What is Mosaic?
Directors | Supporting Foundation
The Greensboro Bicentennial Mosaic Partnerships Program is a carefully structured project designed to increase communication, trust, and cooperation among the city’s racial and ethnic groups. The program’s premise is that all three can be enhanced through personal relationships. With more than 80 nationalities living in Greensboro and research describing a community that has a lower trust factor, personal relationships crossing racial and ethnic lines can make a difference.
The project consists of three phases. The first phase is for established community leaders, the second is for growing leaders, and the third is open to the general public. It is hoped that the participants in each phase will be inspired to expand their experience into other social, civic, and professional groups to which they belong.
The program begins with an orientation session where the participants learn more about the program’s objectives, are introduced to their partners, and start the Mosaic Partnerships process.
The process consists of guided partnerships between two people of different races. Everyone attends 16 meetings over a year with his/her partner. These meetings are set according to the partners’ preferences and are not centrally coordinated or scheduled. During the program year, a small group of six to eight partners will meet about every six weeks with a coach or facilitator and go through a program designed to stimulate interaction and further their partnerships.
Directors
The Greensboro Bicentennial Mosaic Project is directed by an Advisory Group and two Co-Directors, who are employees of the City of Greensboro. Local area foundations are paying the cash costs of the program for the first three years; the City’s contribution is staff time.
The Co-Directors are John Shaw, Director of Human Relations for the City, and Pat Boswell, Director of Organizational Development and Communications (ODC). These two bring to the table the resources of their respective departments, which include extensive contacts within all communities in the city, an understanding of Greensboro’s racial and ethnic history, communications media, training facilities, and facilitation skills. Much of the management of the program’s logistics is handled by ODC’s Training Manager, Deywon Arant-McAdoo. Upon the conclusion of the three-year contract, it is intended that direct administration of the program will be transitioned to another group.
Pat Boswell is the Director of Organizational Development and Communications for the City of Greensboro. Her department’s function is to provide and ensure quality service to the City’s customers, to train employees and work groups, and to serve as a central communication point for the City. Included in the department are Channel 13 (government access) and the Contact Center, as well as customer service, the City’s web site, and public information.
John Shaw is Director of Human Relations for the City of Greensboro. In that role, he serves as staff to the Human Relations Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women. The primary role of this department is to address issues of discrimination in the community, whether they be in housing, employment, or other areas regulated by government.
Supporting Foundations
The Weaver Foundation
Joseph M Bryan Foundation
Cemala Foundation
Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro