice Charity Pub Crawl

HO HO HO - What better way to feel the joy of the season than to fill yourself with HOLIDAY SPIRITS and give a little something back to the community? For a donation of $10 (or more), you will get the company of some very fine individuals and a big red Santa hat (first 45 attendees). http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=167904526575285

-Elena Lugo and Melanie Munsey

Beard For Kids

This holiday season I’m participating in the Beards For Kids 2010 Challenge. I’ll be growing a beard from now until the end of the holidays and have a goal of raising $10 per day for Cabrini Connections. Please help me reach my goal by donating here today: http://beardsforkids.org/

-Gabriel Chapman

Matt Golden's Fundraising Page

I have asked family and friends to help me raise $2,000 for Cabrini Connections in the month of December. I have set up a website on FirstGiving and have already raised $270! Hopefully, our contributions can help Charles Hill and other students continue to succeed at Cabrini Connections. http://www.firstgiving.com/mattgolden

-Matt Golden

Beards For Kids! Support Cabrini Connections!

2010-12-02T15:15:00.004-06:00

Fellow Tutor/Mentors,

Along with a few friends, I created BeardsForKids.org this week to raise money for Cabrini Connections. Check out the site: http://beardsforkids.org/ (Also, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beards-For-Kids/107547929317605

I'm wondering if any of the male tutors would be interested in participating...AND if any of the female tutors might be able to get any of their male friends to participate, as well!

The idea is to try to raise $10 per day per person up until New Years. I think this is a very modest goal and that together we can build a critical mass to really make this a success!

I've included a short email below to make it easy. Please let me know if you're in by sending me a note and a picture of you sans beard!

Thank you!

Gabriel
312.804.0228
______________________________________________________________
Here’s an email you can send to friends and family:

Dear Friends,

This holiday season I’m participating in the Beards For Kids 2010 Challenge. I’ll be growing a beard from now until the end of the holidays and have a goal of raising $10 per day for Cabrini Connections http://cabriniconnections.net , a program in Chicago that helps underserved kids finish high school with the goal of moving on to complete college and have successful careers.

The program has helped countless students during its almost 20 years of existence, and I want to make sure they’re able to continue doing the good work that they do!

Please help me reach my goal by donating here today: http://www.firstgiving.com/beardsforkids

Thank you and happy holidays!

--Gabriel Chapman

'Tis The Season & Cabrini Connections' Is The Reason

2010-12-01T14:42:00.003-06:00

Over the past couple of weeks the Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection staff have been encouraging all in the program to make an effort to share the "Cabrini Connections' Story" and their personal experience with those in their network. We have also been taking part in our annual Holiday mailer. The packages of information will be going out to many past, current, and hopefully future Cabrini Connections' supporters. Our aim is to share a little more about what all we do here at Cabrini Connections with the youth and volunteers who participate in our program, and by sharing this information we hope more and more people will be willing to support our program in various ways.

Beyond just the mailers that we are sending out to the large group, the entire staff, and hopefully students and volunteers, will personalize letters for personal use. Individually, we all have been taking some time to think of people in our own personal network that we feel would not only like to hear more about what we do, but could further support our program. Whether the support comes from just spreading the word about Cabrini Connections to people in their network, donating a dollar or two, sharing other valuable resources, or all of the above...we will be appreciative of any support that is provided.

Over the weekend I will continue putting my list together continue making an effort to reach out to people who not only have been supporting me and my career, but the people I selected to add to my list are also people who care about improving the lives of youth.

In order for this to continue we need your help in finding holiday donors. Please send this form to people you know, telling of your involvement and asking for their help. If you reach out by email, point people to our blogs, or videos, to show the work we do. Or pick up some holiday fund brochures, with art created by our teens, and mail them to friends, family, co-workers. We have these at the Cabrini Connections center at 800 W. Huron, Chicago, Il. 60642 .

In today's tough economic environment people all over are cutting back on their giving, but if everybody can just give a little, that adds up! And there are still many people in the world who have benefited greatly from having tutors, mentors, and just a variety of support networks, that have the ability give more than others. And as a result of that success, these individuals have the opportunity to GIVE BACK in a huge way, especially during the holiday season!

~Happy Holidays~

Showing impact

2010-11-23T13:45:00.003-06:00

We feel the best way to judge the impact of Cabrini Connections is by the response of our teens and volunteers. If they show up each week and continue to participate from year to year, that show us we are providing a valuable service.

However, we're looking for other ways to show value and we post reports on the Stats page of the Cabrini Connections web site each week that anyone can review.

This Student Character Survey for 2009-10 has just been posted. It shows "strengths" of our students, which we feel the program helps enhance.

You can few three reports on the Cabrini Connections web site.

2009-2010 Student Satisfaction Survey Analysis Report

2009-2010 Volunteer Satisfaction Survey Analysis Report

2009-10 Student Character Report

As you view these reports and view the videos and blog articles we hope you will become a fan, and a supporter, providing your own time, talent and dollars to help us continue this work.

The Status of Cabrini Connections...

2010-11-22T15:58:00.012-06:00

Last week during the tutoring/mentoring sessions we cut our regularly scheduled announcements and shared some pretty upsetting news. The staff, Volunteer Coordinators, member of the Youth Leadership Council, and Mike Hayes (veteran tutor/mentor and Board Member) took the time out to inform all that was present that the financial situation in the organization is at one of the worst places since the program started. This news was something that the staff and Board members have known and have been working towards fixing for months now, but following our November Staff Meeting, we decided that this was news that all in the program should be made aware of in hopes that everybody would be willing to rally together in an effort to obtain the necessary resources to keep the doors of Cabrini Connections' open.

In a small volunteer based non-profit program like Cabrini Connections, it is safe to say that we need everybody being willing to take ownership of the program and being willing to be advocates. With having 4 full time staff and 2 part time staff we can only do so much to get the word out, but with having nearly 80 current students and nearly 100 volunteers in the program that has the potential to reach thousands and thousands of people that may be interested in not only hearing the "Cabrini Connections' Story" but they may be willing to contribute to this story having more and more chapters.

Although we are going through some very tough times financially, I not only felt good leaving the center at the end of the sessions; as one of the leaders of the program...I felt proud of the positive response from both volunteers and students. We had a number of students and volunteers share ideas about ways in which to get the word out and we even had two Thursday night students kick off the FUNdraising Campaign by donating some cash themselves!!! There were tons of ideas thrown out and here are a few:
*Holiday Banquet

*Use the Cash for Gold service

*Phone raiser (donating used electronic devices)

*More people participating in writing grants

*Matching program from various companies

*Selling candy bars and other candy

*Various tournaments (ex. Flippy Cup)

*5K run/walk in Lincoln Park

*Talent show and Penny Jar

*Utilize various websites (Donors' Choose and Charity Navigator)

and MANY MANY more!!!

One of the basic ways in which everybody in the program can assist with getting the word out during the holidays is by using the annual Holiday Appeal letter that is located on the homepage of the website. We have made over 100 hard copies along with the request form, but we are encouraging all students, volunteers, and anybody else that is looking to assist with getting the word out, to personalize the letter by talking about your own personal experience in the program. And one of the easiest ways in which people can contribute is to donate online using this link.

Again, it is unfortunate that we had to share this news about the financial status of the program, but unless we get more and more people out being willing to share the "Cabrini Connections' Story" with those in their network in hopes that they will support...we will not be able to continue running this program that over 500 youth and over 800 volunteers have been a part of since 1993.

As the holiday season quickly approaches us there are many things to be thankful for and we believe there are many that can share stories about being thankful for being a part of the Cabrini Connections' program. Make an effort to share those stories. And many believe that "Tis the Season for Giving..." so hopefully you and others in your network will consider giving to a program that has meant so much to so many.

~Happy Holidays~

Cabrini Connections' Students Are a Hit!!!

2010-11-18T16:46:00.008-06:00

This past Tuesday 3 Cabrini Connections' students were standouts at the Red Shoe Review Silenct Auction at UIC. Victoria Rivera, Dominique Curtis, and Marquita Fisher shared their time and talents by performing some select poetry and spoken word at this event. All three of the students did an amazing job!!!

The event took place in a small intimate type of setting, but the energy from the students, the guests, and the hosts of the event was great. Jessica Grant and Namrata Shah not only did a great job with putting this silent auction together, the entire Cabrini Connections' program is thankful for these young ladies selecting Cabrini Connections as the organization where the proceeds from the event will go. There was food, beverages, art, entertainment, and an overall positive event.

The total amount that was brought in from the event has not yet been determined, but should be tallied up very soon. Whether the amount brought in is $100, $1,000, or $10,000...the entire Cabrini Connections' program is thankful and appreciative of the gesture from this group of students from UIC. Hopefully the presence and performances of the Cabrini Connections' students at this event will lead to the guests of the event becoming even more interested in the the program and will lead to further support in the future.

Student's Ready to Showcase their Talent!!!

2010-11-11T14:58:00.007-06:00

Dominique Curtis and Marquita Fisher are posing in the photo with Alexi Giannoullias just before President Obama spoke in Hyde Park

On Tuesday November 16th from 4-8pm Cabrini Connections will be teaming up with Namrata Shah and Jessica Grant of UIC's Red Shoes Review to host a benefit event. All of the details are listed here. The actual building location has been determined and the event will take place in Room 121 of the Burnham Hall building located on the East Campus of UIC (near the Morgan and Taylor St intersection). Please call 312-996-7000, and an operator can give directions to Burnham Hall.

Below are a few of the poetic pieces that several of the Cabrini Connections' students will be showcasing at this event. Please take the time to read their work and hopefully their words and feelings will encourage you to make and effort to come out and be a part of this event or support the overall project from afar.

If you can't attend but would like to support this event, please make an online donation here

Abortion
By: Dominique Curtis

Mommy, mommy. Mommy
I call out for you but you don’t hear
Mommy, mommy, mommy
I am filled with so much fear

Mommy, mommy, mommy
I touch you but you don’t feel
Mommy, mommy, mommy
I’m telling you I need you

Where are you mommy?
I don’t know why you’re leaving me
I’m looking at you
But you pretend you don’t see

Mommy how could you do this to me
Don’t you understand I am you’re other part
Mommy you don’t understand
Mommy you have no heart

You were not ready for me
That I understand
But what about what I was ready for
Mommy what about my plans

Who will speak up for those who can’t?
Who will be the voice for those without?
Who will hear the cry’s of the baby?
Who will see the tears of the child?

