Mosaic Family Services

June 20: World Refugee Day

2011-06-19T00:11:00.001-05:00

June 20th is the Annual World Refugee Day. This year's theme is "1 is too many."

1 family forced to flee their home country is too many.

1 child growing up in a refugee camp is too many.

1 refugee without hope is too many.

You hear about refugees, but do you know much do you really know about them?

Do you know the difference between an immigrant and a refugee; a refugee and an asylum seeker? Why do people flee their home countries? What is the process to become a refugee?

These are important questions and it is important that we educate ourselves and welcome the refugees in our communities. You may pass them on the street and notice that they look different but are you aware of what they may have been through?

Take this quick quiz to test your knowledge!

Being a Refugee

Storytelling Through the Eyes of Refugees: Sahar's Story

There are many things we can do to help welcome the refugees in our community.

Volunteer with a local refugee resettlement agency or any agency that works with refugees. Chances are they could use your help in orienting the newcomers to the United States whether it is
-making sure their new apartments are set up
-helping teach English
-helping them navigate via public transit or
-simply being a friend.

Find ways to get involved in your local refugee community!

Additional resources:
Bridging Refugee Youth & Children's Services: Refugee 101
UN Refugee Agency's "Do One Thing" 2011 Campaign
U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement
Mosaic Family Services

Mosaic Receives Grant from the Texas Bar Foundation

2011-05-27T12:03:00.003-05:00

Mosaic Family Services recently received a $9,600 grant for the Multicultural Legal Services Program from the Texas Bar Foundation. This generous grant will support the Language Access Program within the legal program by expanding interpretive services in order to improve access to justice for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) victims. As an agency that targets refugees and immigrants, approximately 80% of Mosaic’s clients speak little to no English. Consequently, the Multicultural Legal Services Program depends upon translators and interpreters to effectively serve clients. Professional interpreters are often unaware of crime victim issues and are unprepared for adversarial courtroom settings. Through the Language Access Program, the legal program at Mosaic can better serve its clients by ensuring the provision of professional interpreters and by training those interpreters to be sensitive to issues such as domestic violence and human trafficking, which directly impact the LEP victims.

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $12 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

Mosaic Family Services Multicultural Legal Services Program employs three full-time attorneys who provide immigration and family law representation for low-income immigrant victims of crimes such as domestic violence and human trafficking.

For more information on the Texas Bar Foundation, please visit their website.

Posted by Laura B

World Day for Cultural Diversity

2011-05-21T20:44:00.004-05:00

Today is the World Day for Cultural Diversity: For Dialogue and Development. You may wonder, "how in the world do I celebrate such an occasion?" Well this year's theme is "Do one thing" for cultural diversity and inclusion. Again, this may seem very abstract, but there are some very practical, easy and FUN ways to do this in your everyday life.

Thought Starters for Individuals
(adapted from the "Do One Thing" facebook fanpage)

Show your care for diversity and tell others:
1. “Like” Mosaic, the Do One Thing Campaign or another culturally diverse organization on Facebook and start a discussion on your “wall”
2. Invite your friends to review the pages and learn more
3. Tell your Twitter followers what you are doing in support of the Do One Thing Campaign!
4. Create a 1-2 minute video and post it to our Facebook page about your “ONE thing”
5. Tell others about the Do One Thing Campaign and about Mosaic!
6. Start a conversation with a friend about any cross-cultural experiences that you've had.

Increase your awareness:
1. Take a virtual/on-line tour of a country you’ve never been to
2. Research the history or culture of another country or civilization and talk about it with your family and friends
3. Check out world events through another country’s news channel
4. Set your web browser to the international version
5. Explore art/music of a different culture

Experience another culture:
1. Visit an art exhibit/museum that reflects diverse cultures
2. Rent a movie about a different culture… with subtitles
3. Go out to a culturally diverse lunch/dinner
4. Prepare a dish that is not of your native cuisine
5. Have a potluck with your co-workers/friends that is your native cuisine
6. Learn traditional greetings/thank you’s in another language. Practice them at work and with your family
If you are in the DFW area, check out the cultural calendar for local cultural events.

Make a difference for cultural understanding and give back:
1. Make a donation to a non-profit that is meaningful to you and making a difference around the world or in your community (like MOSAIC!)

After your cultural experience or activity, feel free to share it by commenting on this wall or on our Facebook page. We would love to hear from you!

Mosaic in Motion - Just 4 Weeks Away!

2011-04-10T01:43:00.011-05:00

The countdown begins as our 2nd Annual 5k and 1 Mile Family Fun Run is just 4 weeks away! If you register by April 30th- it is only $25. That is enough to feed a family at our transitional shelter for 1 week!

Remember, if you are not able to attend for whatever reason, you can register as a
VIRTUAL RUNNER and still benefit a great cause!

As the big day is fast approaching we need anyone who is part of a student, civic, faith or interest group to help us spread the word! Please visit our website for more details and to download a brochure and/or flyer to help distribute!

