Board of Directors Spotlight:
July 2025 Spotlight- Lee Shipway
Board Member since Fall 2021
WHAT made you decide to join the Board of Directors of Mosaic?
I was asked by Executive Director Sam Salazar and YWCA volunteer consultant, Joanne Kelly to join the board due to my experience in the non-profit world. I had just retired as the Executive Director of Peaceful Solutions Counseling and wanted to contribute to the community in a meaningful way. The YWCA’s mission was to eliminate racism and empower women which spoke to me as someone who had worked in the domestic violence field for 40 years. When we decided as an organization to change our name and focus on inclusivity as a way to make the Wausau area more welcoming, I was excited to help improve the culture of our community.
What part of the mission are you most passionate about?
I am passionate about creating a community where every member feels valued, welcomed and that they belong. I have compassion and empathy for our refugee neighbors and our non-white community members. I am horrified when I hear and read about how these residents are at times treated with disrespect and discriminated against. I want to help change the attitudes of our unwelcoming community members so that they see the value in ALL people.
What is your favorite part of serving on the Board of Directors?
I enjoy the synergy of the different board members when brainstorming different ideas on how to accomplish our mission. The energy of these passionate and dedicated people is uplifting and inspiring! The camaraderie is evident by all the great conversation and good amount of laughter at our meetings and events. We are an eclectic and diverse bunch in race, age, sexual orientation, gender, and fields of work which makes life so much more interesting!
MAY 2025 SPOTLIGHT- Veronica elias
Board Member since October 2024
WHAT made you decide to join the Board of Directors of Mosaic?
I am relatively new to Wausau and I wanted to get more involved with the community because representation matters. I moved here from the Chicago area almost 3 years ago where diversity and inclusion were common where I lived and although I felt welcomed in the Wausau community, I did not see a lot of diversity or inclusion and thought that I could help bring that to the community.
What part of the mission are you most passionate about?
The part of the mission that I am most passionate about is diversity and inclusion. I want everyone in this community to feel as if they belong. Cultural enrichment and representation is a theme that I believe I can help with as I come from a diverse background myself. I feel I have a deeper understanding of what it means to be “different” and can help the community understand people’s differences and learn to respect them.
What is your favorite part of serving on the Board of Directors?
My favorite part of serving on the Board of Directors for Mosaic is being able to help out at the events. I enjoy interacting with the community and getting to hear their stories because I feel that everyone’s story matters and their story is vital to community growth.
March 2025 spotlight- Purnatoya Nayak
Board Member since 2024
I joined the Board of Directors of Mosaic because I am passionate about fostering diversity, inclusion, and cultural enrichment in our community. Mosaic’s mission aligns perfectly with my values, and I am excited to contribute by helping expand its impact, support its programs and bring people together through shared experiences.
What made you decide to join the Board of Directors of Mosaic?
What part of the mission are you most passionate about?
Through my work in healthcare and deep connection to the arts especially through dance- I have firsthand seen how important it is to celebrate different backgrounds and create spaces where everyone feels represented. I love that Mosaic believes in connecting communities through their work. When people from different backgrounds come together, they exchange ideas, traditions and experiences that enrich society as a whole. In today’s world, where divisions can easily form, creating bridges between communities helps break down stereotypes, promotes empathy and strengthens cultural appreciation.
What is your favorite part of serving on the Board of Directors?
I love being part of the change that Mosaic is slowly and surely trying to make in the community. Mosaic has given me a chance to meet new people from varied background and experiences and learn from each other. I feel so grateful to know a great group of people through Mosaic.
February 2025 spotlight- Joua Xiong
Board Member since 2023
Throughout my professional career, I was introduced to the concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion. As I continued to learn more about it, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Central Wisconsin already had a dedicated group focused on IDEA+B. My first experience was attending the Connecting Communities conference, and it immediately sparked my interest in getting more involved. The board members spoke with such passion and authenticity, and their genuine desire to create a community where everyone, regardless of background, feels included was inspiring. These are the people I want to surround myself with.
What made you decide to join the Board of Directors of Mosaic?
What part of the mission are you most passionate about?
I am deeply passionate about Mosaic’s mission to raise awareness through educational series. These initiatives create understanding, paving the way for acceptance of others, no matter their background. By promoting empathy and knowledge, they break down barriers and help build more inclusive communities. I believe this approach can lead to meaningful change, creating a world where diversity is celebrated and respected.
What is your favorite part of serving on the Board of Directors?
Everyone that has played a part in keeping the organization going, whether it be board members, volunteers, or event participants, does so because they truly understand the value of fostering an inclusive community. These are the rewarding motivations that drive us to keep moving forward.
December 2024 spotlight- RAchel Hausmann Schall
Board Member since 2023, current Board President
What made you decide to join the Board of Directors of Mosaic?
I was interested in becoming involved with Mosaic because I am passionate about working with diverse audiences. I have always loved engaging with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and in my professional role(s), both past and present, I have been fortunate enough to work with people from all walks of life. I joined Mosaic’s Board of Directors because I want to play a role in creating and sustaining a community that celebrates diversity and makes people feel welcome.
What part of the mission are you most passionate about?
I am most passionate about supporting initiatives that celebrate the diversity in our community. Diversity is an integral part of the fabric of our community. It’s important that we recognize the diversity that exists in our area and celebrate how individual differences can make north central Wisconsin a vibrant and creative place to live and work.
What is your favorite part of serving on the Board of Directors?
I enjoy attending Mosaic’s educational events and collaborating with the organization to offer free and accessible art-related experiences.
April 2025 spotlight- RAchel Tate
Board Member since September 2023
I joined the Board of Directors of Mosaic because I am passionate about making the Central Wisconsin area a safe place for everyone, where people can feel free to be themselves without threat. I want to make sure that Central Wisconsin is a place they WANT to live in, a place they feel welcomed and supported. I want everyone who lives here to feel a sense of belonging. I feel strongly about being able to contribute towards the success of Mosaic’s mission.
What made you decide to join the Board of Directors of Mosaic?
What part of the mission are you most passionate about?
I am very passionate about helping to spread the word about who we are and what we can do for the community, in both the business world and the general community. I am also passionate about joining with others who share the same visions regarding inclusion and belonging, whether it be through participating in our many educational events, attending our annual conference, or volunteering in our booth at local cultural fairs.
What is your favorite part of serving on the Board of Directors?
I love to give back to my community by volunteering. I really enjoy volunteering at the booths that Mosaic has had at many community events. Getting to meet others in our community who share our mission, and then hearing from them about how we may have helped them has really given me a great feeling of warmth and accomplishment. To know we’ve made a difference in someone’s life is the most rewarding feeling of all.