Oprah’s Angel Network

A 2008 Angel Network grantee advocates on behalf of low-income students.

Advocates for mentoring: Daniel Bassill (right) with Genita Robinson, executive director of Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth Program.

Photo courtesy of Cabrini Connections

The ill-fated housing project Cabrini Green conjures up images of hallway drug deals, unknown squatters and random violence. Before being demolished in 2003, this notorious project was a place where dreams too often died. But even in the face of such despair, Daniel Bassill dedicated his life to helping children there.

The founder of both a mentoring program, Cabrini Connections, and of a mentor/student match website, Tutor/Mentor Connection, Dan and an army of volunteer mentors attempt to open new doors for children stuck on the outside looking in.

“A network doesn’t exist for kids living in poor neighborhoods and it won’t exist unless it’s built,” said Dan, who founded his mentoring program in 1993 after starting out as a volunteer mentor himself 20 years earlier.

Mentor, Alexandria Hill, helps program participant, Imann Mitchell, learn Spanish vocabulary with flash cards on a Wednesday night at Cabrini Connections in Chicago, Ill.

Photo courtesy of Cabrini Connections

Establishing a Connection

Drawing on the talents of the business community and universities in Chicago, Ill., Cabrini Connections recruits adult volunteers who visit the program’s mentoring center once a week to offer guidance, support and tutoring for about 80 low-income students in grades 7–12.

Over time, mentors build relationships with the students as they study together, play the occasional game of Scrabble, or work jointly on art and technology-based activities at the center.

“Mentoring is something you learn by doing,” said Dan. “For volunteers who stay with the program over the years you get to see a young person grow.”

While Dan embraces success stories—seeing a student head off to college or getting a friendly note on Facebook from program alum are rewarding moments—he knows setbacks come with the territory. In the past, the program has lost children to gunfire and to assorted health issues associated with poverty.

“Just like those incidents are tragic for the family, they are tragic for the volunteers and the people who get to know these kids,” reminded Dan.

Former Northwestern University and professional quarterback Zak Kustok shares his time as a volunteer mentor at Cabrini Connections.

Photo courtesy of Cabrini Connections

Cabrini Green and Beyond

While the transformation continues in the Cabrini Green area, Dan’s mentoring program has had to adjust to the changing demographics, as more students come from farther away to attend the program.

“Our mix of kids is slowly shifting to where it might have been 100 percent all living in Cabrini Green 10 years ago,” said Dan, “to now where it’s spread out on the West and South sides of the city.”

The changes coincide with Dan’s focus on using technology to ensure that programs like Cabrini Connections can reach kids in all high-poverty areas throughout Chicago. On his website, Tutor Mentor Exchange, Dan creates maps that highlight areas where tutor/mentor programs are needed. He also maintains a searchable program database that parents, volunteers and donors can use to find contact information about tutor/mentor programs. Dan helps website visitors use the maps and other resources to build a case for starting a mentoring program, or for donating time, talent or dollars to help an existing program.

“For anyone who wants to learn about helping a kid out of poverty, the knowledge is here,” said Dan. “We’re here to facilitate the process … and frankly get other people to do to it too, because it’s just too big of a problem for one organization.”

Expand Your Connection

Find out more about Cabrini Connections and check out their video on YouTube: