On the road in January, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama

An American Mosaic will traveling the back roads of Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama starting in January. Shooting video and having conversations with people about life, community, and what it means for them to be an American today. Stories from the road.

An inspiring young Amish man talked with An American Mosaic

Levi's story is inspiring. At a young age, he has built an impressive business in southern Iowa, boarding on Missouri. This area has a large Amish community that he is part of. Part of a September 2017 road trip. An American Mosaic on the road.

An American Mosaic on the road in September

An American Mosaic will be traveling the back roads of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri during September. Listening to what people have to say about jobs, community, family, roots, kids, and what being an American means to them today.

People and Places... An American Mosaic

Conversations with Americans about work, school, community, family, retirement, dreams, roots, immigration, what it means to be an American today. We will be posting to our YouTube Channel as we collect content. YouTube An American Mosaic 

At an Inflection Point with Society and Technology

At the Crossroads of Society and Technology

What happened this last year? A bubble just burst and we didn’t even see it coming. Like all bubbles, the symptoms were there, we just did not pay attention. When it burst we were totally surprised and the fallout is significant.

We just elected one of the most unpopular presidents in U.S. history. Who was pitted against what might have been a runner up for that distinction.

How did this happen and how did we get here. I have no idea, except I to want to find out. That is at the heart of the project I am starting up.

Technology played a hand in this. It is invasive and tied to our lives beyond our imagination. I suspect a very large percentage of the population have no idea how transparent their lives really are, and I am not talking about uncle Joe down the road knowing what you are doing. It is acknowledged tech provided a shadow operation for some during the election cycle. It also has been acknowledged that social media is the main source of information for many, and it is really media.

Everyone has signed on to some form of social media. Probably safe to say most are on Facebook, which is arguably the most powerful company in the world today if you look closely at what they control, and how many ways they are in your face… pardon the pun.

As I am planning my project and feel it is very important that we use this media platform for the project to be relevant today, one of the team members brought up a very interesting point.

"A lot of the interaction with social media and current technology lends itself to a schism between who you are offline and who you are online. The gap between the two is becoming increasingly indistinct and may be a large factor in many of the pervasive social conflicts today".

That is an interesting thought, since we will be posting online daily when we start our journey this summer to discover who the American People are… offline. 

Follow our journey on the web at american-mosaic.com, or Facebook @anamericanmosaic

The winners and the losers

Are you a Winner or Loser?

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  Published on May 27, 2017

Is it win at all costs?

“I don’t like losers” – a quote from the current president of the United States.

Who are the losers? Are we confusing those who we don’t agree with as losers? Are we saying those who have the most money are winners?

We all want to be happy, and everyone has his or her own idea of what defines happiness and success.

Long live the king shouted the masses as the King displayed the heads of losers on a pike for all to see.

Is the hedge fund manager who made a bad call the loser, or are his clients the losers?

Is the older person who depends on our social system a loser? Who wins if that person loses their Medicaid support?

Did the three guys who are founders of a startup that was bought out by Facebook win? Or did they lose to Facebook?

Does every win, mean a loss? Sometimes that is exactly what happens. So does that mean if I win, you lose? For many that is exactly it! We have a system built on it.

Is it a sport event, a game, or is it life today? We love to be competitive - winning, that is our measure of success. Are you a loser, or a winner? If you can’t be a winner, are you going to choose a surrogate to be your winner? Or maybe a surrogate loser. Either way you will not be the loser.

Whatever the answer is, somehow this gets to the heart of the great divide that has surfaced. Some clearly feel they have lost something. I don’t think we should call them losers. They have stories to tell and we should listen. And, we should take a look at those who call themselves winners and ask them something about being a winner. Maybe we can all learn something.

I am hopeful that my project “An American Mosaic” will touch on some of this.

Your ideas and thoughts are welcome. Please visit our web site: american-mosaic.com

A good NY times piece on "throw away people"

Part of the American Mosaic... truckers and their stories

There are so many stories to be told about the American People in 2017. We tend not to pay much attention to what is not immediately in front of us. Truckers are not even visible, we just see trucks. Yet they have been and are a vital part of our everyday lives. This is worth reading.

Understanding America in 2017

There are many stories that need to be told about Americans today. J. D. Vance's book Hillbilly Elegy is a must read for anyone trying to understand why so many people feel they are left out of the system. The American Dream has passed for some. While others prosper.

We tend to easily dismiss the past as we rush forward

Why “An American Mosaic” is important... History!

We tend to dismiss history today, because we are making it every day. Technology has changed how we consume, how we respond, and how we measure events, time, and things that are important.

I say history because, many will soon forget the details and facts behind this last election cycle that surfaced this great divide in the U.S. In fact we will forget that we all share common ground and interests. It is important to let all the diverse people of the United States be recognized and hear their stories and what their version of the American Dream is. We need to know each other, or this country that we all call home will no longer be a safe haven for all. We are allowing others to form our opinions about our neighbors.

This is not a liberal or conservative view, it is not a political view, it is not a religious view, it is just a personal view from someone who has always just assumed that most everything was good is his country. I am concerned now and do not recognize my country. I know many share this feeling and that is why I am launching the road trip called “An American Mosaic”.

Since I first posted about this in December 2016, I have had a very positive response from a great many people. Cheering me on, offers of help and support, and it has pushed the project forward. Your support is needed. Thank you.

People are responding... An American Mosaic project

People are Responding...

“You are describing a mosaic of broken connectivity, perhaps not broken in terms of use of artificial intelligence, data sharing, or any other emerging technology, but broken in human terms of face to face communication, listening and courtesy. I wish you much success in your endeavor to gain a better understanding of how we can better engage and understand one another in a modern century with modern tools.”

‘If you are in anyway engaged with recent events, and the need for change that was so overwhelmingly voiced, you understand that a lot of people feel that their country has failed them.’ – “You're talking about me John. Fantastic project - please let me know if I can be of any assistance. I'm anxious to see your results!”

“Bravo! I think we all need to do this! We don't know each other like we should. We have more in common than not, I feel sure. I'll be eager to see your project unfold!”

“As part of the 'rest of the world,' I will be watching and listening as well. Canadians want to understand America as well. . .”

“Sounds incredible, what a great undertaking.”

“We're listening, John. Signed, the choir.”

“Love, Love, Love this project! What are your plans and what support do you need? I’d love to help you!”

A Project that Needs to be Done... An American Mosaic

A Project that Needs to be Done

One day I woke up and realized that I did not recognize my country. I did not know who the American People are. This concerned me, it actually scared me. Sometimes events change your life, this has changed mine. I am setting out on a journey to discover who the American People are, and to tell their stories. All walks of life. It is a very big project and I will need all the help I can get. It is also a very important project and all those I talk with agree. It must be done. An American Mosaic