Remember, this race is kid and pet friendly!

A brief run-down of the event day:
8:30-8:40AM Opening ceremony and welcome
8:40-8:45AM Warm-up and stretching with personal trainer
9:00-10:00AM Run/walk events! (9AM- 5k begins; 9:30AM 1 Mile begins)
10:05AM Awards ceremony
10:00AM-12:00PM Activities and raffles!

Here is a list of just some of family fun activities that will be happening after the race:
Cupcake walk, water balloon toss, tug of war, pet trick contest

Raffle prizes include:
o Running watches
o Certificate for ZOOM teeth whitening
o Certificates for 3 months of free tanning
o Studio Movie Grill Tickets
o VIP coupons from Allen Premium Outlet
o $50 gift card to Costco (Lewisville)
o $20 gift card to Tom Thumb (McDermott)

REGISTER NOW and RSVP on our Facebook event page and invite your friends!

“A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable
faith in their mission can alter the course of history.”
—Mohandas Gandhi (1869 – 1948)

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (April 10-16, 2011)

2011-04-10T01:19:00.008-05:00

“The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.” --Thomas S. Monson

Every April since 1981, the Office for Victims of Crime of the U.S. Department of Justice has hosted a National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme is Reshaping the Future, Honoring the Past.

Reshaping the Future, Honoring the Past applauds the power of victims and the victims’ rights movement to transform lives and change the course of history. The 2011 NCVRW theme honors victims, underscoring the nation’s duty to respect and support their efforts to reclaim their lives. As it calls on us to reflect on past achievements, this theme also challenges us to confront persistent shortcomings in our nation’s treatment of victims. Only 2 to 15 percent of crime victims access needed victim services, such as crisis and mental health counseling, shelter, information, financial assistance, and advocacy within the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Victims’ rights vary significantly from state to state and between states and the federal government. Furthermore, many victims do not know they have legal rights. This is the case with many of our clients as they are often foreign-born, being either a victim of human trafficking or an immigrant victim of domestic violence. Both human trafficking and domestic violence are of course, terrible crimes.

The impact of the recent recession—both on donations to nonprofit victim services and on city, state, and county budgets—means that fewer victim assistance programs are available or they have decreased in capacity to serve the growing need. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week calls our nation to take up these challenges—to reshape the future by facing our failures and building on the successes of the past. Likewise, Mosaic is calling our local community to join us in facing these challenges. Although this challenge may seem overwhelming, together we each can do something simply by raising awareness for the unique needs of victims of crime- in this case domestic violence and human trafficking.

Click here for more information and ideas about things you can do in your community to celebrate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

Don’t forget that our 2nd Annual 5k and 1 Mile Family Fun Run is coming up in just over a month. The beauty of this work lies in the transformation of a VICTIM into a SURVIVOR. You can be a part of that transformation as the proceeds will directly benefit the survivors we serve. Click here to register or find out more information.

Happy International Women's Day!

2011-03-08T10:38:00.016-06:00

"If you want to alleviate poverty, you give women access to credit and opportunities to actually start to generate income for themselves and their families." -Hillary Clinton

About International Women's Day

When: Tuesday 8 March 2011
Where: Everywhere
What: International Women's Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.
Why: Suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. The word 'Suffragette' is derived from the word "suffrage" meaning the right to vote. International Women's Day honors the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women's success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed. The first International Women's Day event was run in 1911. 2011 is the Global Centenary Year. Let's reinvent opportunity for working women and all women!

What will you do to ensure women and girls enjoy equality, safety and a bright future? Think globally, then act locally!

Here are some helpful links to get you started in taking action to celebrate women’s equality!

Wikigender
International Women's Day
Join me at the bridge
Hillary Clinton standing up for women

As love filled the air yesterday, many hearts remain broken by family abuse.

2011-02-15T11:10:00.015-06:00

Last month started the 82nd Legislative Session. This Session is crucial because many agencies such as Mosaic Family Services will be in the shadow of an $18 billion shortfall in the budget. Here are ways to let your legislators know that compromising services for domestic violence victims in order to satisfy a budget is NOT acceptable:

1. Visit your legislator’s local office and let them know how important continued
funding is for domestic violence programs.
2. Spread the word through the various avenues of social media, such as Facebook and Twitter by posting something like: “Texas has to make major budget cuts; make sure services for domestic violence won’t be sacrificed.”
3. Find your legislator on Facebook, Twitter, or write a letter them know important this is to you.
4. Call your legislator.

The beauty of democracy is that legislators will listen, IF they hear from you.

It only takes:
• 50 emails
• 10 letters
• 5 calls OR
• 1 visit to persuade a legislator.

These actions make a difference and YOU CAN BE that difference!

Below are a variety of ways you can contact our Texas Senators:

Senator John Cornyn

Local office:
SENATOR JOHN CORNYN
5001 Spring Valley Road, Suite 1125 E
Dallas, TX 75244
Main: 972-239-1310
Fax: 972-239-2110

-Other office locations
-Online contact form

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson

Local office:
SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
10440 N. Central Expressway
Suite 1160
Dallas, Texas 75231
214-361-3500
214-361-3502 (FAX)

-Other office locations
-Online contact form

To find out who represents your respective district in Texas, click here.

Raising Money for Mosaic is as Easy as Surfing the Web!

2011-02-12T13:30:00.008-06:00

Have you ever wondered how to easily raise money for your favorite non-profit? Are you someone who would like to donate but simply do not have the funds? Well it doesn't get easier than this!

The ASPCA has earned $37,000 just by their supporters using goodsearch.com!

Just start using Yahoo! powered GoodSearch.com as your search engine and they'll donate about a penny to your favorite cause every time you do a search! You can even download a simple toolbar on your web browser to make it even easier by clicking here.

In addition, do all of your shopping through their online shopping mall, GoodShop.com, where you can shop at more than 900 top online retailers and a percentage of your purchases will go to the charity or school of your choice. You pay the same price as you normally would, but a donation goes to your cause!

Please share this with your friends and let's make a goal to raise $5,000 this year!

Click here to earn money for Mosaic SIMPLY by searching the web!

Click here to earn money for Mosaic SIMPLY by shopping!

Thanks for your continued support.
-The Mosaic Family

Mosaic is in Motion to STOP THE ABUSE!

2011-01-26T16:28:00.011-06:00

Want to be a part of a social movement (literally)?

Mosaic Family Services is pleased to announce our 2nd Annual Mosaic in Motion 5k and 1 mile run to STOP THE ABUSE! Since this is our second running event, we decided to celebrate by using a tagline that would encompass ALL of the programs that Mosaic houses, including:

Services for Victims of Human Trafficking
Multicultural Legal Services
Multicultural Family Violence Program
HIV Early Intervention Program
Refugee Case Management Services
Immigrant and Refugee Counseling Services
Multicultural Substance Abuse Prevention Program
Mosaic House (transitional house for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking)

As you can tell, our services are as diverse as the people we serve! But they need YOU to:

1. Participate in the event as a runner/walker/virtual walker.
2. If you own a business or know someone who does; we needs SPONSORS!
3. If you are a college student, help us to distribute our event flyers and brochures/spread the word in any way you can on your campus!
4. Tell everyone you know about the event (by word of mouth; invite them using this event on our Facebook page; "share" this blog; change your profile picture to our Mosaic in Motion logo; etc.)
5. Get your friends and family registered!
6. Show up on May 14th ready to HAVE FUN!

For more information and to register online, click here.

Check out our beautiful venue for the race:

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!

Upcoming Super Bowl Raises Awareness for Human Trafficking

2011-01-04T10:17:00.018-06:00

The upcoming Super Bowl 45 is raising awareness for human trafficking. As many football fans (particularly men) will be coming to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for the big game, many anti-human trafficking advocates worry that the demand for commerical sex will increase, thus raising the demand for trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation.

Similar concerns have been raised for major sporting events, including the 2010 World Cup in South Africa this past June-July. With the new arrival of about 500,000 foreign fans to South Africa, as many as 40,000 were thought to be "sex workers" who were seeking economic opportunity from the surrounding impoverished countries, particularly Zimbabwe as well as from abroad. Because they presented themselves as prostitutes, it is hard to determine if they were coerced into commerical sex work or not. Many people consider prostitution to be a form of human trafficking because no one could "choose" that life and pimps often control the women. With the definition of trafficking being controlling, forcing, or threatening someone into labor or sexual services, many anti-human trafficking advocates debate as to whether prostitution is actually human trafficking or not.

So with the Super Bowl around the corner in February, many think that the same thing will happen right here in North Texas. Texas State Attorney General, Greg Abbott said "the Super Bowl is one of the biggest human trafficking events in the United States." View below video of the Fox News interview with Mosaic's Deputy Director, Bill Bernstein.

TABC Gets Proactive for Super Bowl 45: MyFoxDFW.com

The key to preventing human trafficking is awareness and education. Many people have been inquiring as to how they can help; We need your help in educating our community! There are many ways this can be done:

To start, you can...

organize a group in your community to volunteer with Mosaic (volunteers are vital to providing services!)
request a speaker from Mosaic to present on human trafficking.
organize a showing of a documentary/movie about human trafficking, such as Cargo, request an entry fee and donate proceeds to Mosaic.
learn how to recognize potential trafficking victims and how to report

(24 Hour Trafficking Hotline= Locally: 214-823-1911; Nationally: 1-888-373-7888).

TWU Social Work Students Make a Difference at Mosaic House

2009-08-07T15:30:00.007-05:00

Beginning in June 2009, six students from the Texas Woman’s University social work program began volunteering with us for a class project. The students began by visiting our agency and identifying some of the shelter’s essential needs. They chose to adopt one of the shelter's units and update the unit with new bedding, decorations, bathroom accessories, and kitchen supplies. The students worked diligently and held a garage sale to raise money to purchase new items for the unit adopted. In addition to the garage sale, the students collected items needed by the shelter clients, including clothes, shoes, hygiene items, toys, baby items, and children's car seats. The students also created hygiene gift bags for the women and children currently residing in the shelter as well as additional bags for future clients.

