Mosaic Project

THE MOSAIC PROJECT WORKS TOWARD A PEACEFUL FUTURE BY UNITING CHILDREN OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, PROVIDING THEM WITH ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY BUILDING SKILLS, AND EMPOWERING THEM TO BECOME PEACEMAKERS.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROJECT: WE OFFER LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR HIGH-SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGED STUDENTS WHO SERVE AS MENTORS FOR THE 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS AT OUR OUTDOOR SCHOOL. THE PROJECTS CURRICULUM ADDRESSES ISSUES OF DIFFERENCE WHILE BUILDING LEADERSHIP SKILLS. YOUTH LEADERS UNDERGO EXTENSIVE TRAINING PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE OUTDOOR SCHOOL. ONCE THERE, THE TRAINING CONTINUES AS THEY SERVE AS CABIN LEADERS FOR A SESSION, PUTTING THEORY INTO PRACTICE. WE OFFER THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS YEAR-ROUND, INCLUDING DISCUSSIONS, WORKSHOPS, GUEST LECTURES, GAME DAYS, FIELD TRIPS, AND SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS. THE PROJECT ENCOURAGES THE GROWTH OF A VIBRANT CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNITY OF YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA.THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROJECT WAS ABLE TO HOST TRAINING WEEKENDS AGAIN ALONG WITH A ONE-TIME GAP YEAR PROGRAM WITH A SMALL GROUP OF STUDENTS.

IN-SCHOOL PROJECT: IN ORDER TO DEEPEN AND SUSTAIN THE IMPACT OF THE MOSAIC PROJECTS OUTDOOR SCHOOL, WE OFFER THE MOSAIC IN-SCHOOL PROJECT(ISP) FOR OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS. THROUGH THE ISP, WE COLLABORATE WITH STUDENT LEADERS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES TO BUILD EQUITABLE, HEALTHY CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.THE IN-SCHOOL PROJECT STARTED 2021 WITH ON-LINE CONTENT AND ENDED THE YEAR SCHOOL WITH IN-PERSON VISITS AND ONE-DAY EVENTS WITH MOSTLY OUTSIDE VENUES.

THE OUTDOOR SCHOOL: WHILE TYPICAL OUTDOOR SCHOOLS FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, OURS ADDRESSES ISSUES OF DIFFERENCE AND BUILDS SELF-ESTEEM AND COMMUNITY. OUR STUDENTS NEVER FORGET THIS INSPIRING LEARNING EXPERIENCE. WE REACH THEM BEFORE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES SURROUNDING DIFFERENCE BECOME ENTRENCHED AND WE ENABLE THEM TO LIVE WITH, LEARN FROM, AND BEFRIEND OTHERS WITH WHOM THEY WOULD NOT ORDINARILY INTERACT. TOGETHER IN A BEAUTIFUL, NATURAL SETTING, THEY BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE THEIR COMMONALITIES AND GAIN RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE UNIQUENESS OF ALL INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THEMSELVES. THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO OVERCOME IGNORANCEAND INSECURITIES WHICH CAN LEAD TO FEAR OF DIFFERENCE, PREJUDICE, DISCRIMINATION, HATRED, AND VIOLENCE. WE PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH THE PROFOUND, PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE, EGALITARIAN COMMUNITY ACROSS RACE, CULTURE, AND CLASS BARRIERS, INSPIRING AND EMPOWERING THEM TO CREATE SUCH COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THEIRLIVES. THE PARTNER TEACHERS INSTITUTE TURNS THE OUTDOOR SCHOOL INTO A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RETREAT FOR OUR PARTNER TEACHERS. WE PROVIDE WORKSHOPS EACH DAY TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE MORE DEEPLY WITH THE THEMES, MUSIC, AND MEMORABLE MOSAIC MOMENTS THEIR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE AND TO HELP THEM TO REINFORCE MOSAICLESSONS BACK IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. WE BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORK AMONG OUR PARTNER TEACHERS THROUGH WHICH THEY CAN EXCHANGE IDEAS AND PLAN JOINT PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. WITHOUT OUR NORMAL IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING FOR A SECOND YEAR, OUR NEW CONTENT BEGAN TO BLEND WITH OUR MORE TRADITION CONTENT AS COVID PROTOCOLS BEGAN TO ALLOW IN-PERSON TRAINING AGAIN IN 2021. THE MOSAIC CONSULTING PROJECT BENEFITTED FROM A SECOND YEAR OF EXTRA RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT FOCUS RELATIVE TO THE OTHER PROGRAMS. THE OUTDOOR SCHOOL EXPENSES REFLECT INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE ABSENCE OF IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING.