Mark Ward's Page

Hi Mark, thanks for posting the web resources. I lead a non profit in Chicago that focuses on creating and supporting non-school, volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs where workplace volunteers support the aspirations and learning of at risk youth. I maintain a web library where I've posted your links. I also maintain a database of more than 200 tutor/mentor programs in Chicago, and use maps to show where they are located and where they are needed. Thus, my goal is that the information you and others are hosting on your web sites gets used by people in many places to help kids living in disadvantaged areas where they don't get enough learning support from parents and community.

Have you considered some form of discussion group on your web site, or facilitation, so that when someone comes to the site looking for ideas, they can get help finding what they are looking for. I know that this is a weakness of my site. The larger the library, the more time it takes for someone to browse all the links and learn to use it.

I'm a small non profit, so don't have the resources to change this, but feel that if one or more colleges got students involved, the students could act as live intermediaries to help people find and use the information.

Do you have any thoughts on this?