The students had a celebration party on August 6, 2009 where they revealed their final renovations to the adopted unit. The students partnered with several local companies to donate drinks, food, and a bounce house for the shelter clients to enjoy during the ceremony.

A big thanks to TWU Social Work Students Elizabeth Cuevas, Pamela Martinez, Dawn Coley, Esther Espinosa, Belen Fuentes, and Cassondra Jones!

Project 7 Volunteers at Mosaic House

2009-07-15T16:13:00.000-05:00

Members of the group Project 7 volunteered at Mosaic House on July 10, 2009. The group painted the shelter's exterior and helped replace window screens and blinds. Project 7’s basic mission is to “Change the Score," and the group strives to build a better world by creating a collective awareness and improvement in the seven areas of need. Project 7 has a special interest in helping victims of human trafficking in Dallas as one of the group's seven causes: Heal the Sick, Save the Earth, House the Homeless, Feed the Hungry, Help Those in Need, Build the Future, and Hope for Peace.

Project 7 Volunteers at Mosaic House

For more information on Project 7, please visit their website at http://www.project7.com.

The Baron and Blue Foundation Supports Victims of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking

2009-07-08T16:08:00.001-05:00

The Baron and Blue Foundation awarded Mosaic Family Services with a $5,000 grant for our shelter Mosaic House. This funding will be used to help provide supplies for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking residing at the shelter, including food, clothing, and utilities, and would help cover the staffing costs of our 24 hour hotline.

The Baron and Blue Foundation strives to enhance the function of non-profit organizations in the Dallas Community by assisting to maintain existing programs and further opportunities for grassroots organizations focusing on homelessness, transitional housing and the needs of the underserved.

For more information on the Baron and Blue Foundation, please visit their website at http://baronandbluefdn.org.

Wilshire Baptist Church Youth Group Volunteers at Mosaic House

2009-07-07T10:27:00.006-05:00

The youth group at Wilshire Baptist Church volunteered at Mosaic House on June 30, 2009 and July 7, 2009. The group was a huge help at the shelter, and the staff and residents appreciate their hard work. The group painted inside the units, cleaned off the playground equipment, organized the clothing closet, and helped clean the apartment units.

Thank you to the Wilshire Baptist Church!

For more information on the Student Ministry of the Wilshire Baptist Church, please visit their website here.

Mosaic House Receives Support from The Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust

2009-06-30T11:56:00.002-05:00

Mosaic Family Services has received a $30,000 grant from The Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust. This generous grant will support Mosaic House, which provides comprehensive, holistic services to immigrant women and children who have experienced domestic violence or human trafficking.

The Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust supports organizations that assist with education, health, arts and culture, science, relief of human suffering, and youth and social services. The Trust focuses its philanthropy in the state of Arkansas, and in Dallas County, Texas.

Part of this funding from the trust will be used to purchase new bunk beds, coffee tables, and living room chairs for each of the apartment units at the Mosaic House shelter facility. The increased awareness of our services in the Dallas area has led to a rapidly-growing number of victims served by Mosaic House. The number of residents served increased by approximately 27% in the past year. This growth has led to increased traffic at the shelter and high wear-and-tear on the furniture in each unit. Funding from the Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust help us meet the high demand for shelter services and provide brand new furniture for residents.

Thank you to the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust for your support!

The Hillcrest Foundation Provides New A/C Units and Water Heater for Mosaic House

2009-06-30T10:16:00.001-05:00

Mosaic Family Services received a $25,000 grant from The Hillcrest Foundation to support our shelter Mosaic House. This funding will be used to purchase new air conditioning units and a new water heater for the shelter facility.

The Hillcrest Foundation was created with the following purposes: the relief of poverty, the advancement of education, and the promotion of health in the state of Texas. Approximately 90% of grant funds are paid to organizations in North Texas, with emphasis on charitable services in the Dallas area.

The Hillcrest Foundation grant is fulfilling a huge need at Mosaic House, as both the water and air conditioning units are nearly two decades old. Replacing the air conditioning system will increase the energy efficiency of the shelter, especially during the hot summer months, and will improve the quality of life for residents.

Thank you to the Hillcrest Foundation!

The Women of Saint Michael Continue to Support Mosaic House

2009-05-22T11:38:00.001-05:00

The Women of Saint Michael generously donated $5,000 for Mosaic House in May 2009. This group is a part of the Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas, and has supported our agency and Mosaic House for nine years, since 2000.

The funds from the Women of Saint Michael will be used to cover emergency supplies and operational costs at Mosaic House, including hotline phone bill, utilities, staffing, food, medical supplies, and clothing.

