National and Community Leaders Convene in Chicago to Launch MOSAIC Initiative
Amidst current challenges, it is more important than ever to embrace new strategies to end gender-based violence. Towards that…
National and Community Leaders Convene in Chicago to Launch MOSAIC Initiative
Amidst current challenges, it is more important than ever to embrace new strategies to end gender-based violence. Towards that end, BWJP continues to expand partnerships across sectors, leverage diverse resources, and support the development of effective blueprints for safety and wellbeing to assist local communities and Tribes.
In collaboration with national partners, BWJP has created the MOSAIC Initiative to provide a comprehensive vision and advance effective strategies for preventing and addressing intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking, and other interconnected forms of violence. BWJP was honored to co-host the inaugural Summit of the MOSAIC Initiative with the Centre for Public Impact (CPI) earlier this month in Chicago, entitled “Reimagining a Whole-of-Society Approach to Ending Gender-Based Violence: Strategies for Action.”
Participants from Chicago and across the country came together, representing a wide range of experiences and perspectives, to engage in deep dialogue and challenge ourselves and one another to continue reimagining what is necessary to embrace a vision of a society free from violence. We are grateful for the support of the Mayor’s office in the City of Chicago, who graciously welcomed us and supported efforts to plan the convening.
This dialogue was informed by candid discussions led by survivors about successes and failures in addressing critical issues. Participants centered hope and action to broaden what it means to advance safety, justice, healing, and well-being for individuals and communities.
Local and National Collaboration Centered on Survivor Leadership
During the first day of the Summit, participants learned about the successes and challenges of the city of Chicago in the development and ongoing implementation of the Citywide Strategic Plan to Address Gender-based Violence and Human Trafficking. Leaders from Chicago, including non-profit organizations, survivor leaders, artists, advocates, agency officials, and local funders, shared many insights, experiences, and lessons learned from efforts to develop and implement the citywide plan and ensure ongoing implementation following a change in administration.
Rosie Hidalgo, Co-Director of the MOSAIC Initiative, said, “Their insights helped highlight the crucial role of holistic and multi-sectoral approaches at the local level to prevent violence, foster innovation, and support survivors. This is what the MOSAIC Initiative is centered on advancing.”
On the second day, survivors opened the dialogue by challenging participants to envision new ways to think about safety, healing, and the power to make change. A vibrant panel discussion followed about the success of culturally specific community-based organizations, when provided with the economic resources and support to innovate, to advance prevention efforts, and address gender-based violence in their communities in more holistic ways. This focus on innovative, community-based work is an important model for funders to support when making investments in efforts to prevent and address gender-based violence.
Summit participants engaged in dialogue about the MOSAIC Initiative and provided input and feedback to advance these goals. MOSAIC is based on a comprehensive approach to improving public health and safety and advancing an effective, coordinated community response that is centered on holistic support for survivors, families, and communities. It is aligned with the core principles and strategic framework provided by the National Plan to End Gender-based Violence: Strategies for Action (the National Action Plan), which reflected decades of work by the movement, as well as the input of thousands of stakeholders.
MOSAIC amplifies the foundation set by the National Action Plan, outlining the need not only for a “whole-of-government” approach across multiple sectors, but also for a “whole-of-society” approach focused on public health and safety across the life course (as exemplified by the 7 keystones in the image below).
MOSAIC focuses on helping local governments and funders recognize the connections between relationship violence, sexual assault, and trafficking, with other critical issues impacting families and local communities, including rising homelessness, health and mental health challenges, addiction, economic insecurity, and community violence, among others. The MOSAIC Summit highlighted the need for a multi-sectoral approach focused on a blueprint for transformative change.
People left the Summit feeling more connected and hopeful, eager to further collaboration to advance these goals. “What happened in the room was magic,”. said Lynn Rosenthal, Co-Director of the MOSAIC Initiative. “The conversations with leaders about their work were inspiring, and it challenged everyone to build new partnerships to support survivors and engage communities.”
