Mosaic’s mission is to create pathways to equity and opportunity through arts experiences that engage, transform, and inspire youth and communities.
Our Values
STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE
Only the best, nothing less. We are committed to pursuing excellence in our programs, business operations, and partnerships. 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. We embrace innovative, audacious ideas that work towards accomplishing our mission.
BUILD COMMUNITY
The uniqueness of each individual contributes to the strength and beauty of the whole. We are committed to upholding safe spaces that prioritize honesty, trust, respect, and integrity. We honor diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and expertise to enhance 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.
Our Vision
We envision Detroit area youth having equity of opportunity in arts and post-secondary education, including paid creative sector leadership roles.
We envision a thriving Detroit, enriched by the brilliance and creativity of its youth, culture keepers and community members.
We envision an arts and culture industry that benefits from a strong network of diverse and dynamic next generation creative leaders.
We envision young people transforming the world by activating the power of the arts to motivate, mobilize and make positive change.
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & BOARD CHAIR
DeLashea Strawder and Terry Bonnette
What an extraordinary season we’ve shared! Thirty-two years ago, when arts opportunities were disappearing from schools, our young people dared to dream: What if Detroit had a world-class youth theatre?
That beautiful question birthed Mosaic Youth Theatre— and this year, Season 32, we witnessed the power of partnership and dreaming boldly.
Together, we celebrated remarkable triumphs: 613 young artists poured their passion into over 53,000 hours of artistic and personal growth. They embraced 26,164 college access contact hours, opening doors to thriving futures. With an amazing 97.3% second-year college persistence rate, alumni are flourishing. 84% of our college-going alumni continue graduating and thriving, proof of the seeds we’ve planted together.
Mosaic alums are lighting up the world—Grammy and Tony winners commanding stages, doctors healing communities, engineers innovating tomorrow, educators inspiring generations. From Brown to Yale, Howard to Juilliard, they carry the skills we’ve nurtured together into every corner of their extraordinary lives.
This season’s greatest joy: Watching young people walk through our doors each day and leave radiating confidence, purpose, and unshakeable belief in their ability to bring their dreams to fruition.
Thank you for being a trusted partner is this beautiful work. Whether through time, resources, expertise, or belief in our mission—YOU transform lives daily.
As we step into Season 33, we are so excited to partner with you. Together, we’ll continue supporting youth to excel on stage, and in life. Every contribution, every moment of support, every act of belief creates ripples of transformation that will shape our community for generations.
Join us in writing the next chapter of this beautiful story. Our young artists are ready to create change—and they need partners like you to make it happen.
I love the people and the community that I have built. I love that I get to learn and put work into something I want to pursue as a career while being nurtured as a human and being pushed as an artist.
My favorite part of this program is when we perform. It’s a full circle moment where we all can experience the growth and progress of our work. I also love the sense of unity amongst the ensembles and staff at Mosaic.
Emsembles
CREATIVITY
Mosaic has really brought me out of my shell. It has helped me become a better singer and a better musician overall. I’ve also grown as a leader here through supporting other young artist leaders and being a leader of my peers. Learning to blend with others musically and socially has helped me build relationships that I know will be lifelong.
This year, we combined our tradition of youth-driven artistic excellence with some twists, demonstrating how collaborative creativity builds both artistic mastery and essential life skills.
Our Junior Ensemble dove into devising a spirited showcase inspired by The Carol Burnett Show and All That. Through original sketches and song parodies, these young artists developed critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills that extend far beyond performance—building confidence and collaborative abilities essential for success in any field.
The Youth Ensemble worked with guest director Professor Shavonne Coleman for an entire season of devised theatre. Young Artists developed their essential question, conceptualized the show, and collaborated with Coleman and the creative team to write both script and original music. This intensive process cultivated strategic thinking, project management, and adaptive problem-solving skills while teaching them to synthesize various perspectives and maintain artistic vision.
The incredible resulting production highlighted that when young artists are trusted as creative partners, they develop the collaborative leadership skills our world needs.
This was the most important program my son has participated in his entire life. It not only fuels his passion for being an actor, but also includes a strong community, story support system, incredibly talented & amazing mentors and where he has made such amazing friends.
CAPACITY
COLLEGE & CAREER PATHWAYS or b
• 70 hours of academic support and life skills development
• 86 Careers explored
• 97.3% College Persistence Rate
• 372 College Success Contact Hours
• 1,121 College Access Contact Hours
COLLEGE ACCESS
Mosaic facilitated visits to thirteen prestigious institutions this year—from Vanderbilt University and Carnegie Mellon to HBCUs like Spelman College and Morehouse College, plus in-state options including Wayne State, University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Additionally, Boston Conservatory at Berklee brought their expertise directly to our young artists. These experiences demystified higher education pathways, exposed youth to varied academic environments, and built the confidence needed to envision themselves successful on college campuses.
COLLEGE SUCCESS
Mosaic alumni are continuing to excel on stage and in life.
This year, 14 also graduated this spring:
• 2 Associate’s Degrees - Learning important job skills
• 7 Bachelor’s Degrees - Finishing their first college goal
• 3 Master’s Degrees - Getting even more education in what they love
• 1 Law Degree - Ready to help people as a lawyer
• 1 Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology - Enhancing quality of life for community members
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Jamilah George
This summer, Mosaic alum Dr. Jamilah R. George proudly defended her dissertation with no revisions— a rare achievement in the sciences. Over seven years, she completed intensive coursework, earned two specializations, published 20+ articles, and logged 2,000+ clinical hours.