For more information on the Women of Saint Michael, please visit their website at http://www.saintmichael.org/pages/Women

The Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas Gives Hope to Victims

2009-05-18T11:01:00.001-05:00

May 2009 – Mosaic Family Services received a $5,000 grant from The Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas to assist with program expenses for the Multicultural Legal Services Program, which addresses the needs of survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking from a holistic, global perspective, giving them the support they deserve to lead empowered, self-sufficient lives. Legal services are a fundamental step for victims becoming safe and self-sufficient. Our attorneys provide comprehensive legal services in the areas of immigration and family law for immigrant victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.

The Section is comprised of nearly nine thousand members from all parts of the State and all sides of the Bar. The Section is a neutral organization comprised of plaintiff attorneys, defense attorneys, judges, mediators / arbitrators, pro bono attorneys and law students who are dedicated to improving our justice system and the quality of legal services delivered to Texans. The Section is actively involved in a number and variety of pro bono and educational programs.

The following story is from one of the clients served by the legal program at MFS:
“Jana’s Story”: Jana came to Mosaic Family Services in dire need of legal assistance. Her husband had filed for divorce and was seeking custody of their three children. Jana’s husband had been terribly abusive to her throughout their marriage. Jana had no legal status in the United States, she was completely undocumented. She was terrified that her husband was not only going to take their three children away from her, but that he would also have her deported to her home country. Jana’s husband had brought her to the United States twelve years ago through an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative. However, once in the U.S. her husband refused to follow through with completing the petition, thus leaving Jana at his mercy, with no legal status.

Jana’s biggest concerns were retaining custody of her children and gaining legal residence in the U.S. Jana was a very intelligent and compassionate woman; however, the years of abuse had worn her down and she was almost defeated before we even started the fight. With the help of Mosaic’s services, including counseling, Jana was able to slowly regain her strength and confidence. In the meantime the legal department got underway in pursuing her legal case by challenging her husband’s petition for divorce and child custody, and submitting her immigration case. After approximately one year, our office was successful in both endeavors. Jana’s divorce was finalized and she retained sole custody of her children. Additionally Jana’s immigration petition was approved, and she was also given work authorization. Jana is now living on her own, working full time, and planning to attend community college this fall to become a paralegal.

For more information on the Litigation Section, please visit their website at http://www.litigationsection.com.

The Texas Bar Foundation Supports Multicultural Legal Services

2009-05-15T11:19:00.001-05:00

Mosaic Family Services, Inc. recently received a $20,000 grant for the Multicultural Legal Services Program from the Texas Bar Foundation. This generous grant will provide a part-time Pro Bono Program Coordinator for the program. The Coordinator will establish and maintain relationships with private attorneys in the community, who will provide pro bono services for those clients who our program is unable to immediately serve due to a waiting list. Mosaic will be able to serve many additional victims and their families with a strong Pro Bono attorney program.

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $9 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

Mosaic Family Services Multicultural Legal Services Program employs three full-time attorneys who specialize in immigration and family law. Staff attorneys assist clients with all aspects of their immigration experience, as well as provide legal support for divorce, child-custody, protective orders, and other important family law issues as they pertain to domestic violence.

For more information on the Texas Bar Foundation, please visit their website at http://www.txbf.org/

The Communities Foundation of Texas Grants New Appliances, Furniture to Mosaic House

2009-05-11T15:45:00.007-05:00

May 2009 – The Sammons Fund of the Communities Foundation of Texas awarded Mosaic Family Services with $20,450 to support our shelter Mosaic House. This generous grant will be used to will be used to purchase new appliances and furniture for the shelter. Residents of Mosaic House will be able to enjoy new refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, and couches.

Dr. Jody Grant, CFT Board Chair; Dr. Walter Nguyen, MFS Executive Director, and Brent Christopher, CFT's President and CEO

Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) has been a partner with donors for raising the quality of life in our community for more than 50 years. Communities Foundation of Texas is now one of the nation's largest community foundations, in terms of total assets, gifts received and grants awarded. The Sammons Fund, which provided us with our grant, is one of the many funds managed by CFT.

This spring, through its most recent round of discretionary grants to 27 area nonprofit community organizations, CFT awarded its billionth dollar since its inception in 1953. Mosaic Family Services staff attended the $1 billion awards ceremony on May 6, 2009.

For more information on CFT, please visit their website here.

The TJX Foundation Continues to Support Mosaic House

2009-03-27T11:27:00.001-05:00

March 2009 -- The TJX Companies, Inc. and The TJX Foundation, Inc. donated $5,000 to Mosaic House for the fourth year in a row. This generous grant will provide program and operating support for our multicultural shelter.

The TJX Foundation supports programs that promote sound mental and physical health, provide shelter, enhance education and job readiness, and build community ties. The mission of the foundation is to contribute to programs that help disadvantaged women, children and families in communities in which the TJX Companies, Inc. do business. The TJX Companies include TJ Maxx (http://www.tjmaxx.com) and Marshall’s (http://www.marshallsonline.com).

