In a variety of other discussions there are talks about collaboration and about ending poverty. I focus on connecting inner city kids with adult volunteers in structured, non-school tutor/mentor programs. During August and September of every year I lead a volunteer Recruitment Campaign (http://www.tutormentorexchange.net/Partner/CC/RecruitmentCampaign/recruitment.asp ) that is intended to help tutor/mentor programs througout the Chicago region get volunteers.

The primary strategy of the campaign is to increase public visibility through traditional media, networking, on-line forums, etc.

While our primary aim is for volunteers to respond, our secondary aim is for donors to respond. Most of these programs are non profits and they struggle to find money.

One way members of the O_Net community can become collaborators is to encourage people who work for companies with United Way or Combined Federal Appeal fund raising campaigns and encourage them to write in non profits like Cabrini Connections (http://www.cabriniconnections.net) for their payroll deduction donation. You don't need to be in Chicago to do this. We've had people at Microsoft make donations. You also don't need to just choose my organization. There are many good, but financially strapped tutor/mentor programs in most cities. Pick one, and find a way to help them get some volunteers, and some donations.

It's a great way to start the school year.