Jamilah credits Mosaic with teaching her the confidence, discipline, and leadership that carried her through late nights, challenges, and triumphs. Her success reminds us: the arts are preparation for life—and for shaping leaders who change the world.
My daughter was a part of this program as a teen, and it grew her confidence and leadership. Now her children participate, and I see it doing that for them and more. They are visiting colleges and doing STEM. They are doing community service. The program really works hard to support youth and families. It has made a big difference to mine.
COMMUNITY
BERKLEE / BOSTON DETROIT AUDITION
Expanding Access: Boston Conservatory at Berklee Partnership
For the second year, Mosaic hosted Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s Detroit satellite auditions for contemporary theater and musical theater programs. This partnership dramatically expanded access to post-secondary opportunities, drawing aspiring artists not only from Metro Detroit but from Wisconsin, Indiana, and neighboring states. By bringing these auditions directly to our community, we eliminated geographic and financial barriers that often prevent talented young people from pursuing their conservatory dreams, reinforcing our commitment to making professional pathways accessible to all deserving artists.
TECH THEATER
During our annual Day of Service, Performathon, the Youth Technicians activated their scenic carpentry training into community action, building benches for several Detroit bus stops where riders previously had no seating. These benches represent craftsmanship while embodying how youth ensemble members carry their learning beyond our walls, applying technical skills to address real neighborhood needs and demonstrating that artists are also community builders.
PARTNER HIGHLIGHT
Detroit Opera
Our partnership with Detroit Opera opened transformative doors for Mosaic’s Youth Technicians through behind-the-scenes tours, professional artist introductions, and production conceptualization experiences. The young technicians eagerly absorbed insights, studied diverse production setups, and attended performances— then immediately applied their new knowledge to shows like Mosaic Frenzy for the Junior Ensemble. This real-world professional networking not only expanded their technical skillset but also elevated how industry connections and mentorship accelerate creative growth, preparing them for careers locally and wherever their dreams lead.
Schools & Community Programs
The Mosaic Summer Camp is something my children look forward to all year. This is the fourth year they have attended. I pick up my girls every day with smiles on their faces and enthusiastic stories of friendship and creative expression.
• 3 Title I School Partners
• 173 Young Artists
• 6,805 Contact Hours of Arts Integration
SUMMER CAMP
• 120 Campers
• 7,315 Contact Hours of Growth, Friendship and Artistry
• $18,506 Camp Scholarships Awarded
Mosaic summer camp is where young artists find their voices—and sometimes their callings. Alum Nadia first discovered Mosaic through a summer program; now a Music Education major at the University of Michigan, she returned this year as a teaching artist. One of her most powerful moments came from watching a shy student named Hugh transform through a “gibberish rap battle.” At first quiet and reserved, Hugh eventually jumped into the circle with confidence, leading his peers and sparking laughter and applause. From that moment on, he fully engaged, offering thoughtful insights and bold performances. For Nadia, it was proof of what she herself once experienced: that Mosaic empowers young people to step out of their comfort zones, discover new strengths, and carry confidence into every stage of life.
MOSAIC MOBILE
Mosaic Mobiles bring theatre directly to young people who may be new to the arts, sparking creativity through collaborative games, skillbuilding, and performance. What began as one workshop has grown into 20 dynamic offerings in acting, singing, dance, technical theatre, and producing. At Warrior Academy, four groups of rising 7th and 8th grade boys—many with little interest in the arts—embraced improvisation through warm-ups, storytelling, and scene creation. By gamifying the process and giving them creative freedom, we unlocked new confidence, collaboration, and even spotted a few future Mosaic ensemble members.
• 70 Mosaic Mobile Workshops
• 268 Youth
• 10,067 Contact Hours of Skill Building, Memory Making Fun Through the Arts
MOSAIC MOBILE PROGRAM PARTNERS
• Warrior Academy
• Chandler Park Academy
• Wayne Metro Action Agency
• A2G After-School Programs
• Detroit Public Library Lincoln Branch
• Detroit Achievement Academy
• Weslyn Bennett Foundation
Mosaic has really brought me out of my shell. Mosaic’s in-school residency program brings creative youth development and performing arts training to classrooms across Detroit. At Hope of Detroit Academy, a school on the city’s Southwest side, 5th graders created a play about standing up to bullying and finding friendship, while 7th graders tackled themes of power and justice through an original courtroom drama. These projects built confidence, collaboration, and self-expression. Just a few of the ways Mosaic supports young people to use art to reflect, imagine, and lead.
MOSAIC SEASON 32 by the numbers
• 613 youth engaged in over
• 53,000 hours of artistic, academic, and life skills development.
• 26,164 college access contact hours supported by campus visits, with nearly every ensemble member participating in at least one visit.
• 39 youth employed in paid work opportunities, contributing to
• 9,034 STEM-arts career exploration hours and exploration of 86 careers.
• 97.3% second-year college persistence rate and
• 83.8% of college-going alumni since 2019 either graduated or remain enrolled.
• 54 program partners — spanning higher education, arts and culture, and business — opened doors to new networks and pathways.
EVALUATION & IMPACT
Our partnership with Hello Insight and UpMetrics sharpened our ability to measure against national benchmarks — and young artists rising:
• Self-Management: 86% growth
• Contribution: 91% growth
• Positive Identity: 73% growth
• Academic Self-Sufficiency: 73% growth
• Social Skills: 70% growth
• 94% program satisfaction rate with strong scores in Engage Authentically (84/100) and Challenge Growth (94/100)
• We also saw 55% of youth build or maintain adult social capital, strengthening their support networks.