For more information on The TJX Foundation, please visit their website here.

Thank You Commercial Metals!

2009-03-24T10:49:00.010-05:00

A volunteer group from Commercial Metals came to the Mosaic House shelter on February 24, 2009 to paint one of the units.

Thank you to Commercial Metals for supporting Mosaic House!

Mosaic Receives ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program Intern

2009-01-26T11:17:00.000-06:00

In January of 2008, Mosaic Family Services was awarded the prestigious ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program Internship. With the administrative assistance of the Volunteer Center of North Texas, ExxonMobil provides $2,750 grants to 75 local nonprofit agencies to hire summer college interns to assist in providing essential services to the community. Interns in this program are current undergraduate students from local universities.

Our internship, which will take place during Summer 2009, focuses on providing American Culture education to the multicultural clients served by the agency. The intern will Coordinate, schedule, and teach basic American Culture education to clients of Mosaic House, a shelter for immigrant and refugee women and children survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, who are new to the country. The intern will also Coordinate and facilitate American Culture field trips to give clients first-hand knowledge of the public experience.

For more information about the ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program, please click here.

The Carrie S. Orleans Trust Provides Food and Clothing for Mosaic Clients

2008-12-16T10:53:00.003-06:00

December 2008 – Mosaic Family Services received a $2,000 grant from the Carrie S. Orleans Trust. The Carrie S. Orleans Trust was established to purchase food and clothing for distribution to the poor and needy of Dallas County, Texas, without regard to race, creed or color. This is the third grant that Mosaic Family Services has received from the trust.

Funding from the Carrie S. Orleans Trust will help us to meet the growing food costs at Mosaic House shelter, which has served a growing number of clients each year. The funds will be used to purchase fresh meats and produce, after-school snacks for the children and additional school uniforms for the children. Funds will also be used to support victims of human trafficking, who often arrive at Mosaic Family Services’ door with nothing. Funds may also be used to purchase $25 food vouchers for clients served by the HIV Early Intervention Program. This program serves individuals who have an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, and have a history of substance abuse issues. Many clients are homeless and all are below the poverty level.

Thank you to the Carrie S. Orleans Trust!

Dallas Women's Foundation Empowers Mosaic House Clients

2008-11-03T11:12:00.002-06:00

The Dallas Women’s Foundation recently awarded $16,600 to support Mosaic House, our multicultural shelter for victims of family violence. This funding will be used to support our shelter facility in serving the unique needs of immigrant victims of abuse.

The number of residents served by Mosaic House increased by 27% in the past year, from 171 residents served in FY 2007 to 217 served in 2008. This represents the largest increase in numbers served from year to year that Mosaic House has had since opening in 2001. Funding from the Dallas Women’s Foundation will help us meet the growing demand for our services.

For more information about The Dallas Women’s Foundation, please visit their website at www.dallaswomensfoundation.org.

The Embrey Family Foundation Supports Mosaic House with a $15,000 Grant

2008-10-30T10:58:00.004-05:00

Mosaic Family Services, Inc. recently received a $15,000 grant from The Embrey Family Foundation. This generous grant will support Mosaic House, our shelter for immigrant women and children affected by domestic violence or human trafficking.

Based in Dallas, the Embrey Family Foundation champions the well-being and rights of all people by supporting programs that advance human rights, healthy communities, the environment, education and creativity. The foundation accomplishes this by funding program needs in North Texas that address violence, poverty, human services, arts and culture, animal services and community enhancement.

For more information on the Embrey Family Foundation, please visit their website at www.embreyfdn.org.

Thank you to The Embrey Family Foundation!

Costume World Helps Children of Mosaic House!

2008-10-07T10:26:00.005-05:00

Special thanks to Costume World! Store owner Marilyn Wide donated $1,500 worth of costumes to the children at Mosaic House! The kids were very excited to choose their own costume for the upcoming Halloween party. Please visit Costume World's website or visit their Dallas location at:

Costume World

13621 Inwood Road

Dallas, Texas 75244

972-404-0584

Pumpkins painted by children at Mosaic House shelter, 2005

Thank you Costume World!
And thanks to volunteer Christina Mackenzie who solicited this donation for us!

Human Trafficking Focus Groups for DFW Metroplex Area

2008-09-10T09:28:00.003-05:00

Human trafficking, or modern-day slavery, has exploded in the media as a hot-topic human rights issue. Sometimes, while listening to stories of far-away kidnappings and forced slavery, we forget how close to home these situations can become.

At any given moment there may be someone in our community who is a victim. Traffickers often target women, runaways and immigrants unfamiliar with their new home. Those smuggled into the United States may find themselves turned into trafficking victims once they have crossed the border.

During the month of August, we held two focus groups that gave us many great ideas for outreach to Human Trafficking victims in Dallas. We would love to hear more!

