A new community center called the MOSAIC Collaborative had its grand opening on Saturday, July 9. The event, attended by approximately 50 people, was the first event held at the space recently setup by the Grand Rapids branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The storefront, located at 1317 E Fulton, includes space for local artists to sell goods on a consignment basis, a small literature distribution and library organized by the Literature Committee of the Grand Rapids IWW, and a basement that will serve as a venue for concerts and workshops. A bulletin board is also available for local activists to post flyers about upcoming events.

Among the goals of the project:

• To promote the ideas and efforts of the IWW and what the union stands for, namely, an elevated working class consciousness, workplace justice, and equality regarding race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, and age. Much more information on the IWW, labor history, and other topics is available in the shop.
• To engage the community in the creative and functional works of local artisans. Small-scale industry is a key component for gaining economic self-sufficiency (creating alternatives to corporate controlled industry). People working together, and exchanging goods in a localized economy can make meaningful an dignified work that the job market lacks.
• To build community through an open access to information and differing viewpoints. The space and time at MOSAIC will be shared to encourage community networking and various group meetings. MOSAIC is open as a reading room, and for discussion, in a way making additional seating for Common Ground coffee house.
• To have some fun, lastly, but surely not the least. There will be various events scheduled at MOSAIC, including a movie/discussion night, informational speakers, a weekly poetry reading, musical performance, open drumming circles, the list could go on... Events will also increase the potential for information at MOSAIC to be put into action, and, events will provide for more sales of consignment goods. MOSAIC is a socializing and performance hall for that purpose.

The MOSAIC plans to fund itself through IWW memberships, consignment sales, sales of literature, admission to events, external fundraising, and donations.