Michael Meade is a renowned storyteller, author, and scholar of mythology, anthropology, and psychology. He combines hypnotic and fiery storytelling, street savvy perceptiveness, and spellbinding interpretations of ancient myths with a deep knowledge of cross-cultural rituals. He has an unusual ability to distill and synthesize these disciplines, tapping into ancestral sources of wisdom, while connecting them to the stories we are living today. He is the author of The World Behind the World, The Water of Life: Initiation and the Tempering of the Soul; editor, with James Hillman and Robert Bly, of Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart; and editor of Crossroads: A Quest for Contemporary Rites of Passage. Meade is founder of Mosaic Multicultural Foundation, a nonprofit network of artists, social activists, and community builders formed to organize, sponsor, and support programs and events that encourage greater understanding between diverse peoples: elders and youth, and those of various cultural and spiritual backgrounds.

Voices of Youth

Voices of Youth is a series of projects that involve diverse youth in a variety of communities. Through Voices, youth are engaged in the creation of an artistic forum for their own expression while developing mentoring relationships within their community.

Themes of contemporary disorientation find unique expression through the writings and voices of local youth, offering insights into the root causes of youth violence, cynicism and apathy. A narrative mix of old stories and youthful voices is then presented to the local community in an event that is part theater, part literature and part celebration. Each presentation is followed by a discussion that includes families, teachers, community members and youth. Hearing the acute perspectives of youth can significantly change the community’s perception of both local and national issues and inspire continuing conversations across the generation gap. Voices of Youth inspires and empowers local youth, fosters ongoing cross-generational dialogues and leads to the development of unique local forms of mentoring.

Mosaic seeks to create cross-cultural alliances, mentoring relationships and social connections built upon personal trust and commitment to bridging unhealthy divisions in contemporary communities. The process of finding, fitting and weaving together divergent, yet necessary pieces involves making new social fabrics from existing ethnic, spiritual, psychological and political threads.

Mosaic means putting essential pieces together; forming a whole from separate, divided, even estranged parts. Each project begins with the idea that the necessary pieces can be found, even if that means looking in troublesome or unexpected places Mosaic events draw inspiration from the traditions of many cultures and incorporate knowledge learned in the trenches of contemporary community work. The 'genius' of the situation is sought whether it be that of an individual, an organization or a community. Revealing the 'resident genius' and unique spirit becomes a key to understanding problems and fitting the pieces together in new ways.

Through this process, personal stories, the history of the group and important goals find appropriate places within the shape of a story which all can see, contribute to and learn from.Current projects focus on youth at risk, 'genius based' mentoring and developing the 'arts of community' in diverse organizations and groups.