- What is Mosaic?
The Milwaukee Mosaic Partnerships Program will engage approximately 80 individuals this year – 40 white, 40 individuals of color – in a nine-month journey to build trust, friendship and communication across the current divides towards the investment and growth of social capitol in Milwaukee .
- Who is in it?
Throughout the past three years, Mosaic has recruited many diverse leaders:
· Civic leaders of Milwaukee – successful and influential captains of their respective fields
· Vice Presidents, CEOs, Upper Management
· Entrepreneurs and emerging leaders that are starting their careers
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The goal, over the course of many years, is to build a cadre of community leaders who have bridged some of the racial divide in our area and are comfortable opening their networks to a wider group to promote interracial collaboration and authentic diversity.
- Do you really think that we need another race-related project?
There have been many well-intentioned projects in the past, all of which have contributed to some degree to our community. We believe that our program is effective for the following reasons:
1) the length of the program shows commitment for those who are genuinely interested in understanding cross cultural and race relations
2) due to the length of the program, it allows for deep and meaningful relationships to manifest among, otherwise, unlikely partnerships
3) we start with leaders in our community who can carry the message to their networks, and use their influence to bridge the gap and open communication lines
No one project will ever be the final answer, but Mosaic is meant to complement current efforts of community issue resolution by improving the level of communication at the leadership level of our area. A program of this type, pairing individuals of equal stature, has not been tried before in Milwaukee to this extent.
- Why isn't Mosaic looking into police brutality, violence in the city, education?
Mosaic's goals are not to address specific issues, but to hopefully elevate the level of communication and trust among community leaders in order to more effectively address the issues in other forums.
- What is Mosaic NOT?
It is not a mentor or professional development program. Individuals participating are considered peer equals that have a personal and/or professional pledge toward making a positive change for the Milwaukee area.
- What is the time commitment for the participants?
Partners meet with each other approximately ten times over a nine-month period. In addition, participant discussion groups (Cluster Group Gatherings) meet seven times during the same nine-moth period. Finally, all participants meet three times; at the Orientation, Mid-Year Event and Final Celebration.
- How is this program different?
This is a very unique program in that it concentrates on individuals, not institutions or organizations. Indeed, the Mosaic Partnerships is a two-by-two approach to addressing community programs.
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Why does Mosaic use the top down approach for community efforts?
While empowering citizens at the grassroots level is important, this unique program recognizes the need for leaders of influence to be aware of that influence and use it to leverage positive change. Mosaic’s model is to partner community leaders that share common values to maximize effective use of natural opinion leaders from the community and its groups. Because the community trusts these leaders, they influence others to accept or reject new ideas.
- What's the relevance to the Milwaukee community?
Because this program is led, staffed, and coached by Milwaukee area leaders, the program is 100% local and the dividends – the partner experiences – will all remain in Milwaukee.
- How do you measure success?
The program constantly monitors partner and Program progress, and will also include a three-year longitudinal study tracking partner pairs, their post success and diversity initiatives over the years. This year, we are launching the alumni program that will continue to keep the partners and the growing network of change-makers engaged and up to date on each others projects, as well as, serve as the hub and resource for all of the participants that have graduated from the program.