On the behalf of Mosaic Family Services, we would like to invite community leaders and activists to be a part of a focus group that explores the impact of human trafficking in your community, and that discusses how we can all join together to stop modern-day slavery. We wish to equip you, as a leader in your community, to help victims.

This focus group will take place on Wednesday September 24th, 2008 at 2 p.m. in the Mosaic Family Services offices.

Please call Christina Copeland at 214-821-5393 ext. 261 or email her at christinac@mosaicservices.org for more information.

The Rees-Jones Foundation Supports Mosaic House Shelter

2008-08-21T10:18:00.005-05:00

The Rees-Jones Foundation awarded $15,000 to Mosaic Family Services for Mosaic House shelter.

This funding will be used to support our program costs at the shelter, including staffing our emergency hotline 24 hours a days and providing food, clothing, and household supplies for the residents there.

The Rees-Jones Foundation is a private foundation established primarily to benefit the people of North Texas. The Foundation’s mission is to provide support and funding for programs that will help improve in tangible ways the quality of life and life circumstances of the people it serves, with special emphasis on assisting underserved children and their families.Artwork by child residents at Mosaic House

Thank you to The Rees-Jones Foundation for supporting Mosaic!

Mosaic Featured on The Women's International Perspective Blog

2008-08-05T10:40:00.001-05:00

Mirjana Omeragic, Program Director at Mosaic Family Services, was interviewed for a story on immigrant victims of domestic violence by The Women's International Perspective blog. Click below to check it out!

Immigrant Survivors of Abuse Struggle within a Changing System

by Michelle Chen

2007 Annual Report for Mosaic Family Services

2008-08-04T10:30:00.001-05:00

Want to know more about Mosaic's work in 2007? Click above to see our 2007 Annual Report! In the report you will find powerful stories and quotes from the people we helped, information about how many clients we served and what services we provided for them. You will also see our donors, supporters, and volunteers from 2007.

Mosaic House Receives $30,000 Grant from the King Foundation

2008-06-19T10:30:00.009-05:00

Mosaic Family Services has received a $30,000 grant for Mosaic House from the Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation. This gift will support the program and operating costs of Mosaic House. Our shelter has shown significant growth in recent years, with the number of clients served increasing by 35% between 2005 and 2007. The King Foundation's support will help us serve more families at the shelter and meet the higher demand for our services.

The King Foundation, founded by Carl B. and Florence E. King, supports programs that provide education, services for youth, seniors and the indigent, cultural and historical organizations, and medical research. The foundation has been serving Texas and Arkansas since 1966, and is “committed to the highest standards of philanthropy."

Below is a story from one of the former residents of Mosaic House. Funding from The King Foundation will help many more women like Asmara who are escaping abuse.

“Asmara” is a 27 year-old Female from India who came to the United States 5 years ago to join her husband. Asmara was abused physically and emotionally by him on daily basis. She was not allowed to go out or have friends, and had very little contact with the outside world.

Asmara was referred to Mosaic House by the police department, who responded to a domestic violence call. She came to the shelter with bruises and was very depressed. She had been isolated for so many years that it took days for this client to come out of her apartment at the shelter. When she came up to the office, she found out that the computers were for clients to use. Asmara was able to communicate with her family back in her home country for the first time since coming to the United States five years ago. Since that day, Asmara used the computer everyday to send emails to her family, to submit resumes to potential employers, and to search for a job. Within a week, she was able to go to her first job interview and renew her driver’s license online. Asmara was finally able to connect with the outside world and her community, get a job, and live in a safe environment at the Mosaic House shelter.

For more information on the King Foundation, please visit their website at http://www.kingfoundation.com.

Thank you to the King Foundation for supporting Mosaic!

KPMG Volunteers Visit Mosaic House

2008-06-10T13:59:00.007-05:00

A group of 21 KPMG employees came to Mosaic House in May 2008 to donate their time. Each year, KPMG hosts a day-long event for the women in the company. In the morning, the employees participate in a speaker workshop, and in the afternoon, they split up into groups and do volunteer work. The Mosaic group planted flowers in the garden, cleaned the playground toys for the children, and did group activities with the children. They also cleaned and prepared one of the apartment units for a new resident, and tidied the children's playroom.

Thank you KPMG for supporting Mosaic House!

KeyBank Volunteers Brighten Mosaic House

2008-06-03T13:25:00.009-05:00

Volunteers from KeyBank visited Mosaic House on May 20, 2008. They rolled up their sleeves and made many improvements to the shelter! The volunteers painted a mural in the children's play room, re-painted the parking spaces, and put down new tile in one of the units. We appreciate their time and effort!

Thank you so much to KeyBank for helping Mosaic House and making it brighter from the women and children there!

Hoglund Foundation Supports Mosaic House

2008-05-23T09:52:00.001-05:00

The Hoglund Foundation has just awarded Mosaic Family Services with a $30,000 grant for Mosaic House, our shelter for battered immigrant women and their children. This funding will be used to support the ongoing operating costs at the shelter. The number of clients served by Mosaic House has increased by 35% in the past two years, and The Hoglund Foundation grant will help support the growing demand for our services.

