.
As we reflect on Season 31, we’re struck by how creative youth development continues to resonate—through neighborhoods, beyond city limits and across generations.
This year, our mission echoed loudly through partnerships like The Walk With Amal, bringing global awareness about issues relevant to young people. It reverberated in classrooms across metro Detroit, where our artistic project-based learning programs strengthened students’ creativity and communication skills.
Our youth and teen ensembles’ performances resonated with over 9,000 community members, while our summer camps in Brightmoor and Indian Village engaged 250 campers. The commissioning of a new play with James Anthony Tyler and our collaboration on a youth-centered musical with Shavonne T. Coleman and Seattle Children’s Theater amplifies diverse voices in theater.
We are also excited to celebrate another year of Mosaic Seniors taking on their next stage with boldness. With 100% of the class of 2024 graduating on time and accepted into college, their success rings out as a reminder of the transformative power of the arts and deep investment in young people.
These achievements aren’t just notes in our organization’s song—they’re harmonies created with you, our partners and supporters. Your commitment allows our impact to resonate far and wide, cultivating empathy, community, and lifelong learners through the arts.
As we look to the future, we’re excited to keep creating vibrations that will echo through our community and beyond, shaping a more creative, empathetic, and connected world.
With deep gratitude,
DeLashea Strawder Executive and Artistic Director Terry Bonnette Board Chair
Mosaic opened me up to exploring new artforms and genres. Being surrounded by so many young people so focused really drew me in. Being in Mosaic motivates me 24/7 to never settle, keep rising and keep building myself and others up.
- Montrell M.Youth Ensemble Alum c/o 2024
Mosaic changed my life. Not only did I find my voice through my participation in Mosaic, but my confidence also grew exponentially as I further developed ways to use it to make a difference.
Mosaic has been such a blessing to our family. I don’t know what would have happened when we moved here if my son hadn’t gotten involved. I’m so excited for this season but I’m also so sad because it’s his senior year. It’s his last year.
- Michelle M.Youth Ensemble Parent
- Shekinah H.Mosaic Youth Ensemble Alum
Our Mission
Creating pathways to equity and opportunity through arts experiences that engage, transform and inspire youth and communities.
Our Vision
We envision a thriving Detroit where youth have equitable opportunities in arts and education, leading to a transformed creative sector and community. In this future, the brilliance and creativity of young people, culture keepers, and community members enrich the city’s fabric. The arts and culture industry flourishes with a strong network of diverse, dynamic nextgeneration leaders. Empowered youth harness the transformative power of the arts to motivate, mobilize, and drive positive change, shaping not just Detroit, but the world.
Strive for Excellence
Only the best, nothing less. We are committed to pursuing excellence in our programs, business operations and partnerships and we are dedicated to investing the time and resources necessary to achieve excellence in all that we do.
Dream Boldly
We hold ourselves accountable to courageously pursuing creativity, resourcefulness, and imagination in and out of the office. We embrace innovative, audacious ideas that work towards accomplishing our mission.
Build Community
We believe that the uniqueness of each individual contributes to the strength and beauty of the whole. We are committed to enhancing the communities we serve and those we are a part of creating.
Embrace Joy
We choose to embrace joy as we pursue our mission and work to spread joy to others as we connect, collaborate, create, and incite positive change in our community. to investing the time and resources necessary to achieve excellence in all that we do.
Looking Ahead STRATEGIC PLAN
Deepen Impact and Effectiveness
Foster Partnerships and Collaborations
Ensure Organizational Sustainability and Growth
Mosaic By The Numbers
. 810 youth engaged in 104,154 contact hours of creative youth development programming (arts, mentorship, academic support leadership and life skills programming)
. 98% youth of color l 1% Caucasion l 1% Biracial
. 88% of Mosaic ensemble members attended a minimum of 1 campus visit
Together we continue to inspire and support young artists to excel on stage and in life. During the 2023-2024 season, we traveled with young artists on a remarkable educational journey, visiting 10 diverse college campuses across the country.
From prestigious institutions like Georgetown and Howard University to innovative programs at the Maryland Institute College of Art and Columbia College Chicago, these immersive campus visits exposed young artists to a wide array of postsecondary opportunities. Many participants were visiting college campuses for the first time, allowing them to envision themselves thriving in these environments vividly. But even for those who had visited a college before, the opportunity to explore such a wide range of schools helped them discern which environment would best suit their needs and aspirations.
