The Life Solutions Network is a volunteer-driven network for volunteer mentors and social service professionals who choose to serve our community by building the capability of people in need.

Volunteers choose the organizations they support; the Network then supports them with tools, ideas, personal mentoring and other resources.  Capability-building takes many forms, e.g. mentoring, financial and job coaching, life skills instruction, problem solving and much more.  We serve in our passion and grow personally as we serve.  Most of the people we serve are struggling with some aspect of life, e.g. poverty, financial distress, unemployment, illness.

Our Purpose:

• We inspire people to live, work and serve to their purpose, passion and potential.

Our Mission:

• Grow the capability of people in need by enabling volunteers and non-profit professionals with life skills and mentoring solutions.

Our Uniqueness:

• We love volunteer development (especially volunteer mentors); we want you to serve to your purpose and potential and be the best volunteer (or professional) you can be, wherever you choose to serve.
• A free, open-source life skills “wiki” is available for personal learning or in serving others. It is module-based and can be adapted to fit specific needs…informally or as a curriculum.  It is unique in the way skills are defined and learning paths presented with content such as one-point lessons.
• We bring together volunteers and non-profit professionals to create content and tools.
• We are a money-less organization and so there is no cost to you.

Our Toolbox:

• Our toolbox is divided into 4 categories:  Mentoring Solutions, Volunteer Solutions, Life Skills, and Organizational Capacity.  Some of the tools are on-line; all are freely available upon request.

Founder’s Dream:

I am only one person, but I know I must and can make a difference.  I imagine countless volunteers, civic leaders and people in ministry energized and serving to their unique purpose and potential – working together to make our community a thriving place to live by building capability of those who are struggling.

I believe in ‘people helping people’ – deeply and sustainably.

Tony Aloise

Click here to learn more about us.

Are you a new or experienced volunteer? Are you a social service professional serving to build the capability of others? If so, I think you will find a lot to like on the Life Solutions Network website.

The LSN toolbox tries to help with practical solutions to everyday problems, for example:

• I need a job and don’t know how to develop a resume.
• I am tired of never having enough money, what are some practical ways to save more and put a budget into place?
• I seem to always be fighting with my boss or teenager, how can I develop better listening and communication skills.

We grow personally as we serve and the journey never ends.

Take a look at the Solutions for Individuals page. We have a goal to support you in serving to your passion and potential.

Feel free to contact me for more information or to get together.

Tony Aloise

You can find LSN on-line in various ways. Each outlet has a similar intent, i.e., to present information, ideas and tools to grow personally and better serve others.

Our Content:

• Life Skills Wiki.  This is targeted toward volunteer mentors but this can be used by many.
• Volunteer Solutions.  Resources for new and experienced volunteers and volunteer leaders.
• Mentoring Solutions.  Resources for mentors and mentor program leaders.
• Organizational Capacity.  Resources for non-profit professionals to create high-performing organizations.
• Links to external recommended resources such as books, bloggers and web sites.
• Blog.  Our blog is about life, life skills, volunteering and living to our purpose and potential. The blogs are short (250 words) and easy to read.
• Social Media:
  • Live with Purpose (on Facebook).  Live to your purpose, passion and potential.
  • Greater Cincinnati Mentor Leadership Alliance (on Facebook).  Closed group, requires approval.
  • Work with Purpose (on LinkedIn).  Work and lead to your purpose, passion and potential.

• Newsletter. A newsletter keeps you informed about the network and life skills.  Note: if you already receive the newsletter, you must still register on this site for access to some content.  It’s free and easy.

• Lesson plans and wiki templates in Microsoft Office formats (doc, xls) for editing.
• Volunteer Solutions toolbox, especially for Volunteer Coordinators.
• Mentor Solutions toolbox, especially for Mentor Program Leaders.
• Personal support with life skills curriculum, volunteer processes or general business planning.

Greater Cincinnati Mentor Leadership Alliance. LSN sponsors the “alliance” of local mentoring organizations.  We are collaborating to raise the overall capability of our mentoring efforts.

Speaking Events and Workshops. Presentations are available to local organizations upon request. A particular focus is Life Purpose; we have a lot to share on Living to our Purpose and Potential and Mentor Development.  We also have beginner and advanced workshops for volunteer mentors.

Volunteer Mentoring. Contact us if you are personally exploring volunteer mentor opportunities. We are particularly interested in supporting new volunteers who want to serve the community by sustainable, capability building.