The North Side Mosaic is a creative documentary project in which people of all ages and backgrounds capture and share experiences that reflect the spirit of Syracuse's North Side. Participants will be asked to engage their community through a variety of mediums such as audio, photography, film, painting, sculpture, graphic design, essays, poetry and music.

The work produced from these efforts will be collected throughout 2007 and displayed at the Assisi Center in April 2008. The exhibition space will act as a convening place for all of those involved in the Mosaic, those who are portrayed within it, art enthusiasts and other interested citizens. As such, it will be a place that can catalyze new conversations and relationships among diverse groups of people. It is also our hope that pieces from the Mosaic will then be permanently displayed as community art; taking the form of murals, printed and online publications, featured films, and monuments.

We believe that this project will celebrate the brilliant individual lives and rich cultural diversity that exist on the North Side – heighten people's awareness of the struggles and injustices that are present within our neighborhoods – help citizens develop a deeper sense of pride for and ownership of their neighborhoods – bring aesthetic beauty to the area – and catalyze relationships and future collaborative projects among diverse groups of people.