Every campus visit was marked by a warm welcome from university faculty and staff. Department heads rearranged their schedules to greet the young artists, sharing the unique strengths of their programs and encouraging them to apply. This personal touch had a profound impact, with some young artists even changing their college
Click HERE to Tune in for their reflections on some of our stops!
plans after falling in love with a campus during the visit.
Our value of Building Community was in full effect as the group connected with alumni, who offered words of wisdom about the college application process and insights into making the most of the university experience. These chance intentional encounters gave both the young artists and alum an invaluable boost of inspiration and confidence.
The campus visits were just part of Mosaic’s ambitious college and career pathways programming. Striving for Excellence and guided by our commitment to creating pathwaysto equity and opportunity, we strategically partnered with Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory to host their first-ever satellite auditions in Detroit, opening up these prestigious opportunities to not only Mosaic participants but also young artists from Detroit School of Arts, Cass Technical High School, and other local performing arts programs. Additionally, Mosaic took a group of seniors to participate in the National Unified Auditions in Chicago, further expanding their access to top-tier collegiate programs.
Young artists also saw cutting-edge professional productions, including the thoughtprovoking “Mexodus” at Baltimore Center Stage, where they engaged in discussions with the creators. These experiences sparked new inspiration and growth, reinforcing Mosaic’s transformative impact on Detroit’s next generation of creative visionaries. As one young artist shared, “Seeing Mosaic alumni thrive on these campuses made me realize that I can do it too. I left each visit feeling more confident and excited about my future.”
Mosaic By The Numbers
. 100% of c/o 2024 on time high school completion
. 100% college acceptance
. 77% college persistence c/o 2019 - 2023
. 74% alum since 2019 on track to graduate within 5 years.
. 35% of youth & young adults engaged in paid work opportunities
I learned more about planning and writing effective fiction than any of the English courses I’ve taken in college so far,” Shared G., a college sophomore that participated in this season’s New Voice: Detroit program. Together with her coach G. spent considerable time editing her final draft because she generated so many ideas and content. With the outlining skills she learned through the program, G. began to work on a novel with more confidence and some best practices from the self-publishing workshop she took with A’lia Zealous. G. Presented her play to a sold-out audience at Detroit Public Theater this summer and is excited to continue building on what she learned, as well as, the connections she made this summer.
9587 community members experiencing live, affirming and relevant arts experiences shared by young artists via community performances and productions
11 school partners | 100% Title 1 School wide Identified | 18 residency programs
Corporate Partner Highlight
Detroit area youth have an abundance of talent but are too often excluded from opportunities, which is why charitable grants and fundraising are critical to support the important work we do. To strengthen our community, Bank of America is helping address barriers to health and jobs by directing grant funding to Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and other community-based organizations.
Bank of America has worked with nonprofit partners, local organizations, business and civic leaders, and others across Detroit for years to help drive responsible growth. Through the bank’s recent investment and partnership, the grant supported providing meaningful paid work experiences for Detroit area youth and young adults. Together with Bank of America we took productions into neighborhoods, led and teched by young people.
Mosaic and the bank have worked together in various capacities for over 10years. In addition to philanthropic capital, we have partnered with the bank to enhance youth financial literacy.
MOSAIC YOUTH THEATRE OF DETROIT Map of
Impact
SUMMER AMBASSADOR SITES
. Plymouth Community Arts Council
. Charles H. Wright Museum
. North Rosedale Park Civic Association
SUMMER AMBASSADOR SITES
. Brilliant Detroit
. West Side Unity Church
. Detroit Waldorf School
. University of Michigan
. Michigan Science Center
. Ypsilanti District Library Superior
. Detroit Unity Temple
. The DAVAS Foundation
Russell Woods Park
. Strategic Staffing Solutions
. The Waldorf School
. Brilliant Detroit Littlefield
. Shamrock 555/ Cherry Creek Golf Club
SUMMER CAMP
. Detroit Waldorf School
. Detroit Community School
MOSAIC MOBILE SITES
. Ypsilanti District Library
. KEY Program - Wayne Metro
. North Rosedale Park Civic Association
. Brilliant Detroit Brightmoor
. Center For Success
SCHOOL RESIDENCY PARTNERS
. Detroit Community Schools (Elementary)
. Detroit Community Schools (High School)
. Global Heights Academy
. Hoover Middle School
. Hope of Detroit Academy (Elementary)
. Hope of Detroit Academy (Middle School)
. Duke Ellington School
. J.E. Clark Preparatory
. Mason Academy
. Grandport Academy
Kristen Hayman
Mosaic Youth Ensemble Tech Company Alum c/o 2007
At Mosaic, I learned how to put in the work. Being in the tech crew meant working long hours, getting your hands dirty, practicing, using your brain to strategize, being a professional and staying cool under pressure. These shows were live, and we were putting on big time productions. My heart used to beat so fast trying not to miss a cue during showtime. It was so exciting. Live theatre is the best. Learning how to set up a full-blown audio design, correct audio issues as they come up, put up lights, and even dabble in carpentry all while in high school made me a pro before I even joined my college programs. When I became a stage manager during my last year at Mosaic, I found my voice in leadership. FOCUS UP, owning my truths and moving ahead with confidence is what I carry with me throughout my career as a product of Mosaic. Mosaic created a safe place for creative minds to roam. I was a quiet and shy girl from the west side of Detroit, with huge bold dreams, that needed guidance, focus and skill sharpening. I received that at Mosaic. When I interviewed for my first job out of college, the HR manager said wow I haven’t seen anyone else so young with so many years of experience. I got that job and have been soaring in every sense. Now I’m a Senior Manager of Programming and Marketing Streaming Channels for Gannett – USA Today Network, with over a decade of experience working in sports, tech and entertainment video. Mosaic is a launching pad for owning your creative abilities and impacting the world in beautiful ways.