The Hoglund Foundation was established in 1989 to use the resources and abilities of the extended family of Forrest E. Hoglund and Sally R. Hoglund to generate and/or support activities that can make a positive difference in the lives of others. The primary focus of The Hoglund Foundation is to promote interests and entities in education, health science and services, social services and children's health and development.

For more information on The Hoglund Foundation, please visit their website at www.hoglundfoundation.org.

Thank you to The Hoglund Foundation for
supporting Mosaic House!

The Dallas Team of Eli Lilly and Co. Volunteer at Mosaic House

2008-05-22T13:47:00.001-05:00

Special thanks to Board Member Lori Wadding and her team from Eli Lilly for their continued support of Mosaic House. Back in November 2007, volunteers took time out of their busy schedule to replace flooring in the bedrooms, clean and repair existing flooring, attend to the front garden, and assisted with general repairs, as well as donating items and funds to the clients of Mosaic House.

The team returned on May 15, 2008 to do more work! They painted all of the rooms unit #201 and donated food to the shelter.

Thanks again to the Lilly Team for lending a hand!

Pampered Chef Fundraiser

2008-05-22T11:12:00.000-05:00

Mosaic Family Services is grateful to all who participated in the Pampered Chef fundraiser on April 6, 2008. Cindy Coffin was a wonderful hostess and Tharine Wells gave an insightful and fun presentation to all in attendance. A percentage of the total sales was donated to Mosaic Family Services and all proceeds from the event went directly to the residents of Mosaic House.

Thank you Pampered Chef!

To order Pampered Chef products from Tharine Wells, please visit her website at http://www.pamperedchef.biz/tharine

Mosaic Family Services is Hilton's Big Give Winner!

2008-05-20T14:29:00.004-05:00

Thank you to Jill Livingston and the Hilton Corporation! Ms. Livingston, an employee of Hilton and donor for Mosaic, entered us into an internal competition for Hilton staff. Employees were asked to write a short essay on a charity of their choice. Ms. Livingston wrote about Mosaic Family Services and the clients we serve, and was chosen as the winner! Dr. Walter Nguyen, Executive Director and Lori Wadding, Board Member were presented with a $1,000 check for the agency on April 22, 2008.

The Hilton Hotel in Park Cities, were Jill Livingston works, also donated a one-night stay for our 2008 Night of Hope silent auction.

Thank you again to Jill Livingston and Hilton!

2008 Night of Hope a Success!

2008-05-16T12:16:00.008-05:00

Mosaic Family Services would like to thank all the donors and volunteers who helped make this year’s fundraising event a success. Thanks to you, we were able to raise much needed funds for Mosaic House, our shelter for battered immigrant women and children.

Highlights of the evening included a grand buffet with hors d’oeuvres, a video presentation about Mosaic Family Services, a silent auction, with such items as two plane tickets anywhere Southwest flies.

Lori Wadding, Event Chair and Emcee Shelly Slater of WFAA Channel 8 were both charming and entertaining and Ebby Halliday gave a wonderful and amusing speech.

Mildred Muhammad was the Keynote Speaker and told of her harrowing journey from the grips of her murdering husband to the advocate for domestic violence victims that she is today.

Again, thanks to all who gave so much to make this event a success to benefit the clients of Mosaic House.

Special thanks to the following sponsors:

Silver Sponsors
Ebby Halliday
Baylor Medical Center at Garland
Cindi's N.Y. Delicatessen
Sy Q. Le, MD
Mike Benet Formals
The Harold Simmons Foundation
Town North Bank

Bronze Sponsors
Presbyterian Hospital of Plano
Premier Designs, Inc.
DynCorp International
Vietnamese Health Professionals Association
Texas Capital Bank
Wilcare, Inc.

Media Supporters
WFAA Channel 8
Flower Mound Messenger

Special Thanks to all the companies and individuals who donated items for the live and silent auctions at the 2008 Mosaic Night of Hope!
Auction Items Donated By:
Bengal Coast Restaurant
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Stars Franchise
Decorator's Choice
Ebby Halliday
FC Dallas Soccer Club
Firewheel Dentistry
Frisco RoughRiders
Great Skin By Lynne
Hilton Park Cities
HP Dental Clinic
Hyatt Regency Hotels
Ken's Man Shop
Kim-Cuong Than
Premier Wines of Plano
Sandy Shepherd
Six Flags Over Texas
Southwest Airlines
Tony's Wine Warehouse
Triana Studios

Welcome to the Mosaic Family Services Blog!

2008-05-16T11:12:00.005-05:00

Thank you for visiting Mosaic Family Services' new Blog! We will use this blog to keep all of our supporters updated on our work, including:
1. Upcoming Events
2. Volunteer Opportunities
3. Mosaic News Updates
4. Client Stories
5. Our Services and Programs
6. How you can get involved

And much, much more! Check back each week for more news about Mosaic Family Services!