Welcome to MOSAIC

MOSAIC 2009
October 15-18, 2009
Northwest Missouri State University

Tell your story, hear others’ stories-finish the conversation

In 2006, a group of multicultural student organization leaders at Northwest Missouri State University came together to plan an event that would unite people, promote diversity and celebrate their individual cultures. They became the UNITY PROJECT and that October, MOSAIC (Midwest Organization of Students advancing Interculturalism) was birthed.

MOSAIC is a multicultural celebration of life with a little bit of everything- workshops, performances, a performing arts competition, banquet, old school party and tons more. It is an opportunity to be empowered, enlightened, educated and entertained. Students have the opportunity to connect and build bridges across cultures, celebrate their own cultures, learn, and even win bragging rights and a fabulous trophy in the performing arts competition.

MOSAIC 2009 will be like no other, so if you have never been- this is the year to attend. If you are a regular attendee, prepare for something new and exciting.

The first three years of the program have been dedicated to creating the program. Now that this has been accomplished, it is time to take a step further and include some more intentional elements. While favorite elements like the competition, banquet and old school party will return, there will be three key changes/additions this year.

Northwest students will kick off the event with a campus legacy project featuring an experiential experience called "Real Life Northwest’", followed by a forum for campus leaders. While this event is internally focused, visiting schools are welcome to attend.
Friday events will start earlier than in the past with a special session for faculty and staff from 3-5 and for students from 6-8pm. These sessions are titled “An Unfinished Conversation and will be facilitated by Mr. Lee Mun Wah, documentary producer of "The Color of Fear" and "Last Chance for Eden". Mr. Mun Wah has an open, reassuring style that will allow all parties to come to the table and have honest conversations. We strongly encourage all MOSAIC attendees to attend these events.
Instead of Saturday morning workshops, we will have dialogues- opportunities for different groups to talk TO each other rather than AT each other. Dialogue groups will include: Inter people of color; Religion and the LGBTQ community; Americans and Internationals; Intra group relationships- (Class and national origin divides) and European Americans and People of color.

Once again, we have a fabulous and diverse line up of excellent speakers. In addition to Mr. Mun Wah, we are delighted to have motivational speaker, Valorie Burton as our banquet speaker. Many of you will have heard or read Ms. Burton in Essence Magazine, on the 700 club and through a variety of other channels. For those who have not heard her before, prepare to be inspired, encouraged and motivated. The funny and thought provoking edutainer, Vince Morris will be our Friday night artist. Returning conference favorites, Rasheed Ali Cromwell, Lasana Hotep, Precious Porras, Patrick Hall and Jeff Foot and newcomers Reverend Andrew Lovins and Matt Baker will serve as dialogue facilitators.

This is the year to be here! Come see how a small school in rural Missouri can become the center of inclusion for the region! Come be energized! Come be educated! Come be inspired! Come have some fun! Bring everyone -- International, students of color, LGBTQ, European American, students, advisors, bring people of different faiths, personalities, classifications, paradigms, and socio economic backgrounds. Come on, we are waiting for YOU!

Our goal is to create an experience where each person hears or tells their story at some point during the weekend and we need your presence to do that

As always, we are committed to keeping costs affordable in a tough economy with rising prices for everything, especially since we are especially committed to smaller institutions being able to attend the conference with a large group of students. So costs for students for MOSAIC 2009 will be a flat rate of $25 per attendee. This year, to make things easier, we will provide lunch on Saturday afternoon for attendees. In addition, we provide hors d'oeuvres on Friday night, and breakfast and dinner on Saturday.

We look forward to seeing you in October

Sincerely,
Ame Lambert