Mosaic Finances
Mosaic Staff
DELASHEA STRAWDER* I Executive & Artistic Director
ABBY GEARHART I Technical Theater Assistant
ALFREDA LILES I School & Community Partnerships Coordinator
ANNICK BUSCH I Fund Development Manager
AMELIA HEFFERON I Theater Programs Specialist
ANDAIYE SPENCER* I School & Community Programs Specialist
CAMERON PREVATTE I Teaching Artist
CHARLENE MCNARY I Finance & Operations
DYANI DOUZE I Teaching Artist
EDMUND JONES * I Artistic Associate
JOE BAILEY I Executive Assistant/HR Generalist
JULIA CALLIS I Accounting & Grants Associate
KEIR WARD I Teaching Artist
KRISTIANNA MARKS* I Teaching Artist
NICK YOCUM I Artistic Associate
NIKOLAS HUEY* I Music Programs Specialist
SASHA JOHNSON I Program Coordinator
* Denotes Mosaic alum
Board of Directors
TERRY W. BONNETTE I Board Chair
MARK DENIS I Vice Chair
WISAM QASEM-FAKHOURY I Treasurer
DIANE BORGUS GREEN, M.A., N.C.C. I Secretary
SJONNE BADGEROW
CORNELL BATIE
ROXANNE BROWN
MARIETTA CLEVELAND
MELISSA MCCLARY DAVIS
YVETTE DRAYTON
RITA FIELDS
DENISE JACOB
BEVERLY MADDOX
LOIS MCENTYRE
ROY SEXTON
KELLI VAN BUREN
TERREL WHITE
BRITTANY WILLIAMS
Donors
PARTNERS IN POSSIBILITY
($1,000+ with 5 year pledge)
Meagan Dunn
Weslia & Keith Echols
Carol Goss
Deborah Hansen
Russ and Susan Ives
Cheryl P. Johnson
Donald Middleton
Dr. Glenda Price
Delphia Simmons
DeLashea & Daniel Strawder
Frank Taylor
LEADERSHIP DONORS
($1,000+)
Anonymous
Terry Bonnette
Corey Bordine
Paul Butcher
Keith and Candace
Marietta Cleveland
Cooper Donor Fund
Rochelle Forester
Leeann Konrad
Kyla Grant-Phillips
Diane and Saul Green
Timothy Hefferon
Timothy Higgins
Cheryl Johnson
Diarra Kilpatrick
Japanese Business Society
Detroit Foundation
Leeann Konrad
Lois McEntyre
Rueben and Cheryl Munday
Marshall Mathers Foundation
Patricia Nemeth
Barbara and David Osher
A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Fund
Linda and Norm Schuessler
Roy Sexton
Bobbie Tweddle
Shannon Wallis
Dorinda VanKempen
Jeremy Wolfe
PLAYBILL DONORS
($500 to $999)
Anonymous
Henry Bowers
Judith Caroselli
Tyrone Davenport
Melissa Davis
Mark Denis
Dr. Rita Fields
Janice Harbin
Kaili Hardamon
Steven Huprich
Gilda Jacobs
Charles Johnson
Jay Kaplan
Katherine Klassa
Richard Leebove
Susan Newell
Gwendolyn Pringle
Marlo Roebuck
Roshaunda Ross
Grace Seymore
Shirley Stancato
Tonja Stapleton
LaKeisha Thomas
Aeryn Williams
Randall Wilson
Brian Young
