“This new name captures who we are now – and who we want to be in the future,’’ said board chair Alex Fraser. “A mosaic is a work of art created by combining diverse, individual, and unique pieces into a cohesive and beautiful whole. We believe the name Mosaic Miami captures the uniqueness of this community we call home, respects our 88-year legacy, and positions us for the decades to come.”
While proud of its history, the name MCCJ “did not represent our diverse community, so for years the need to change the name into something actionable, and more indicative of our community was a hot topic of conversation between us,” said Executive Director Matt Anderson. “As the years passed, our mission changed and today we strive to prevent hate and engage with people of all faiths to create conflict resolution, dialog, train inclusive leaders, and promote understanding for all.”
Through a generous Challenge Grant from the Knight Foundation, MCCJ engaged the help of Roar Media to rebrand its organization and help elevate its profile while maintaining its legacy and brand equity.
David Lawrence, Jr., MCCJ director emeritus and the chair of The Children’s Movement of Florida praised the decision to rebrand. “Mosaic is the absolute best name, the best way to describe the mission,’’ Lawrence said. “We are all in this together with a necessity to learn from each other and celebrate what we have in common.”
The organization has deep roots in the Miami community, starting in 1935 when the nonprofit was formed as an interfaith group battling racism, supporting equality during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, to helping the community heal from the turbulent 1980s, and through today’s many challenges. The organization has led the way whenever South Florida needed a voice for understanding, respect, and compassion.
Miami is a world-class destination that has provided opportunities for many. “Throughout the years we have put together “Can We Talk?” community conversations and our new name and logo evoke a collective dialogue between diverse people that are equal yet different, coming together to reflect a mutual understanding,” Fraser said. “We are excited about our next chapter and our commitment to ensuring that our community continues to be a place of opportunity for all.”Mosaic Miami, formerly known as MCCJ, was originally founded in Miami in 1935 as the Miami Branch of the National Conference of Christians & Jews. Later, the group was renamed the Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews. In 2011, in recognition of its embrace of people of ALL faiths and secular backgrounds, the organization formally changed its name to MCCJ, Inc. Today, it goes beyond its original intent by creating a haven for dialog, training inclusive leaders, and promoting understanding for all faiths, races, and cultures through education, advocacy, and conflict resolution. It hosts the oldest interfaith clergy dialog in the United States and presents prejudice-reducing programs in local high schools, among other activities. For more information, please visit https://miamiccj.org/mosaic-miami.