I see for those that are invisible
I stay for those who everyone leaves
I stand for those who can’t walk
I talk for those with no voice

(95%), are done as a means of birth control
Number of abortions per day: Approximately 126,000

It all starts at home
By: Dominique Curtis

Killing and dying, abusing and abused, raped, hurt and fill with the pain

It all starts at home when mommy tells you, you ain’t s***
And how much she hates you and regrets you
It all starts at home when daddy hits you and beats you
When he breaks you up inside and out
It all starts when hell is the place you call home

The problem is that homes are broken and no one’s listening and no one’s learning
You see everyday we see people lost to the streets
Gun shots missing and piercing the innocence of child
But you see we don’t change because we have become immune to it
The gun shots and deaths have become common nature

See but this starts at home
It starts with the little girl who was raped and abused when she was young
So when boys only wanted her for her body she didn’t know that this was wrong
And when she ended up pregnant at 15
She raised her child while she was still a child herself
And you see she still didn’t understand right from wrong
So she raised her baby girl the same way her mother raised her
Teaching her that her biggest power is between her legs
And that if a man hit her it was ok just deal with it
And the cycle just continues of young girls abused and raped
Blind to the problem in their situation

And see this starts at home
It starts with the little boy that was raised in a home where momma smoked and daddy drank
And daddy was the man he looked up to and followed behind
And so when daddy hit momma it was fine
And he was taught the only way to be a man and be define is by clutching a nine and committing crimes
And so when he got a girlfriend he didn’t see a problem with putting his foot on her face when she didn’t do what he said
Because this is what he was taught and how he was led
And the cycle continues of little boys not knowing how to be man
Blind to the problem in their situation

So you see the problem is
The respect we are being taught is turned and spun
Boys defined by tattoos and guns
Girls walking around with babies like hand bags and accessories
We have babies raising babies
Bad parents raising kids to be bad parents
And so we see kids killing kids and then we become kids killing kids because we don’t know any other way
See when we know better we do better but all we know is our hearts and souls
Which we were taught was define by our body and how many men we slept with
And our guns and how many people we kill
And so we can not change our future until we correct our past

We were never taught that our brain is the best thing to fight with
And our true potential lies in us not with what we have
Our true talents are not material things
And our true beauty is inside

So we need examples of good parents we need teachers
And I think you should have to take a class before you can be a mother
I think you should be a man before you can be a father
Because I find it painful to see the babies beautiful faces
Being brutally beaten and disgraced

See I think it should all start at home
When mommy gives you hugs and kisses
And daddy tells you he loves you
And this makes you feel so special
When your house is finally a place you can call home

I'm From...
By: Marquita Fisher (Quita)

I’m from Chicago and Cabrini Green
Where you hear gun shots
I’m from phony and backstabbing a** friends
Wanting to love and hate

I’m from home to home
Living with my friends
I’m from kids getting raped and beat
Police not doing s***

I from going home and hearing about girl X
I know yall heard about it
How she was raped, beat, and got poisoned

All on the news and on TV
Police lying saying they gone find them

I’m from don’t do that cousin please
To shut up and don’t say s***
I’m from my so called family
Where was they when he touched me

I’m from my so called daddy
Not being there for me
I’m from my mother walking out on me
And I have no place to go

I’m from Bam! A slap to my face
Blood dripping from my lip
I’m from mother sitting there
And not saying s***.

I’m from moving in with my auntie
And Kiera being there for me
I’m from seeing Kiera on Wednesday’s
In our laughter and goofiness

I’m from a place I could call home now
My auntie staying by my side
I’m from a better life now
Sleeping very safely

I’m from get up and get ready for school
6:00 got to get to get up
I’m from “have a good day at school
And be good”

I’m from “Marquita come in the house to eat”
Grandma’s cooking on a Sunday
I’m from who I don’t know?

"I AM ORLANDO CEASAR..."

2010-11-05T13:25:00.009-05:00

"Good evening? How are you all doing today," (in the voice of a 7 year old)? "I AM ORLANDO CEASAR!" (in the voice that could be compared to the roar of a lion. This week the Cabrini Connections' program was honored to have Motivational Speaker, Orlando Ceasar, come in to share a little of his history and his life story, but a lot of how the students, volunteers, and staff can reach their many goals in life.

Orlando Ceasar was born and raised on the West Side of Chicago and said that his mother was on the "11 by 30 plan" saying that his mother and father had 11 children by the age of 30. Mr. Ceasar did an amazing job of talking about his youth and the ways in which he used his mind, the values he learned, poetry, and determination to assist him with becoming a very successful man.

One of the activities that he used during his presentation was a decision making tool that ANYBODY can use by using the word KNOW. He asked the group to come up with words that can be produced by using the 4 letters of the word KNOW. A few of the many were the words: won, ok, on, ko, now, ow and several others. Then students shouted out some of the decisions that they will have to make in life. Some students said, picking a college, picking a career, who to date, where will they live when they get older etc... Mr. Ceasar took the words from the word KNOW and explained how these words can be used for all of the Cabrini Connections youth and anybody else that have a decision to make.

He asked how much do you KNOW about the decision you have to make? What are the pros and cons of your decision. Who do you know that is in the career you want to be in, at the college that you want to attend, or how much do you know about the girl or guy that you like. Then asked what does it look like when you WON? He encouraged the group to envision success! He told the students they have to be ON at all times, and said that "when you are ON at all times there will be people there for you, doors will be open, and good things will happen because you are ON." He asked the group what are you doing NOW to reach the goals that you have in life, "You can't say you want to be a doctor in the future, if you are not willing to take the proper steps now to reach that goal." Another word he used was the word NO. He told the group that at some point in your life you are going to have to tell your friends, your family, and even yourself NO in order to reach your goals. Lastly he told the students that life can K.O. you if you are not prepared, so make sure to take advantage of resources and prepare for life.

The entire Cabrini Connections' program would like to thank Mr. Orlando Ceasar for taking out time out of his busy week, driving a couple of hours in traffic and bad weather, and volunteering his time to share some knowledge, insight, and helpful tips so that not just the students of the program but for the entire audience can be successful in life!

Benefit Event for Cabrini Connections.

2010-11-02T17:01:00.009-05:00

The Red Shoes Review, UIC's Undergraduate literary journal, invites you to attend its first-ever silent auction. The event will showcase local works of art both students and artists in the larger community. The night will also feature musical and spoken-word performances. All proceeds from the night will benefit Cabrini Connections, a local mentoring organization that promotes higher education and creativity to inner-city youth. Students from Cabrini Connections will attend as special guests of the night. This is a great opportunity to meet and network with other. So we hope you join us for a night of great artwork, performances, and free snacks!

This event is being presented by Namrata Shah and Jessica Grant. These young ladies visited the program last year and helped students, volunteers, and staff in various ways. They have put this event together and decided to "give back" to the program from the positive experience they had while being here at Cabrini Connections. And everyone knows that "Once in Cabrini Connections...Always in Cabrini Connections!" For more information, or to make a donation of artwork for the silent auction, contact us at uic.redshoes@gmail.com

This event will take place on Tuesday November 16th from 4-8pm on the UIC campus. Official building location will be in Room 121 of the Burnham Hall building located on the East Campus of UIC (near the Morgan and Taylor St intersection).

Prospective students that will be showcasing their talent at this event will be Cabrini Connections' senior Victoria Rivera (Lincoln Park High School), junior Marquita Fisher, and new sophomore student, Dominique "Di Di" Curtis. Both student attend the Global Citizenship Experience. Hopefully you will make an effort to attend and show your support...and bring a friend or two!!!

Cabrini Connections' was Buzzing on a Monday Night

2010-11-02T13:55:00.010-05:00

Most people who know about Cabrini Connections, know that the tutoring/mentoring sessions take place on Wednesday and Thursday from 6-8pm. But there is so much more taking place throughout the week that may go unnoticed. On Monday and Tuesday evenings we host several Enrichment Clubs and we also provide the opportunity for mentor/mentee pairs meet due to changes in their normal schedule.

On Mondays we offer an Art Club and a Video and Filmmaker's Club from 5:30-7pm, on Tuesday we offer a Tech Club from 6-7pm, and on Wednesday before the actual session we offer a Writing Club from 5-6pm. All of our clubs have dedicated and committed volunteer (and staff) leaders that teach the youth a variety of skills that could lead to current jobs/intern opportunities, and maybe even a future career.

Last night we had a lot of activity in the center with the clubs working hard, but we also had several Wednesday and Thursday night pairs working hard on a variety of academic and career based work. There were nearly 30 people present last night all working in various ways towards similar goals. And of the goals that was and is usually always universal here in the program, and that is the goals of learning something new, learning positive habits, and expanding your network.

We are an academic based program in the sense that each student should be bringing work each and every week to the program. But we are more of a program that looks to build and enhance the soft skills and positive habits to that any student that joins are program are prepared with the skill necessary pursue any career in the future.

But whether its a buzzing Monday night, quieter Tuesday night, or a packed house on Wednesday and Thursday nights....none of this can be made possible without the necessary resources. So instead of considering making a donation, consider making an investment. Invest in the future of our students today, who can and will be the leaders of tomorrow!

PS: PLEASE...if you read this article please post a comment or just let me know we have people actually reading these blog posts. Thanks SO MUCH!

Cabrini Green gone? Are you sure?

2010-10-29T09:23:00.002-05:00

This is a map that was included with a story in this week's Chicago Sun Times, titled "Cabrini Green Last Stand", talking about people in the last Cabrini Green high rise getting eviction notices. We were contacted by an ABC TV reporter who wants to talk to people living in the area.

Dan wrote a story about this on the Tutor/Mentor Blog, with maps showing the row houses and other parts of Cabrini Green. These maps show that there are still almost 400 families and possibly 1200 youth living in the row house are. The story shows that if the developers keep their promises, there could be 1200 units for public housing families by 2015.

Are we certain that there won't be a need for programs like Cabrini Connections to serve those kids?

Isaiah Brooms, a 1992 graduate, posted this challenge on our Facebook page:

I graduated from the program back in 1992 and I'm troubled to hear that it is in financial peril and there is the real possibility that it can close. This program was a key factor in my finally seeing what possibilities lay out there for me to be successful.... They are currently doing that for so many of the Children of Cabrini and I'm not aware of many programs that do it in a grass root, no nonsense kind of a way.

I am throwing out a challenge. I will match donations to the program up to a total of $600. I wish I could do more. But unfortunately, I can't. However together, we can turn each others dollars into a significant amount. Facebook me if you want to join this challenge with me. If all goes well, we should be able to give the program at least $1200 dollars that they do not have right now and desperately need.

If we want to keep Cabrini Connections available to current, and future, young people from the Cabrini Green area, we need to find more people to make challenges like this and to match them with their own donations.

Send donations to: Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection, 800 W. Huron, Chicago, Il. 60642

Melissa Young's 2nd Annual Cabrini Connections' Bake Sale

2010-10-25T18:08:00.006-05:00

For the second year in a row, one of our students, Melissa Young, is hosting a Halloween Bake Sale to benefit the Cabrini Connections tutor/mentor program! She came up with this idea all on her own last year and raised over $330! This year her goal is $500. The event will take place at our center this Saturday, October 30th, from 11am-3pm. The address is 800 W Huron.

Ways to get involved:

Bake treats to be sold. You can drop them off during the week or bring them the day-of.
Donate food. Don't have time to bake? Just donate food!

Volunteer the day-of. Last year we had a lot of fun selling at the intersection of Chicago & Halsted.
Drop by, buy a few treats, and bring your friends!

If you are in the area on Saturday, please stop by. It isn't so much about how much money is raised as it is about supporting a student-led project.

This is not only a great project to support by donating treats and/or your time the day of, this is a student led project and an organization that could benefit greatly from your generous donations on a larger scale. Please show your support here if you can't attend but still want to contribute.
Contact at Cabrini Connections' staff if you are looking to get involved.
Thanks in advance!!!

~Cabrini Connections TEAM~

Is Cabrini Connections Heading in the Same Direction as the Arena Football League?

2010-10-18T14:17:00.003-05:00

For any and all who have been following the Sport's Concepts entries throughout the year, you may be a little confused at the new comparison for this week. I have and will continue to work towards comparing our organization to an NFL organization, but this week I felt that this twist would fit just fine.

The Arena Football League has been in existence for well over a decade, providing players and coaches with an opportunity to showcase their talents, skills, and an opportunity to continue being a part of the sport that they know and love. The A.F.L. also provides its fans with sport's entertainment so they can continue to cheer on their favorite teams, players, and organizations.

