MOSAIC Newsletter: Spring 2025
Hello, MOSAIC alumni community! There have been many exciting MOSAIC developments on and off campus, so we wanted to share them all with you. Check out this extended MOSAIC update.
MOSAIC’s Fresh Look: Unveiled!
You may have seen our new logo on the MOSAIC webpage or featured in our recent events at the Met and in DC. We’d like to thank the team over in Bates Office of Communications and Marketing for their fantastic design. The folks over at Post and Print have also outfitted us with MOSAIC stickers. Find them at a MOSAIC event near you, on campus, or in your mailbox by emailing alumni@bates.edu with your current address.
Join MOSAIC LinkedIn Group
Looking to build out your professional Bates network? We’ve started the Bates Alumni MOSAIC LinkedIn group for alumni and current students to connect. We know networking, job searching, and mentoring look different for our communities, and we want a space that reflects these experiences. Join today and start making meaningful connections!
Alumni Spotlight: Black Student Summit at Bates
On February 8th, Bates’ Black Student Union (BSU) hosted the second annual Black Student Summit for students from Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby. The conference theme was “Wellness for Black Students: Thriving in College and Beyond.” Students gathered in Chase for a welcome address, workshops, trivia, and community building.
One highlight included a student and alumni panel to discuss the conference’s theme. Marissa Phoenix ’15 and Losseni Barry ’22 shared their wisdom with the audience, alongside current students Rashad King ’25 and Naomi Maloney ’28 and representatives from Bowdoin and Colby.
Reflecting on her Bates experience from being a student to an alumna, Marissa shared, “Attending a PWI (predominantly white institution) like Bates, in a predominantly white state such as Maine can be challenging for black students. While at Bates, I was grateful for a safe space like the former OIE (Office of Intercultural Education) [now known as the Student Center for Belonging and Community] where I did not have to prove I belonged. I, “in the real world,” often find myself in similar spaces. When Bates comes up, whether by me wearing collegiate gear or through an interview, I’ve found myself, once again, proving my connection to the college, though now as an alumna. I found it important to attend the panel to let current students know they belong at Bates. My hope is that current students will not shy away from all of the opportunities and experiences the college has to offer. And when they graduate, and enter into spaces that may be a result of their education, that they will be confident in knowing they belong there too.”
Much like this conference, the MOSAIC network strives to foster a sense of belonging for marginalized alumni. We are so grateful for our alumni who support this endeavor and help us welcome future generations of Bobcats into our expanding community!
MOSAIC at the Met: A Night of Art & Connection
At the beginning of February, New York City area alumni, friends, and family gathered at the Met to visit Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now. This unique exhibit gathered Black artists’ interpretations, appreciation, and cultural critique of Egypt through a variety of forms of media. After the museum visit, we gathered at a nearby bar for an enjoyable meal and engaging company.
Upcoming Events
We have already gathered in Boston and New York; discover more exciting events this spring designed to foster and grow our MOSAIC community!
Come appreciate a truly one of a kind thinker and writer, James Baldwin, at the National Portrait Gallery alongside other MOSAIC alumni on March 8th. After the exhibit, we’ll have plenty to talk about over drinks and bites at China Chilcano. REGISTER NOW!
Bates Pride is touring multiple cities this June with Out and Proudly NESCAC.
Be on the lookout for dates and venues in the coming weeks.
In a Reunion Class?
MOSAIC has multiple Reunion offerings this year! We’ll be writing letters of encouragement for those visiting the Student Center for Belonging and Community (formerly the OIE), enjoying a BIPOC breakfast, and listening to the testimonials of queer alumni from different reunion classes. Be sure to register today. Interested in sharing your story? We’re also looking for a few panelists for our “Queer Through the Years” event. Contact dchin@bates.edu for more details.
