The Mosaic Project

Our primary goal is to work toward a more peaceful future by empowering a new generation of peacemakers with:

- fun, memorable, and transformative life experiences strategically set in a beautiful outdoor setting;
- a multitude of concrete skills to thrive and act justly in an increasingly diverse society (including the skills to work with others across difference, resolve conflicts peacefully, empathize, and be assertive);
- an understanding of the interconnectedness of everything;
- self-efficacy and commitment to caring for our world and creating positive social and environmental change

In everything we do, The Mosaic Project works to dismantle the pyramid of violence (segregation, ignorance & fear, prejudice, discrimination, violence, war & genocide) starting at its foundation. We give all participants in our programs the tools to build the pyramid of peace (connection, respect, recognition of others perspective, empathy, assertive communication & conflict resollution, peace).

Contact Theory supports our approach to building peace, stating that under the right conditions, contact between members of different groups can reduce conflicts and prejudices. However, simply placing a diverse group together is not enough to break down stereotypes and prejudice. The group needs prolonged exposure, equal treatment, common goals, and opportunities for cooperation and collaboration. This intermingling needs to be supported by mentors and authority figures. Additionally, issues of prejudice must be directly addressed in order for this model to be successful.

Research suggests that the more of these factors in place, the more likely people are to overcome their biases (Fiske, 2008; Van Laar, 2005). Effective communication and collaborative conflict resolution strategies also support healthy integration across communities of difference (Maznevski & DiStefano, 1996). The Mosaic Project’s Outdoor Project has every one of these factors in place.

The research at https://mosaicproject.org/about/approach/theory/research/ suggests that the following Mosaic strategies contribute to the successful realization of our organizational and curricular goals. Through our programs we:

- offer an intentional, safe space to discuss issues that separate and unite us as people and communities
- create positive, non-competitive opportunities for people from different backgrounds to connect and engage over a long period of time
- offer challenging but achievable goals that require diverse teams to work together
- cultivate a sense of shared purpose and identity among diverse student and staff participants
- address issues of prejudice and discrimination head on
- offer positive mentors who reflect the diversity of those we serve
- use experiential education to cater to a wide range of learning styles
- use music as an integral part of our curriculum, facilitating memory and recall of key lessons
- use imagination, fun, and magic to inspire our students
- provide a safe residential setting in a neutral environment for people to step outside their comfort zones, learn, and get to know each other
- work primarily with children, aiming to deconstruct prejudice before it becomes entrenched
- work primarily with 9-10 year-olds who are at a critical point in their development where they have the capacity to understand others’ perspective and empathize

Since 2000, we have served over 75,000 individuals in all our programs combined. Our four most senior staff have over 100 years of experience combined in working toward more just, inclusive communities. We have won the following awards:

- Co-Founder/Executive Director Lara Mendel named as a JEWEL (Jewish Entrepreneurial Women Executive and Leader) and a member of the 2021 Collective of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York (JWFNY).
- 2017 Warren Knight Distinguished Service Award, national award that recognizes the work of extraordinary individuals and organizations in advancing collaborative forms of dispute resolution and the peaceful resolution of conflict
- Oaklandish Nonprofit of the Month, January 2017
- Winner of 2016 Jaffe Awards, national award recognizing leaders making a difference in the lives of children
- eTown E-chievement Award 2014
- Association for Experiential Education’s Organization of the Year Award 2013
- Community Boards San Francisco Leadership Peacemaker Award 2013
- Exemplary Practices/Practitioner Award, Western Region of the Association of Experiential Education 2013
- Executive Director Lara Mendel received 10 Women Campaign Award 2009
- The Rising Peacemaker Prize, Agape Foundation, 2005
- Parents’ Choice Award 2004 – Musical CD The Mosaic Project Presents: Children’s songs for Peace and a Better World
- Empathy Song won a Children’s Music Web Award 2004

Since 2000, we have served over 75,000 individuals.
14,000 4th and 5th graders through our principal program, the Outdoor Project
2,600 high-school and college-aged students through the Youth Leadership Project
41,000 students through the In-School Project
17,500 adults through the Mosaic Consulting Project

And thousands more through our virtual resources!

The Mosaic Project was founded in June 2000 and began full-time, staffed operation in April 2001. We developed our curriculum with the assistance of a 4th and 5th-grade focus group and ran two pilot sessions of our Outdoor Project with 76 individually recruited students and four Youth Leaders in August 2001. We have grown each year. We released our musical curriculum on CD in 2003, expanded the Youth Leadership Project to run throughout the entire year in 2006, developed our comprehensive In-School Project in 2008, released our curriculum guide in 2010, and launched the Mosaic Consulting Project to work with adults in community-based organizations and corporations in 2011. We launched our new model, the Mosaic Experience, providing elements of our In-School Project to every one of our partner schools in 2014, and ran our first Family Camp in 2015. In addition to serving more than 14,000 4th and 5th graders in our Outdoor Program and more than 2,600 high school and college aged students through our Youth Leadership Project, we have run hundreds of our in-school workshops and Mosaic Consulting Project trainings for other organizations, serving more than 41,000 additional students and17,500 adults.

We are currently at the most pivotal stage in our development since our founding. We are working tirelessly to secure our future by establishing a permanent home for our Outdoor Project. Our own local site will enable us to meet ever-increasing demands and opportunities for our programs in diversity, empathy, and conflict resolution.