True, the Arena Football League is not the NFL, but its still filled with extremely talented players, great coaches, and fans who truly love to show their support, but unlike the NFL that generates millions and millions of dollars each year to ensure that the league can continue, due to financial issues the AFL was forced to put this form of entertainment on hold until the necessary funds needed are in place to continue. In the last year or so the A.F.L. was able to get back on track and continue providing this great source of entertainment for fans and jobs the players, coaches, and all others that are employed as a result of the league being in existence.

Here at the Cabrini Connections' organization, we are trying to avoid that same fate. In our organization we have extremely talented players and coaches, and I'm 100% confident that we have fans who truly love our organization and all that we stand for, but with all that being said we need financial support for our league to continue! Just like the Arena Football League, I'm sure some players had no problems finding other places to continue playing the sport they love, but the majority were not provided an opportunity to go on to the NFL. And here I'm sure some players and coaches will find other places to continue playing this sport, and the fans will find other organizations to support, BUT we would like to keep our players, coaches, and fans in tact here!!!

And in the latest news on the Arena Football League it looks as though the the league has everything back up and running now and should continue in that direction now that financial support has been made available, which is GREAT news. But wouldn't it be even better if that financial support had been in place so that the league would not have been forced to close the doors at all?...

I truly believe we have standout players and coaches who just want to continue playing this tutoring/mentoring sport and continue pursuing those childhood dreams of one day becoming a professional.

2010 Tutor Training Conference Success!!!

2010-10-11T18:17:00.007-05:00

On Saturday October 9th, Cabrini Connections teamed up with the Cabrini Green Tutoring Program and the Chicago Lights program for the 5th annual Tutor Training Conference. This event was filled with a variety of workshops, group discussions, and panel discussions that was geared to provide new, veteran, and prospective volunteers with some tools, tips, and techniques on how to be the best tutor/mentor they can be for their student and their respective tutoring/mentoring program.

In a volunteer based program it is rare that we make any event or activity mandatory, but this one was a must for the volunteers in all programs. We just felt that the information was so important and beneficial to all that attend that it was just a must that all volunteers make an effort to be a part of it. And we definitely did have a positive response from volunteers with this year having more Cabrini Connections' volunteers attend than any of the previous years. Thank You!!!

Volunteers had the opportunity select which workshops they wanted to attend and many carefully selected workshops that related to their individual student or their experience in the program. There were panels led by professionals in the Chicagoland area, their were workshops led by veteran volunteers and students, and their was a panel that was even led by a students and a parent who is also a well known Cabrini Green Community Activist and resident. Overall this was just a very positive and a great opportunity to learn new skills, brush up on old skills, network, and just a opportunity to continue changing the lives of the youth in our respective programs.

Lastly, we'd like to give a very special thanks to all of our students, parents, and volunteers that led workshops this year. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, time, and services with others!

Are YOU A Fan of the Game?

2010-10-04T13:27:00.008-05:00

Each year as the month of July ends and the month of August begins football fans around the world get prepared for the football season, not the same as the actual athletes themselves, but these fans get prepared to cheer on their favorite teams, players, and organizations. Many fans read the papers, check the internet, watch Sportscenter, and even visit training camp to keep up their teams and with the latest happenings taking place around the National Football League. And as the weeks blow by, training camp ends, preseason wraps up, and the first week of the regular season kicks off...the fans step up their support for their team. From throwing game viewing parties in their homes and cheering with family and friends to being a season ticket holder and taking part in all of the tailgating and gameday festivities...these true fans of football go to nearly any length just to one day say "MY team won the SUPER BOWL!!!!"

Just think about it, how many people you know have purchased a big screen tv, NFL packages, and High Definition just to watch the games. How many people do you know have a closet full of jerseys, would stand in line for hours just to get an autograph, or will pay nearly any price for some great tickets to watch their favorite team play a game for a couple of hours. These are true fans of the game right and there are millions of them around the world.

We are looking and in need of some of those exact same fans for our game. The game that I, and many other people like myself are involved in, is the game of helping youth reach their goals, dreams, and future career aspirations. Our league is not titled the NFL, but the league that we participate in is called Tutoring/Mentoring. We have some great players, coaches, and facilities in this league throughout the world. And the Cabrini Connections' organization, just like many others, is hoping to one day reach our ultimate goal; not a Super Bowl, but a the goal that each and every student that enters our program receives the necessary resources, expands their network, and learn positive habits so that they are in a career by the age of 25.

Now these are the true fans that love the game that are needed! We need people who would go to any length to see our players, coaches, and organization reach our goals. We need those that would spend thousands of dollars a year to support their Bears, Saints, Patriots etc...to be those same fans to support our team and the personnel that makes up the team. Hopefully you and others that you know will buy season tickets to our games, wear your favorite Cabrini Connections' sweatshirt to show off to your friends, and just make an effort to support a team full of players that could one day be future lawyers, doctors, engineers, police officers, social workers, and maybe even the star player on your favorite NFL team in the future.

~Become a Fan in Our Stands~

Cabrini Connections Mixes It Up

2010-09-26T22:45:00.004-05:00

In an effort to expand the Cabrini Connections' program from within, several volunteers have taking the lead in putting together Monthly Mixers so that volunteers, staff, board members, family, and friends of the program can socialize and get to know one another. This past Saturday the second Monthly Mixer of the year took place at the Mad River Bar and Grill.

We didn't have 100+ people that came out to take advantage of the opportunity, but the group of about 20 that was present definitely enjoyed the venue, the football games that were being shown, and most of all enjoyed the opportunity to really get to know those that are in the program and friends that were interested learning more about the program. There were very little business cards being exchanged but ideas about ways in which to provide even more support to the Cabrini Connections' program were shared all throughout the night!

Hopefully the ideas that were discussed will turn into reality and everybody that were present will make an effort to attend the next big event of Cabrini Connections which is the 5th Annual Martini Madness. There are many ways to support and/or be a part of this event, you can make an effort to attend the event, purchase raffle tickets for the silent auction, donate an item for the silent auction, and/or donate to the overall event as a sponsor.

Best Start in Years...and Only Going to Get Better!

2010-09-20T15:02:00.008-05:00

After much anticipation the Cabrini Connections’ program opened its doors for the official start of the 2010-2011 Tutoring/Mentoring Season last week with the best start in years! There were nearly 65 students that attended (several students observing and enrolling for this week) and nearly 70 volunteers (club coordinators and college zone coordinators officially start this week). Not only were the numbers good, but everybody seemed to enjoy the first night and are looking forward to a great second week…and a GREAT year!

We’d also like to say THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS to veteran volunteer Allen “A.J.” Tyson for entering his 40th year of volunteer service!!!! He has and continues to be a very special gift for the students, volunteers, and the program as a whole…THANK YOU!!!

We are still in the process of enrolling more great students and volunteers in the program for the year and are confident that the sessions will continue to operate at a very high level. We still are in need of financial resources so that we can continue to provide both students and volunteers with the necessary resources to be successful in and outside of the program. If you or anybody in your network is interested in supporting what we do here at Cabrini Connections, donations can be submitted here. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact our office.

Help us turn "Dreams Into Reality..."

Kicking Off the 2010-2011 Tutoring/Mentoring Season!

2010-09-14T14:05:00.007-05:00

The 2010-2010 NFL season started with a great Thursday night classic between the Saints and the Vikings last Thursday and week one of the NFL season ended with a great game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Charges. For many NFL fans, this past week has been like Christmas. For the players, coaches, and all of the National Football League employees this was the start of another season in which everybody involved are trying to reach their goals. All of the hard work in the off season, decisions that were made, and adjustments from last season lead up to that opening kickoff this week. We will continue to follow our favorite teams and players throughout their journey this season to see who will be crowned the Super Bowl Champion.

The Cabrini Connections' team in the Tutoring/Mentoring League is officially kicking off our first game this week as well with our Wednesday and Thursday night tutoring/mentoring sessions. Just like the players, coaches, and respective organizations of the NFL, we have made worked hard over the summer, made necessary changes and additions to our personnel, looked at the game tape, analyzed the player and coach's statistics from the previous season, and we too are hoping that we are not only prepared for a great season...but we hope to be in the hunt for a Super Bowl Champion at the end of the season.

One of the ways in which we worked on our preparation for this season was by meeting with nearly all of the returning players and coaches and conducting individual evaluations. We met with 98% of the coaches and 95% of the players, and we are excited about what we were able to take away from those summer evaluations.

We hosted a couple of preseason games last week with our coach's and player's orientations. Overall, the front office is satisfied with what we seen out there last week, but just like in the NFL, we could have been a little better prepared and you hear this a lot in the NFL and that is the phrase of "showing up." In the NFL it could mean showing up mentality, physically, and/or emotionally. And that translates to how we would like to use it as well when it comes to our preseason games last week. We had some players and coaches stand out during the preseason games, but there were a number of players and coaches that didn't "show up" for the first night. But that is preseason and we will continue to improve in all phrases and positions of the game so that EVERYBODY shows up and are ready for this week's kick off!

Coming off a season where 9 of our veteran players were selected to the Pro Bowl (high school graduation) and are all hopefully headed to the Tutoring/Mentoring Hall of Fame (college/university), we have high hopes and goals for this year's team. But just having high hopes won't get it done. It will take each player, coach, and fan doing their part to prepare week in and week out to be successful, and overall it will take a team effort!

None of the players, coaches, and fans can just "show up" and expect to be successful, it takes a lot of practicing, understanding your role on the team, learning from others that were a part of the team or on another team in the league, and collectively working together for the overall success of the team. And that goal this year and for the years to come is to turn Dreams Into Reality!

Support the 2010-2011 Cabrini Connections TEAM

Cabrini Connections' Coaching Clinic

2010-08-30T14:46:00.008-05:00

In the NFL there are annual coaching clinics that new and veteran coaches attend to not only learn any and all new rules for the upcoming season, but they use this as an opportunity to learn and share skills and techniques that they can take back to their respective organizations. No matter what time of the year these clinics take place the information that is shared between the coaches and all that attend is beneficial for all, but especially for new and/or younger coaches. The experience and the wealth of knowledge that the coaches posses could play a huge role in that individual coaches success as well as the overall team in that upcoming season.

Last week here at Cabrini Connections we hosted our own version of Coaching Clinics in the form of Leadership Meetings. As the Head Coach of the organization and with Bradley Troast being the Offensive and Defensive Coordinator, we called meetings with some of our key position coaches to discuss the previous season here and to brainstorm ideas for the upcoming season. On Monday of last week we met with our Volunteer Coordinators who are all new to the role, but 3 out of the 4 have been in the organization in various roles for years. Bradley and I are confident that these 4 new Volunteer Coordinators will have an immediate impact on the organization this year and will assist with leading us to a great season. They all had very good ideas of how we can engage the students, volunteers, and parents and a variety of other ideas that should add to the overall success of the program. The 2010-2011 Volunteer Coordinators are Tonya Myers, Amy Stockli (Wednesday), Courtland Madock, and Melissa Iwami!!!

On Tuesday we met with our Club Coordinators. These coaches lead the variety of clubs that we provide the players of the Cabrini Connections' program. The clubs that we are offering this year are Video and Filmmaking Club, Art Club, Tech Clu b, and Writing Club. The practice sessions for this part of the organization take place on Monday-Wednesday evenings so that our players can take part in these opportunities as well as the regularly scheduled tutoring/mentoring practices on Wednesday and Thursday evening. The Club Coordinators' meeting also went very well with a lot of sharing of great ideas about future projects, collaborative efforts between the clubs, and just an overall excitement from these coaches that can and will lead to excitement amongst the players that join these opportunities this year. The 2010-2011 Club Coordinators are: Shu Ling Yong and Drew Hall (Video and Filmmaker's Club), Ankit Vader and Julia Vaughan (Art Club), Mike Trakan (Staff) and Chirag Patel (Tech Club), and Shannyn Nellet is planning on returning as the Writing Club Coach along with one or two new volunteers joining her in that role.

We completed our last day of the Coaching Clinic by meeting with our College Zone Coordinators. The College Zone area is a resource within the program where our players and coaches receive individualized game plans for the players' future high school, college, and career choices. College Zone coaches meet with player and coach pairs throughout the year to provide these resources along with assisting with standardized test prep, college visits, assistance with financial aid etc... During out meeting we came up with some great new plays for the playbook for the 2010-2011 school year that should continue put our players, coaches, and even parents in a position to have continued success this season. The College Zone Coaches for the 2010-2011 season are Carla Reyes and Sue Gill (Wednesday) and Iesha Wilson and new coach Lindsay Devick (Thursday).

The coaching clinics were a great success and we feel that as leaders in the program we are prepared to have a great season and lead both the players and coaches to a successful season. We will continue to communicate as leaders, brainstorm new plays for the playbook, lead by example, and work as a team to ensure we are putting the Cabrini Connections' program in the best possible position to make it to the Tutoring/Mentoring Superbowl! We are looking to take the lead in what takes place on and off the field, but getting more support from our fans and boosters of the program will equip us with even more resources and tools that can and will contribute to our overall success. We are not asking our fans to paint their face and chest, tailgate all day, or scream until you lose your voice...we are simply asking you to support us by making a donation, making an effort to come visit one of our games (tutoring session), and get some of those in your network to join the Cabrini Connections' bandwagon so they too can consider making a donation or joining you at the game.

With YOUR Support...WE Will Be Successful!

The BIG SCORE?

2010-08-20T12:17:00.009-05:00

In the National Football League there are tons of big plays that take place throughout the season that are considered big plays, classic moments, and sportscenter's Top 10 Plays of the week worthy. There are plays on offense such as one of the many deep bombs that Peyton Manning throws to one of his many weapons, to plays on defense such as a interception from Ed Reed that is ran back for a touchdown, to one of the biggest plays of the 2009-2010 NFL season where the Saints of New Orleans dialed up a on-side kick in the Super Bowl that lead to a HUGE Super Bowl win! These are a few of the many amazing plays made by players that not only leave fans in the stands and at home in aww, but lead to players, coaches, and entire organizations making their mark in NFL history.

Non profit organizations all over the world also look to make amazing plays that lead to a BIG SCORE, but the BIG SCORE in non profit organizations may look a little different than in the National Football League. Because of the financial situation of the Cabrini Connections' organization, I'm sure many others, the BIG SCORE is not always enrolling dedicated and committed volunteers and students to the team, the big score is not always having alumni (student or volunteer) come back to the facility and share some words of wisdom to the current players and coaches, and the big score is not always putting together a great team building opportunity so the coaches and players in the organization can strengthen their bond. Because of the financial situation that Cabrini Connections, and similar program, are in the BIG SCORE is primarily receiving news that a grant has been approved, a potential donor is interested in investing and confirmed to support the franchise, and/or current players and coaches have brainstormed a great fundraising idea.

The Cabrini Connections' franchise has a goal that all of the players (students) that join the team and remain committed to the team (and the mission) will be in a career by the age of 25. And with that being the mission many would think that BIG SCORES would be the students graduating from high school, entering and graduating from college, and reaching that goal of entering a career by the age of 25. And it's true, that is and always will be the goal and what each member of the organization should be working towards in the many roles in the organization, but due to the lack of resources the image of the BIG SCORE may look more like Bank of America becoming a team sponsor, $100,000+ generating at the annual golf outing, or future Hall of Famer Orlando Pace becoming our #1 Booster Club member.

Hopefully we are able in the near future to obtain the necessary resources in the Cabrini Connections' franchise so that we are equipped to keep the team intact, the facilities open and in great conditions, and a continued pipeline of great players and coaches so the BIG SCORES will be noted as coaches coaching their players to great playing careers(tutoring/mentoring) and they will be entering the Hall of Fame by the age of 25.

Strategic Network Building for Support

2010-08-12T12:41:00.006-05:00

I'm going to go out on a limb here by saying that EVERYBODY has a network. No matter if you are 6 years old and your network is family and your classmates or you are Bill Gates and your network is extensive. But what is the use of a network if you can't utilize AND mobilize that network. The President/CEO of Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection, Dan Bassill, put together the graphic you see here in hopes that not only the organization's staff, students, and volunteers use it, but any and all of those connected to Cabrini Connections will use in order to continue to expand the organization's network that could essentially lead to a wider range of support.

Yesterday, after taking a moment to study the chart, I began to add names to the slots. This is easier said that done. True, I could have just threw names on the list, but I wanted to be strategic in my work. I looked at each category and really made an effort to add names of people who I first felt would be interested in the cause and then I considered the fact that they would either have the resources to support and/or could connect me to others in their network that could potentially respond with support also.

I put together a letter of support providing more information about who we are, what we do, and why I am involved and why others my want to get involved in some way. I also added a donation form so that after reading the information that was provided those people could easily contribute. I sent that information to nearly 40 people. The information went out to a wide range of people, from my mother and my father who will support me and my endeavors no matter what, to NFL stars such as Barry Cofield, Tyrell Sutton, and Orlando Pace who benefited from mentors and a support system on their road to success.

My number 1 goal is that everybody that receives the information takes the time to read the information and from that point decide how they can support. I am just one of over 2000+ people that are connected to Cabrini Connections in some way. If every current student, volunteer, staff, if every student, staff, and volunteer alumnus, and if every parent and/or former supporter of the program took 30 minutes out of their day atleast once a week and used this tool to strategically network build for Cabrini Connections not only would we expand our network greatly, but that would put us in a position to provide all of our students, volunteers, and staff with the resources necessary to be successful. And who doesn't want to be successful?...

Will YOU Help Lead Us to Success?

Meet two alumni

2010-08-10T08:53:00.001-05:00

Here are two stories of young people who started with us many years ago.

Tramane Montel Ford got his first taste of acting in 1995 when he became part of the video group at Cabrini Connections. On August 7th he performed his new show, The Tramaine Experience: A One Man Show, and raised money so we can help other kids have similar experiences.

Isaiah Brooms was a Keynote Speaker at the November 2009 Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference, where he told how his life has taken a positive direction because of the support he received from his mentor, and the tutoring/programs he was part of. Here's the full transcript of his presentation.

Through Adversity Comes Success!!!

2010-08-09T13:05:00.011-05:00

There are a few phrases in the NFL that nearly every coach and player have said atleast once in their career or has gone through it as a team or individually and one of those is "dealing with adversity." In the NFL that can mean so many different things to so many different people and teams; adversity could come in the form of an injury to a player, an interception late in the 4th quarter, or an unexpected coaching change. Quite simply adversity is usually when something unexpected happens that typically goes against the goals of a individual player or coach or the entire organization. And when those adverse situations take place teams and the members that make up the entire organization have to rally together, work harder, and fight through the adversity to reach success.

On Saturday August 7th the Cabrini Connections' team and several other tutoring/mentoring teams came together for an event...a one day tournament if you will. The name of the tournament was "Back to School...Make it Cool" and the goal of the tournament was for each team to come together and successfully inform, entertain, feed, and supply those that attended the tournament.

Just like in the National Football League the players and teams prepare by practicing, communicating, and doing all of the big and small things to prepare to be successful, and we all did the same heading into the event. But adversity struck on the day of the event. There were a series of adverse situations that worked against our teams and went against the goals we were working towards. About an hour before the tournament was suppose to start the location of the tournament was changed, supplies and materials that were necessary for the tournament was not in place (tables, chairs, performance stage, etc...), the power went out at one point, and some members of teams did not or could not show up to assist with the tournament and more. This is the adversity that we had to go through this past Saturday, but through adversity comes success and triumph!

The members of the various teams kept the faith, kept the end goal as the focus, took on different roles, supported each other, and continued to fight through the adversity throughout the day. We were able to to successfully feed each and every person who wanted to eat, we provided a wide range of games and activities for all in attendance, all of the scheduled performances performed successfully and entertained the crowd, each and every youth who needed a backpack with supplies got their backpack, and we did all of that and more with more than 5 minutes to spare before the 2pm ending of our tournament!!!

We know and understand that things will not always go as planned and their will be adversity on our route to success, but this is a great example of how various teams in the tutoring/mentoring league came together and successfully hosted the 1st conference wide Back to School event (tournament)! And very similar to the NFL we will look back at our individual and team preparation for the event and take a look at the game film to make the necessary adjustments to that we are even better prepared for adversity and even with the expected and unexpected adversity we'll be even more successful next year!

Fun Night at Dave & Busters!

2010-08-05T16:15:00.011-05:00

Last night we were able to treat some of our upperclassmen to a pretty nice experience at Dave and Busters. Each year during the 3rd and final quarter of the tutoring/mentoring year (after spring break-end of the year) we reward our students who have 75% or better attendance to the program with some type of trip or prize during the summer months. Over the past several years we have been hosting the "GREAT AMERICAn Experience" where we provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner for our students along with a fun-filled day to Six Flags Great America.

This year we decided to switch things up, based on our financial status and because of different suggestions from our students. And we came up with two different incentives for our students who demonstrated outstanding attendance. Last night we took our 10-12th grade students to Dave and Busters and we had a GREAT night! We had a total of 9 upperclassmen who earned the trip, but only 4 were able to attend. The students that attended were De'Sean Hale (2010 graduate), Brittany Delaney (2010 graduate), Victoria Rivera (senior), and Melissa Young (junior).

We started the night with dinner and it was a great opportunity for all of the students to get to know each other and share their experiences inside and outside of the program. We have around 75-80 students in our program each year and they are coming from 30 different schools, so all of our students in the program may or may not be familiar with each other. We talked about the program, college (2 students are heading off to college soon), we talked about favorite tv shows, and just had a good time during dinner. Then the real fun started!!! We all were equipped with our game cards and entered the game room ready to play games, have fun, and of course...win tickets!

So just spent time playing the games, challenging each other, laughing, and having a good time celebrating the accomplishment of the students. One of the many highlights of the night was when Brittany hit the jackpot on one of the games, the lights and sirens went off, and she won 500 tickets!!! The students were able to cash in their tickets at the end of the night and get gifts, games, prizes, and candy that they 'SAID' they would share with siblings and parents...we'll see about that one (smile).

Overall it was a GREAT experience of not only having fun and celebrating their attendance accomplishment, but it was also another opportunity for us as staff to interact and engage the students. It was also a bonding opportunity amongst the students. Hopefully they will continue to show their dedication and commitment inside and outside of the program, but also I hope that they will share their experiences and continue to role model positive actions so that others will follow their example.

