community

Perhaps most importantly, we are a group committed to inspiration and fun. We paint. We build. We craft. We sing together. We dance together. We sit around and watch movies together. We ask about each other's days and really care about the answer.

outreach

As an organization, the co-op is thankful to have such a wonderful community space and often seeks to share its resources in support of other progressive efforts. We have hosted events, meetings and get-togethers for various NU student groups such as Rainbow, Peace Project and SEED. The co-op has also hosted its own events such as documentary screenings, open mic nights as well as parties.

family time

All members gather every Sunday evening to discuss ideas, plans and problems within the co-op and the actual house. That night and 3 other nights a week, we also eat dinner together: hot, nutritious and delicious meals made by co-opers. Often we have non-members come over on a regular basis to eat with us, and sometimes help out in the kitchen.

consensus

No one in our organization holds specified power over anyone else. At our weekly meetings, our decision making forum on things affecting the co-op, any member may add agenda items or proposals. Decisions are made by the consensus of the group and this means any one member has the power to block any proposal put before MOSAIC. When this occurs our members work together to find a path forward which is agreeable with everyone, and typically the result is considered better by all our members.

living consciously 

The co-op has a history of supporting conservation and other socially conscious ways of living. MOSAIC tries in various ways to reduce its environmental impact. We grow some of our own vegetables at the Hamlin Street house. Wherever possible we use green alternatives to many household products, like compact fluorescent lightbulbs and natural cleaning supplies. We recycle our graywater, and we compost. We shop with reusable bags.  We try to buy organic foods and buy ingredients in bulk to make our own shared foods, such as granola, yoghurt and bread.

vegetarian food

All of the common food purchased with MOSAIC funds is vegetarian (and all meals include a vegan option when requested), but members have personal space (including a shared refrigerator) if they wish to store and cook their own non-vegetarian food. In practice co-opers will eat mostly common food, but occasionally supplement their meals with special ingredients of thier own.