Gearing Up for the 2010-2011 Tutoring/Mentoring Season

2010-08-02T16:06:00.006-05:00

"Are you ready for some football!?!?!" For any and all football fans out there the month of August is similar to the month of December with the anticipation of the first game of the NFL season being very similar to Christmas morning. But those who truly are fans of the NFL and especially those who are either players, coaches, team owners etc...know there is a lot the takes place prior to the opening kickoff of a new season. There is a lot of film watching, the NFL draft,summer workouts, and a lot of other necessities that lead up the the opening night.

One of the routines that take place is the conditioning test that NFL players must take and successfully past each summer. This test is more than an "in the now" test, meaning that it takes preparation, hard work, proper training, and "good" health for players to past this test. So that means factors from the previous season and the work that has been put in over the summer months directly and indirectly contribute to a player's performance for that conditioning test and the results of the test can say a lot about a players past and give some insight on the future ahead.

The Cabrini Connections' organization is coming off a fairly successful 2009-2010 season, with 9 veteran players graduating from the tutoring/mentoring league and a variety of individual and team highlights through the season. Now Cabrini Connections is gearing up for an even better 2010-2011 season. And we are hosting our own "Conditioning Test" for our players and coaches before we head into the upcoming season. This summer we have been reaching out to all of our returning players (students and their parents) and our returning coaches (volunteers) for our version of a conditioning test. And just like in the NFL, to successfully complete our conditioning test it requires both players and coaches taking part in individual workouts over the summer and during the year, it requires both groups learning the playbook, and it requires "looking at film" of the previous season(s) and reflecting on what went well and what didn't go so well to better prepare for the upcoming season.

During our condition test we are looking to discuss the individuals' ups and downs of the previous season and to set goals and expectations for the next season. So far these meetings have been going very well and we have enjoyed conducting these meetings. These conditioning test has given us a better understanding of the individuals that make up our team and provides us with an idea of the skill set each member possess and the areas that need improvement.

We are hoping that each and every player and coach on the team makes an effort to come in for their conditioning test before the season starts so that we are just one step ahead and ready to hit the ground running before the official team meetings (orientations) September 7-8th for coaches and September 9-10th for players, and the opening season kickoff starts on Wednesday September 15th and Thursday September 16th.

Cabrini Connections is looking to be one of the best organizations in the tutoring/mentoring league at the end of the 2010-2011 season and we need more and more fans to support us and cheer us on to victory. Will you be a fan in the stands?

Become a Fan

What's NEW at Cabrini Connections!!!

2010-07-26T12:37:00.008-05:00

As the 2009-2010 tutoring/mentoring year came to an end a little over a month ago, we pretty much were already planning and brainstorming ideas of how to make Cabrini Connections bigger and better for the 2010-2011 tutoring/mentoring year. We are always looking for feedback from our students, volunteers, parents, and other staff on the team so we can continue to provide the best possible services that we can!

As the summer is continuing to wind down and the school year is quickly approaching we have already began making A LOT of changes that we feel will be well received! Here are a few of the many changes that we have made in the program so far:

-The computer lab in the program has been expanded with more laptops AND we have 2 DePaul University volunteers who have been cleaning up the computers and making sure all of the technology in the computer is working properly!

-We have updated our Student and Volunteer History and Tracking System (SVHATS) so our students now only have to complete their EXIT page before leaving the program on any given night.

-We have slightly changed the overall layout of the desk and big table patterns within the program to provide more space between rows and group sitting on tutoring/mentoring nights.

-We have been meeting with all returning volunteers and students (and parents) over the summer as "Annual Review Meetings" to discuss the pros and cons of the past year and to set goals and expectations for the upcoming year. These meetings have been extremely helpful and assist with promoting the new concept we're looking to incorporate in the program and that is getting everybody in the program to get in the mindset of Cabrini Connections being a job where the students are "employees" in their mentors are their "career coaches" or "supervisors."

-We have been recruiting more and more dedicated students and volunteers to join our team...so there are definitely some new faces in the program!

-Along with some new faces joining the leadership ranks in the program. By the first day of the 2010-2011 tutoring/mentoring sessions we will have 4 new Volunteer Coordinators in the program!!!

As you can see we are definitely doing a lot behind the scenes to continue advancing our program and provide the best possible services so that volunteer and students are not only getting the resources they need, but enjoying their experiences in the program also. We have Monthly Mixers coming, Monthly Engagement "Workshops," NEW College Tours ideas and MUCH MUCH MORE in store for the 2010-2011 year and beyond!!! If you would like to be a part of the change and/or know others that want to be a part or support that would only add to the program's success. Prospective volunteers and students and donors can visit our website to see how you can get involved.

Golf Benefit Success and Beyond!

2010-07-16T16:12:00.009-05:00

What started off to be a day that was going to be filled with thunderstorms and damper on our 2010 Jimmy Biggs Memorial Cabrini Connections' Golf Benefit turned out to be a GREAT day! In a non-profit program where fundraising is essential to obtaining the resources needed to keep the program running, the golf benefit is our biggest FUNdraiser of the year and we made the most of the HOT and sunny day!

The team of staff, interns, volunteers, and students got the day started by meeting and greeting the golfers as they prepared for a fun-filled day out on the course. Thanks to 2nd year volunteer Shannon Murphy and her personal team of assistants, the golfers registered without a problem, received all of the information they needed for the day, and were greeted with a smile before heading inside to cool off and grab lunch. We decided to do a little something different during the lunch part of the day. We set up a small display of some of our more select silent auction items to entice our lunch goers to place early bids on the items even before the dinner events...and it worked!!!

After lunch it was time to hit the course!!! Around 1pm all of the golfers got on their carts prepared for the shotgun start. While the golfers enjoyed their day swinging the clubs looking to get a hole in 1, beat the members of their foursome, and/or just network and enjoy the benefit...the CC, T/MC Team spent our time accommodating the golfers and sharing more information about the overall organization. Another GREAT addition to this year's golf benefit was the presence and project of veteran Cabrini Connections' student Melissa Young.

Melissa Young will be entering her junior year at Josephenium Academy and inside of the program she is a member of the Video and Filmmaker's Club. Melissa took on the project of interviewing golfers and guest throughout the day just asking them who they are and why they have chosen to support Cabrini Connections through the golf benefit. Not only was the golfer more than willing to be in front of the camera, but Melissa was so inspired by this project and the experience of the golf benefit she is looking to make a career being behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. Here is a quote from Melissa that she put on facebook immediately following the golf benefit.

"I have a goal and my goal is 2 become a famous video/music producer. I have all these ways I can get there but I could not do it without Cabrini Connections. I had fun out there at the golf benefit. It was hot but we made it through. I had so much fun meeting board members and watching them golf."

The 2010 Jimmy Biggs Memorial Golf Benefit ended with a dinner and silent auction where all in attendance had the opportunity to eat, socialize, network, bid on some great silent auction items and hear some great stories about the organization and why it is so important to support. My wish is that everybody who attended the golf benefit makes an effort to tell just 3 people in their network what they did yesterday and why. Tell them how they attended a golf benefit and how the proceeds will go to assist students with getting into a college and a career, and how they should think about supporting as well!

Thanks goes out to all of those who made this event possible and there are too many people to name, but just know that we definitely appreciate all of the work and effort that went into the event and for all of those who will continue work towards making the program a success. Special Thanks again to tutor/mentor Shannon Murphy for going above and beyond the tutor/mentor role and helping us with this project. GREATLY APPRECIATED! If you missed the opportunity to support or be a part of the golf benefit, our next major event is our Tutor/Mentor Jam and we accept donations all throughout the year. Thanks for getting involved!

2010 Edgewood College Experience Wraps Up

2010-07-16T14:21:00.004-05:00

Tom Holub and the Edgewood visitors successfully completed another great year here with the Cabrini Connections' students and staff. On Wednesday the group remained on-site, but used the entire morning to complete activities, provide prizes, exchange contact information, and say goodbyes!

Here is where you can view the complete Day 3 of the Edgewood College Experience!

2010 Edgewood College Experience

2010-07-13T15:47:00.004-05:00

For those who may be unfamiliar with all that takes place in the Cabrini Connections' program, they may not realize that we are so much more than just tutoring and mentoring. The Cabrini Connections' program strives to connect people to resources; students, volunteers, parents, and even donors who are looking for a program like ours to donate...we explain to them why our program is a great selection. But for us to be able to connect people to resources we need to understand the needs of students and volunteers and also the needs of the program; but we also have to be able to collaborate with others and access those needed resources.

Dr. Tom Holub a professor at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin has been one of the many sources of resources to the Cabrini Connections' program for over a decade. Each summer Dr. Holub and a number of his graduate students visit the program for 3 days for what we call "The Edgewood College Experience!"

The newest Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection's staff member, Karina Walker, takes part in her 1st Edgewood College Experience and recaps Day 1 and Day 2! Wednesday will be the 3rd and final day for 2010 and the group will celebrate a great week of the opportunity.

Hopefully this opportunity will be the start of a lifelong relationship between the students of Cabrini Connections and the group from Edgewood. We hope that not only does the Edgewood students aim to remain connected to the students, but we also hope they will continue to try to assist the overall program by connecting us to resources they may know of. This could come in the form of new volunteers in the program, funding that our program could use, or as simple as more and more people reading and becoming a fan of the work that we do so they can possibly connect us to future resources. With our biggest FUNdraisor of the year taking place on Thursday of this week, annual golf benefit, the Edgewood College visitors could possibly participate as golfers, attend the dinner, or take advantage of the online bidding opportunity! Again, connecting people to resources is what we aim to do and we definitely want to thank Tom Holub and the 2010 Edgewood College visitors for being one of those resources for our students of the Cabrini Connections' program!

'Tis The Golf Season!

2010-06-29T16:11:00.013-05:00

With less than a month away, the Cabrini Connections' staff, board members, and program supporters continue to prepare for a successful 2010 Jimmy Biggs Memorial Golf Benefit. The year's event will be held at the Highland Park Country Club on Thursday July 15, 2010 and everything will kick off around 11am with registration and lunch to follow. If you have not golfed at or atleast observed this course, you are truly missing out. This is one of the best courses in the area!
We are looking to make this year's event better and this is how YOU can help out. We are looking to have a full roster of golfers, and a full roster for this year's event would be a roster of about 100 golfers. If you are interested in signing up for a foursome or if you want to come solo and get placed on a team, you can register here.

Let's say your boss is being mean and won't let you get away for the work day to get some exercise and to stay in shape with a full day of participating in the sport of golf (smile), you can take part in the evening events after work. From 5-8pm we will be concluding the day with an open bar, buffet style dinner, and a silent auction filled with a variety of great gifts. You can register just for the evening events here.

Now you find out that you have to work a full day on July 15th or you will be out of the area and can't attend any of the fun that taking place at the golf benefit, BUT you would still like to show your support...we are always looking for individual and corporate sponsorships that not only ensure an even better golf benefit but truly provides the much needed resources our program seeks to be successful. If you or your place of business would like to be a sponsor at this year's golf benefit we have a variety of sponsor levels that you can submit here.

We appreciate any and all support for this year's Jimmy Biggs Memorial Golf Benefit, so whether you are coming solo or with a 4 some to golf, just attending the evening events to eat, drink, socialize, and take home that silent auction item of your dreams, or just looking to make a donation to a great event and an even better cause...Cabrini Connections; know that we value and appreciate your support and willingness to assist us in providing the resources needed for every student, volunteer, and staff to be successful.

~Help Turn Dreams Into Reality~

#53 of the Chicago Bears, Nick Roach

Outstanding Attendance Leads to Summer Fun!

2010-06-22T12:00:00.006-05:00

The Cabrini Connections' organization is like nearly any other tutoring/mentoring program around the world, the program doesn't work if people are not here. With that being said we aim for outstanding attendance amongst our students, volunteers, and staff and we set a program expectation of 85% or better attendance percentage throughout the year. We just wrapped up our 2009-2010 tutoring/mentoring year and we are proud to announce that we had good number of staff, students, and volunteers who successfully reached that attendance goal!!!

We are extremely proud to recognize 2nd year student Ana Tate for not just reaching the 85% goal of the program but for having 100% attendance to the tutoring/mentoring sessions for the entire year!!! What makes this accomplishment even more special is the fact that she is also enrolled in Video and Filmmaker's Club as well that meets on Mondays. Ana shows her dedication and commitment to the program by attending tutoring/mentoring sessions on Wednesday, club on Monday, and she also stops in on other days to take advantage of other program resources throughout the year. As a result of Ana's perfect attendance she was presented with a very nice bike that was donated by Zoya Kolkin who was looking to honor a Cabrini Connections' student. And we thought Ana Tate would be the perfect person to honor because of her perfect attendance!

Cabrini Connections' also puts in an extra effort to finish the year off strong with attendance by adding a bonus incentive of students with 75% or better receiving an opportunity to participate in the "Great America Getaway." Each year the students get to take advantage of a FREE fun day at Six Flags Great America and their breakfast, lunch, and dinner is covered by Cabrini Connections. This year our veteran students offered suggestions of a different summer incentive and we are exploring a couple of possibilities that should be equally exciting as a day at Great America. We are proud to announce that we had a total of 32 students in the program to earn this opportunity for their exceptional attendance during the 3rd quarter.

The Cabrini Connections staff would like to congratulate and thank each and every student and volunteer who demonstrated outstanding attendance, dedication, and commitment to the program this year. We encourage all of you to continue to lead by example!

See more videos and photos from Dinner

2010-06-16T19:09:00.002-05:00

Visit Bradley Troast's blog and see videos and more photos from the year end dinner.

Visit the Cabrini Fund Raising Blog and our Donor page to find ways that you can help this program get the dollars needed to operate for the next 12 months.

Year End Dinner. A Great Celebration

2010-06-12T08:28:00.002-05:00

Here's the first video showing students, volunteers, parents, alumni and leaders who participated in the June 10,2010 Cabrini Connections year end dinner.

Find more videos like this on Tutor/Mentor Connection

Watch for more updates. Please visit http://www.cabriniconnections.net/donate and find a way to help us continue this work.

So What is the Winning Formula?

2010-06-01T15:19:00.009-05:00

On February 7, 2010 the New Orleans Saints were victorious over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. This was the 44th time where an NFL team has put together the winning formula and became Super Bowl Champs. So what is this "winning formula" that these organizations have had over the years, that has contributed to reaching the ultimate goal and accomplishment in the National Football League? Is the formula having phenomenal players, a great coaching staff, a diligent front office, die-hard fans, top notch facilities? Is it a combination of all or is it a variety of those plus more that has contributed to the various NFL organizations who have hoisted what is now called the Vince Lombardi Trophy?

Sports critics would say that the New Orleans Saints had a great team with a prolific offense, a very tough defense, a league leading quarterback, great decision makers in the front office, and a city and maybe even a nation that (secretly) supported the New Orleans Saints football team and really the city that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. There are those who can and probably do argue that there were other factors that contributed to the winning formula for the Super Bowl Champs this year.

Here in the Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection's organization we are looking for that same winning formula as well. We are not only looking to be a championship team that wins a championship, we would like to be considered a dynasty; with the proper winning formula that would lead us to numerous championship title shots.

We are nearly completing our 2010-2011 season and at this point a 2010-2011 season and beyond may be a dream and not reality, and with that being said a winning formula is definitely needed! We have a pretty good history in this league, with many of our players retiring from the league and going on to do positive things in their life. Our facility is clean, safe, easily accessible to many, and equipped with what we consider are the necessities that our players and coaches need to be successful. The reviews that our organization gets in the media and from other organizations in the league is positive.

So what is the winning formula that our organization needs to be successful? Are there changes that need to be made in our playbook, changes in our personnel and fan base, and/or our mission and goals or is the problem solely in our financial status and fundraising tactics? We are continuing looking to find the winning formula that the Cabrini Connections' program needs to be successful, but we are looking for the winning formula for all tutoring/mentoring programs to be successful as well. Unlike in the National Football League where teams compete against each other to be number one at the end of the season, in this tutoring/mentoring league winning is when each and every player, each and every coach, and each and every organization in the league has the necessary resources that contribute to the winning formula.

We will continue to search for the winning formula for the Cabrini Connections' program so that we are not only in the league for the 2010-2011 season, but we will continue to search so that we are contenders for the championship at the end of the season and for years to come. One of the key components to this winning formula is DOLLARS that contributes to other resources within the formula, and Cabrini Connections is in need!!! We need more and more die-hard fans of Cabrini Connections to step forward and cheer us on. So instead of tailgating, painting your face, and yelling to you lose your voice...simply show support by clicking a button and donating to Cabrini Connections

"Go Team!"

Who is in your Network?

2010-05-30T13:14:00.003-05:00

How many think about how your volunteer involvement in Cabrini Connections has expanded your informal network? How many of the companies that you've worked for value this as an important asset? Here's an article titled Managing the 21st Century Organization, that illustrates the value of informal networks.

If this is good for volunteers, then it's a benefit for our teens, too. If we are helping them expand their own networks, because of the people they meet through Cabrini Connections, that's a good thing.

Now, how many of you are willing to use this network chart to identify people in your own network who night become a donor, business sponsor, or benefactor, to help us operate Cabrini Connections, if you just introduced us to them?

Last Friday at the conference, I hosted a workshop with a volunteer from Dominican University, who is helping me map our networks. You can read about that here.

Her father attended the workshop with her. He wanted to see what we were doing, because she had told him about the work. He's from Nevada. But because he was introduced to us by his daughter, and he's interested, he may become a donor. He may also introduce us to people in his network.

That's how networks can be used to benefit Cabrini Connections, our volunteers, and our youth.

We need more sponsors for the dinner, the golf benefit, the conferences, and the general operations of Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection.

Please use this network diagram to identify one or two people in each category who might help us if you just told them of your involvement.

Summer Schedule

2010-05-25T09:58:00.003-05:00

We are just weeks away from our “Cabrini Connections’ Summer.” We are looking to continue our clubs through the summer at the same days and times, and we encourage all students and volunteers to consider joining a club and having a little fun this summer!!!

Read these blog articles to see what type of activities were held in past summers. This gives you and ideas of what you can expect this year.

“Open House” night will be every Wednesday from 6-8pm for any mentor/mentee pair who would like to meet in the center.

The Annual Edgewood College “Experience” will take place July 12th-14th this year. We encourage all interested students to sign up before the end of the school year. More details will be announced during the tutoring sessions. View video from Edgewood Experience.

We will also be looking to meet with all returning volunteers, students, and parents/guardians throughout the summer to better review the 2009-2010 year and to prepare for the upcoming 2010-2011 school year. Please contact EL Da’ Sheon or Bradley if you have any questions.

Finally we will be looking to raise money, hopefully lots of money, so we have what we need to open the program in the fall. Recruiting sponsors for the Year End Dinner, or the July Golf Benefit are two ways to ask your company, your friends, and your network to support Cabrini Connections.

Another way to secure the future for Cabrini Connections is to encourage people to add us to their estate plans. Here is information about bequests.

We thank everyone for being part of Cabrini Connections this past year and hope you will all stay connected through the summer and into future years.

Cabrini Connections' Gets a Special Guest Visitor!!!

2010-05-15T11:54:00.003-05:00

In a program where we look to connect students to resources, one of the biggest resources that's out there is...people! Our students have an opportunity to interact and engage with volunteers who came from a variety of different professions and careers that our students can begin to aspire to be in. And over the past couple of years we have been able to get some professional athletes/celebrities to visit the Cabrini Connections program to share their time, knowledge, and some words of wisdom to those in the program.

This past week, Chicago's own hip hop artist, Rhymefest paid a visit to Cabrini Connections. He not only shared insight on his career and his life, but he provided opportunities for the students and volunteers to express themselves through their talents and words.

Read the full story along with video footage here!!!

Can you help?

2010-05-12T12:05:00.002-05:00

This week we're sending out about 1500 letters asking friends, family, foundations and others to make donations to the Annual Fund, which is essential for keeping Cabrini Connections in business from year to year.

This also includes an invitation to the year end dinner on June 10.

We've had great fund raising support so far this year from students and volunteers and I hope that during the tutoring sessions this week, everyone will pick up 5 or more brochures and send them to people they know who might provide a donation, or become a benefactor.

We are a non profit, so we're always going to be looking for money, and we will only succeed if our students, alumni and volunteers are telling their own stories about how their lives have been enriched by being part of Cabrini Connections.

Please follow our fund raising activities on this fund raising blog, and on this page on the Cabrini Connections web site.

What about bequests? Yes. Cabrini Connections can be the place where people leave a bequest, and create a legacy. Read more about bequests. Use this page to add Cabrini Connections to an estate plan.

Cabrini Connections Loses a Life, but Gains an Angel...

2010-04-30T12:54:00.011-05:00

For any and everybody who has been following my Sport's Concepts articles this will be the first and I hope the last article of this nature in this series. The National Football League is made of hundreds of players, coaches, owners, and numerous staff that all come together to make up what is known as the NFL. All throughout the off season the players that make up the different teams of the NFL are looking at film, working out, running, and preparing for success in the upcoming season in which at the end...there will only be one team that can be the Super Bowl Champion. But there are moments in which the goals of the organization, the championship rings, the player stats, and the money are irrelevant; and that is when someone in the NFL family losses their life. Those in the NFL, and all others, know that death is inevitable, but I'm confident that all are shocked, saddened, and heartbroken when a coach, player, former player, front office personnel, and even when a well known commentator loses their life.

Just in the last 10 years the NFL has tragically lost players such as: Darrent Williams (Denver/Homicide), Pat Tillman (Arizona/War Causality), Corey Smith (Detroit/Lost at sea), Chris Henry (Cincinnati/Road Accident), and there has been countless others in the NFL who have suffered untimely deaths.

The Cabrini Connections organization is just one of the many teams that make up the Tutoring/Mentoring League and less than a week ago our league, just like the NFL, we have suffered the loss of a great player. Ms. Cierria Thomas of the Cabrini Connections' organization was a 4 year veteran to the team and was definitely on the rise on the team and in the overall league. Many of her Cabrini Connections' teammates remember her as being a pretty quiet and shy young lady, but her position coach (mentor) Tonya Myers and the Cabrini Connections' coaches and front office staff remember her infection smile, her quiet confidence, and her dedication to her church and her religion.

There was a turning point in Cierria's career when during the summer months, Cierria took part in the Story Catchers summer program in which the quiet and shy Cierria Thomas acted and performed throughout Chicago in front of audiences of all sizes. I think her mentor Tonya Myers and other Cabrini Connections' coaches would agree that as a result of her experience in that program her confidence grew, her voice became louder and stronger, and it was just an overall beneficial experience for her.

On on Sunday, April 25th a fire broke out in her Chicago home and Cierria Thomas tragically lost her life as a result of that blaze. Her brother, Charles Thomas who was a former member of the Cabrini Connections team, was able to escape without any significant injuries, and their grandmother, who was in the home as well, is still in the hospital recovering from injuries suffered in the fire.

When a life is tragically lost in the NFL, the entire league, players, coaches, media, and all that make up the National Football League, rally in support of their fallen "family" member to not only show their support and honor for that person, but to show respect, appreciation, and love for that person and all that person has contributed to the league. In the Cabrini Connections' organization we have begun to do the same. We altered our tutoring/mentoring sessions to discuss the tragedy and provide an opportunity for others in the league to share their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. We are encouraging all to attend the memorial services for Ms. Cierria Thomas, we are encouraging the entire league to find it in their hearts to support the entire Thomas family during these dark times, and we will discuss ways in which we can educate the entire organization about fire and overall safety. In the NFL flags are lowered, there are moments of silence before games, and other ways in which to show respect for the loss...and we will continue to brainstorm ways to show our respect for our fallen player.

Again, I truly hope that this is the first and last Sport's Concepts entry of this nature. If you would like to show your respect and your support for Cierria and the Thomas family, please view information listed here. The ENTIRE Cabrini Connections' organization would like to say we will miss you, we love you, and thank you for allowing us to be a part of your life!

Rest in Peace Ms. Cierria Thomas

11/10/1993-4/25/2010

Former Mentor tells story via Tribune blog

2010-04-29T12:33:00.003-05:00

On the News page of the Tutor/Mentor Connection site we pick up feeds from local and national media. I clicked into this story today, and found it was one of our former volunteers, Candice Warltier writing about her experiences.

How many other volunteers and students are telling this story? Connect with us on Facebook, or Linked in, or on this blog so more people can read these.

Prayers and Condolences for the Thomas Family.

2010-04-27T11:26:00.008-05:00

Cabrini Connections' students, volunteers, parents, alumni, donors, and all other supporters; it gives me great sadness to share the news of one our Cabrini Connections' members losing her life this past weekend. Veteran student in the program, Cierria Thomas, a 16 year old student at CICS Northtown Academy tragically passed as a result of a house fire over the weekend. Cierria Thomas has been in the program since September of 2006, along with her older brother Charles Thomas who graduated from the program last summer. Cierria Thomas was the mentee of veteran volunteer Tonya Myers.

Cabrini Connections' family please keep the Thomas family in your thoughts and prayers during this tough time they are facing. She will truly be missed. Tragedies like this are examples that life can be short, and should encourage all to live each day to the fullest because tomorrow is never promised today. As an organization we will continue to try to find ways to better the lives of all that enter the Cabrini Connections' organization, but today we will mourn the loss of one of own and send our prayers and condolences to the Thomas family.

Here is the information for the Memorial Services for Ms. Cierria Thomas:

Friday: Viewing of the body is being located at A.A.Rayner 318 E. 71st. St. Chicago, IL between 5-7pm

Saturday: 10-10:30am wake & 10:30-12:00pm funeral at Victory Worship Center 3750 N. Neva Chicago, IL.

If anybody would like to send cards, flowers, or any other forms of support for the Thomas family, the contact information below should be used:

Hendrix Family

c/o Thomas Family

96 Marina Drv.

Des Plaines, IL 60016

R.I.P. Ms. Cierria Thomas

11/10/1993-4/25/2010

Who Really Wants To Be #1

2010-04-23T14:20:00.012-05:00

In the NFL and I'm pretty sure in every other professional sport's organization, every player, coach, and franchise wants to be #1. I'm sure throughout each individual's life they have dreamed of one day hosting up that championship trophy, plaque, and/or medal and while raising 1 finger in the air, they shouted "I'm number 1!"

But what does it take to get to that point; how does a player, coach, or organization go from dreaming about being number 1 to actually accomplishing that goal? What it takes is a lot of preparation, hard work, commitment, dedication, and sacrifice...and a little bit of luck! Drew Brees and the entire New Orleans' Saints organization would not have been crowned Super Bowl Champs this year if they did embody those qualities listed above.

As the Head Coach of the Cabrini Connections' organization, my hope is that every member of the team wants to be #1 as well, but just like in the NFL and any other league, career, or profession the individuals all have to buy into the concept and strive to be #1. And "buying in" for our organization is being present and on time for the weekly practices, being prepared to work hard from the beginning to the end of the practice, communicating effectively, striving to get "one day better" everyday, taking advantage of each and every opportunity, and spending time outside of the team practices to ways to improve individually.

Each and every day my Offense and Defensive Coordinator (Coach Troast) and I are evaluating the players and coaches on the Cabrini Connections' team and analyzing what they are doing on and off the field in our pursuit to be #1. And we will continue to work towards that goal. Next week during our Wednesday and Thursday practices we will be discussing this goal being a #1 organization and all that it takes to reach that goal. And for the remainder of the season and over the summer months we will continue to communicate the work ethic, attitude, and dedication needed by all on the team before the 2010-2011 season begins.

The 1st Cabrini Madness Award's Presentation was a Success!

2010-04-19T14:18:00.008-05:00

The 2010 Cabrini Madness FUNdraising officially came to an end last week with the first Awards Presentation! During the tutoring/mentoring sessions last Wednesday and Thursday, we presented a variety of awards to a few of the many people who really contributed to the overall success of the project. No, this was not the ESPYs but we had a GREAT time!!!

We are started off the presentation by acknowledging the students and volunteers who had Perfect Attendance during our 2nd Quarter of tutoring/mentoring (Jan-March). We presented each person with a certificate to show our appreciation for their commitment, dedication, and loyalty to the program, especially during the winter months.

We then presented Sean Sullivan with an award for winning the Cabrini Madness Bracket Challenge. Very similar to when people all over the world complete the March Madness bracket for either money or bragging rights, Sean was one of the few people in the program who entered the contest this year. Sean scored 37 out of a total of 40 points which earned him the title this year, and he received half of the total amount of money collected and a t-shirt from the Big Ten Network that was donated by Big Ten Network personality Tim Doyle.

The next part of the presentation was the individual and team awards that were earned as a result of all of the hard work, dedication, commitment, and program advocacy not just for Cabrini Madness, but really for the importance to the existence to the entire organization.

Category #1: Rookie of the Year

Criteria: First Year student or volunteer of the program who excelled in the Cabrini Madness tournament

Nominees: Sandra Lee, Matt Barnes/Torquil Carlisle, and Tim Minton/Jessica Newberg

Award Recipient: Tim Minton/Jessica Newberg for leading their team to 2nd place in the tourney with their very first day in the program being the day the tourney was launched

Category #2: Most Improved Team

Criteria: Teams that either got off to a slow start and/or just continued to progressively get better throughout the tourney

Nominees: TEMS, Changemakers, Give Hope

Award Recipient: TEMS team members brainstormed to very successful events (Game Night Fundraisers) that propelled their team from the bottom of the rankings to being one of the tourney elites

Category #3: 6th Man/Woman of the Year

Criteria: Person who was not either officially in the program or was not an active member in the program, but excelled in their role to contribute to Cabrini Madness

Nominees: Mike Ozmeral, Clair Armbruster, and Katie Culliard

Award Recipient: Katie Culliard, a member of the Green Team and is the girlfriend of a veteran volunteer. She successfully reached out to her network and was able to bring a significant amount of funds to her team, and the overall CC, T/MC organization

Category #4: Captain of the Year

Criteria: Provided great leadership to their individual team in Cabrini Madness

Nominees: Toni Pullen, Ayana Martin, and Jessica Newberg

Award Recipient: Ayana Martin, of Give Hope was one of the few student captains and she led her team to the Final Four spearheaded some very successful fundraising ideas for her team.

Category #5: Most Valuable Event

Criteria: The fundraising event that created the most team work, advocacy, and overall support and success

Nominees: The Lebrons, Give Hope, The Awesomes

Award Recipient: The Awesomes, held an event at the Green Heart Shop in February that not only brought in nearly $700, but the students of the event put together their own promo commercial.

Category #6: Most Valuable Player

Criteria: Person who excelled above the rest in their ability to successfully advocate for the program and obtain great results.

Nominees: Tim Minton, Charles Hill/Sean Mayfield, and Carolyn Grunst

Award Recipient: Carolyn Grunst, of the Guaranteed Victory team brought in nearly $3,000 on her own and was able to obtain a $2,500 from an individual donor that propelled the team to a tourney VICTORY!!!

And we ended the night by providing the members of the Championship with their plaques!!! The members of Guaranteed Victory brought in over $6000 in less than 2 months and are crowned as the CHAMPIONS of the 2010 Cabrini Madness FUNdraising Tournament!!!

2010 Art & Film Festival Is A Success!!!

2010-04-18T15:04:00.005-05:00

The Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection's staff would like to thank each and every person who contributed to the overall success of this year's Art and Film festival. All of the volunteers, donors, students, parents, guests who came out, and the Palette and Chisel all came together to provide a very nice 2010 Art and Film Festival. We definitely want to give a special thanks to Jacqueline Shay (Art Club Coordinator), the Chicago Cares volunteers in the Art Club, and to each and every current student and Cabrini Connections' Alumni who took the lead in providing this opportunity.

Throughout the night we had over a 100 supports who attended the event and shared in a great event and positive experience. Thank You! There are many people who wanted to attend but couldn't for various reasons, but YOU can still show your support by providing a donation of any amount and donations can be mailed in OR submitted online. We are now preparing for what I think is the best Cabrini Connection's event of the year, and that is our Annual Year End Dinner that will take place on June 10th at Cornerstone from 6-8pm. At this event there will be students, parents/guardians, volunteers, staff, board members, donors, and many CC, T/MC guests all coming to assist us in not only celebrating another successful year, but assisting us with building momentum for the 2010-2011 tutoring/mentoring year!

And YOU can help us work towards the Year End Dinner and the theme for next year which is "My Dreams are My Reality!" that was submitted by CC senior Dijana Smith, by showing your support. Become a supporter, become a volunteer, become a donor!

Cabrini Connections' Coaching Clinic

2010-04-12T16:49:00.008-05:00

First and foremost, for all of those who were following my Sport's Concepts stories I want to apologize for the delay. For the past couple of months we have been hosting our first annual Cabrini Madness FUNdraising Tournament and wanted to focus on basketball analogies and wait until the season was over to get back to football.

And I wanted to start back with the upcoming Coaching Clinic that will be taking place here at Cabrini Connections. At various times throughout the year, especially during the off season, NFL coaches from around the league participate in coaching clinics. At these clinics the coaches share ideas, concepts, visions and goals that they hope will benefit them so in turn what they learn at the clinic will benefit their players/team as they work towards that ultimate goal....a Super Bowl Championship! Many of the head and assistant coaches then retreat back to their own facilities to break down and analyze the information to incorporate the knowledge into the play calls and schemes of the team.

As the Cabrini Connections' team begins the 3rd quarter of our season and prepare to end the season in a great position, we will be hosting our own Cabrini Connections' coaching clinic in the near future with some of our key Assistant Coaches...our Volunteer Coordinators. At Cabrini Connections were always looking to get better and prepare our players and coaches with the necessary resources to be successful in and outside of the program. And as the Head Coach of the organization, I truly believe much of the success of the team comes from the leadership within the program.

A couple week's back we conducted a training project for our Volunteer Coordinators (Alexandria Hill, Kasey Brink, John Knight, and Diana Castaneda) to test their strengths and weaknesses in the areas of Communication, Preparation, Accountability, Teamwork, and Overall Ability to Lead Others. This was a 3 week training project that ended on March 25th. The purpose of this project was to evaluate our leadership within the program and how we could learn from this project to lead our Cabrini Connections' Team to a Championship.

We planned on meeting today to breakdown the project, but we will reschedule for a day and time that works for everybody. This is a pivotal point in the Cabrini Connections' organization and the benefits, changes, goals, and attitudes that come about as a result of this meeting could provide great enthusiasm for the remainder of this meeting and build momentum heading into the 2010-2011 Tutor/Mentor Season!!!

Cabrini Connections Art Festival, April 16 - Bring a Friend!

2010-04-10T09:35:00.001-05:00

The Annual Cabrini Connections' Art and Film Festival is next week, Friday, April 16!!! Last year's event was a blast and I am confident that those who were able to come out last year would say the same thing. This year we are looking have a great time as well.

The 2010 Art and Film Festival will be held at the Palette and Chisel Art Academy (1012 N. Dearborn) on Friday, April 16th from 6:00-10:00pm. As always there will be a silent auction and raffle, along with beverages and light appetizers. The gallery will be open from April 15th-April 27th to display all of the great art work that the Cabrini Connections' students and guests have been working on throughout the year.

Read more about the Art Festival and see work created by our teens, on the Art Club blog. The art club meets every Monday evening in the Cabrini Connections' center, where the students learn a variety of artistic skills and techniques from club coordinator Jacqueline Shay and volunteers from Chicago Cares.

The Art and Video festival is a showcase for the work done by youth and volunteers. It is also a fund raiser to help pay the costs of space and insurance so these enrichment and learning activities can take place. Visit this page to make a donation, or this page. You can also print this form and mail a donation.

Learn more about Arts, Video and enrichment programs at http://www.cabriniconnections.net/learning-and-enrichment

Plan on coming out to a GREAT event, and as always bring a friend.

A Look Back on the 2010 Cabrini Madness Season!!!

2010-04-05T12:48:00.016-05:00

Following a staff meeting that took place at the end of 2009, the Cabrini Madness FUNdraising idea started from some simple notes on a piece of paper. Assistant Program Coordinator, Bradley Troast, and I met to follow up on the information provided during the staff meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to come up with ways in which to bring in some much needed funds and resources in the 1st Quarter of 2010. And from those simple notes on a piece a paper we are proud to say that Cabrini Madness grew into something amazing! Please take a couple of minutes to look back on the 2010 Cabrini Madness Season:

Cabrini Madness Season: January 6th-April 5th, 2010

Number of Team: 13

Number of Participants on Roster: 114
Students (37)
Volunteers (37)
Staff, Coordinators, Board Members (25)
Outside of the Program Members (15)

Cabrini Madness FUNdraising Events:
-Passion's Team
John Knight's Birthday Celebration (Feb. 26th)
Cabrini Madness Bar Night (March 12th)

-The Lebrons
Market Bar Event (March 5th)

-Awesomes
The Green Heart Shop Event (Feb. 27th )

-Give Hope
Pizza Party (March 17th and 18th)

-Green Team
Sandra Lee's Cabrini Madness Bookmark Sales (March 27th)
Spring Break Pool Pary (March 31st)

-TEMS
Game Day Event(s) (March 13th and 20th)

Cabrini Madness Promotional Videos: 9 total
-Episode #1
-Episode #2
-Awesomes Shop and Sip Commercial
-Episode #3
-Episode #4
-Episode #5
-Episode #6
-Episode #7
-Episode #8

Teams that Advanced to the Elite 8:
-Guaranteed Victory, Team Impeccable, The Green Team, Each One Reach One, TEMS, Give Home, Passion's Team, and De'Jour's Team

Teams that Advanced to the Final 4:
-Guaranteed Victory, Team Impeccable, The Green Team, and Give Hope

Championship Round Teams:
-Guaranteed Victory and Team Impeccable

2010 Cabrini Madness FUNdraising Tournament Champion: Guaranteed Victory

"The Cabrini Madness Championship game turned out to be an instant classic!!! Team Impeccable made a HUGE play at about 10:45pm and went up on Guaranteed Victory pretty big. So Guaranteed Victory dug deep, remained poised and focused, and played their hearts out. And with less than 15 minutes left on the clock, New York Giants' starting Defensive Lineman, Barry Cofield made a $2,000 donation to put Guaranteed Victory on top and what turned out to be the game winning shot..."

Approximate Number of 2010 Cabrini Madness Donors: 360

Total Amount Raised in the 2010 Cabrini Madness Season: $23,109.89

As the Administrative Coordinator I am extremely proud at all of the activity that was a result of the Cabrini Madness tournament!!! There were more videos, events, and individual donors in this one FUNdraiser than any other event in the Cabrini Connections' history!!!! That is a HUGE accomplishment that all should be very proud of. Unfortunately the hardships and negative factors that serve as roadblocks for our youth's future continue, therefore our efforts to eliminate those roadblocks must continue as well and we will continue to seek out your help.

Please continue to support our efforts here at Cabrini Connections, and encourage others to do the same. Please visit the website and subscribe to the eNewsletter to see all that is taking place here at Cabrini Connections and check out our donation options here.

Career Week: Day 4 (The Conclusion)

2010-04-01T18:40:00.015-05:00

While many students either slept in or spent the day having fun with friends in the nice weather, two Cabrini Connections' students (brothers) Israel Dosie and Marquise Cook took advantage of a great opportunity. These two students signed up for the final day of the Cabrini Connections' Career Week in which we have used this week which is the Chicago Public School' Spring Break as an opportunity to show our students various jobs, businesses, and even colleges/universities in which our adult mentors call work and school. To see where all we have been this week you can see Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 by clicking on the links.

Today was the 4th and final day of our Career Week, and we could not have asked for a better day to go on the campuses of two great institutions. We started our day off by getting a private tour and informational session at Loyola University from Iesha "E" Wilson who is an intern at Cabrini Connections and a current graduate student at Loyola. "E" gave the group an in depth information tour ranging from academics and athletics to financial aid and the overall life of a Loyola University student. Both Israel and Marquise had a wide range of questions and "E" did an amazing job of answering any and all questions that the students AND staff had. One of the main attractions that caught the group's eye was the athletic facility in which the basketball teams play their home games. We had an opportunity to walk on the court and view all of the banners hanging on the wall.

Israel and Marquise are both 7th graders and Israel is interested in pursuing a career in Architecture and Marquise a career in Robotic Engineering, and this was a great opportunity for them to just get a feel of college life and a better understanding of the habits and things in which they need to be working on now so that they can put themselves in a position to reach their future career goals. We then completed the great Loyola tour, thanked "E" for taking out the time to show us around, and headed to McDonald's for lunch before we began Part 2 of our career day.

(Welcome our NUPIP Fellow, Bradley Troast, to summarize the Northwestern side of Day 4...)

After lunch we boarded the "L" to Northwestern's Evanston campus. Israel and Marquise attended our NU college visit in the fall, but the official campus tour only covers south campus. Therefore, this time around, we focused on north campus. Wednesday night volunteer and current NU senior Michael Abers and Thursday night volunteer and current NU graduate student Sonali Murthy (left) led the tour.

We began with a visit to Leverone Auditorium within the Kellogg School of Management where we sat in on a real lecture in progress. The professor - in front of at least 100 students - was using a camera to project his notes in real-time onto the big screen. Israel and Marquise, both members of Tech Club, were definitely intrigued.

Next, we passed through Annenberg Hall, home of the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP). Our administrative coordinator, EL Da' Sheon Nix (main author of this blog), graduated from SESP and was actually able to introduce the students to his former advisor. Cool!

Further north, we entered the Pancoe Life Sciences building to visit Michael's lab. He is a biochemistry major and though he couldn't show us any mice in person, he did describe some wild experiments. Our favorite was the mice that "smell light." Their sense of light is switched with their sense of smell. They are blinded, but when the lights come on, they begin to sniff. Wild!

From the lab we went to Northwestern Technological Institute, the second largest building in the United States under five stories (the Pentagon is first). Michael and Sonali stopped in the auditorium to talk about their collegiate experiences and to answer questions from Israel and Marquise. They emphasized responsibility. Professors won't call you if you miss class like we do when you miss a tutoring session. You have to do your readings, go to class, talk to the professor, etc., to do well. If you don't do those things, you'll be left out to dry.

To close out our trip, we visited the Sports Pavilion and Aquatics Center. Undergraduate students have free access to this huge gym on the lake, which Israel and Marquise were very happy to see. They even got in on some basketball! - challenging two NU students to a game of two-on-two. Israel's team pulled out a 9-7 victory, but everyone was all smiles afterward. Just another way of making connections!

Thank you to E, Michael, and Sonali for showing us your schools. You are helping our students create a vision for their future!

Overall, we had an amazing 2010 Career Week and we would like to thank each and every student, volunteer, intern, staff, donor, and all those who came together to make these opportunities possible. And although we have a career week, with the help of more and more volunteers and donors we can provide these opportunities and many more all throughout the year so that all Cabrini Connections' students can say "MY DREAMS ARE MY REALITY"

Career Week: Day 2

2010-03-30T14:43:00.014-05:00

This week is the CPS Spring Break and here at Cabrini Connections we are definitely taking advantage of the break. No, we are not taking the week off, but we are using this time to get our students out into the wonderful world of our volunteers. Several of our volunteers have agreed to allow groups of students and staff to visit the college, university, and/or place of business throughout this week so that our students can get a up close and personal look into the lives and careers of those who share their time, knowledge, and experiences on a weekly basis....our mentors.

Yesterday, Bradley Troast (Program Assistant) kicked off the 2010 Career Week by leading a group of students to two very unique opportunities hosted by veteran volunteers Anne Davies and Brea Adams. Read the complete story of Career Week: Day 1 Here.

There were a completely different group of students who joined me on the trip this afternoon. Cabrini Connections' students Ana Tate, Israel Dosie, Marquise Cook, and Sean Mayfield road with me to the home (also personal office) of veteran volunteer Allen "AJ" Tyson. Mr. Tyson is a self employed Commission's Agent who runs the majority of his business, Emsig, out of his beautiful home on Chicago's West Side.

AJ, and his best friends and business partners Jack (his dog) and Mouse (his cat) greeted us and immediately provided us with a great overview of his educational background, his career history, and how he runs his business from home. AJ runs a company produces and distributes mass amounts of buttons to various companies and buyers all over the world!

The students asked a variety of questions about Mr. Tyson's business and his career, and he answered every question with pleasure. Mr. Tyson then gave us a tour of his home and shared some of his hobbies with the group. Mr. Tyson loves to sail and garden, and he has a fantastic garden in the back of his home.

Following a few more questions and the completion of the tour, we all walked to a pretty nice neighborhood restaurant for lunch and the food was GREAT!!! Allen Tyson left these words with the group before we concluded our trip, "Always be present and punctual and network as much as you can." These are tips that the entire group can and should be using every day of their lives, no matter if it is for school, work, or just getting through the day!

We concluded the trip by returning to the center and I provided the group with a BIG SURPRISE; that's right you guessed it...a POP QUIZ!!! I wanted to not only see how well the students were paying attention, but I also wanted be sure the students found a way to retain what they had learned to use in the future. They completed a 12 question quiz and I provided the student who had the highest score with a ice cream from Loves.

Overall this was not only a great trip but a great opportunity for the group to learn about what it took for AJ to get to where he is in life today. Hopefully the students will take something away from this experience that can and will help them in the near and distant future, so they too will have success in their future career!