Topeka United Opens Applications For 2026-2027 Common Threads, The Successor To Acclaimed Mosaic Partner Pairs Program
Topeka United: A Movement (TU) has opened applications for its 2026-2027 Common Threads cohort. Common Threads, the organization's flagship program, is being introduced this year as the successor to Mosaic Partner Pairs. It is designed to bring together people from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, to build trust, empathy and community one relationship at a time.
Part of TU’s broader Threads framework, Common Threads encourages participants to cultivate understanding of themselves and others through a nine-month curriculum, running August to May. The program pairs participants with a partner based on a formula of differences and shared life experiences. Partner pairs meet twice monthly to build meaningful relationships, and they participate, as part of a small group of pairs, in monthly learning sessions designed to increase understanding of differences and the importance of community building.
What’s more, Common Threads is offered as two tracks, one for all members of the community and one specifically for Topeka teens. Teens participate in monthly main sessions with the community group, also in a small group setting, and in arranged community experiences. A morning Teen Threads series will also be held at the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers.
The nine-month program begins with an orientation on Aug. 22, 2026, followed by evening group sessions held 6–8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, September through April (with a break in December). The program culminates with a celebration luncheon in early May. The total monthly time commitment is six hours for Common Threads participants and five hours for Teen Threads participants.
“Common Threads gives our community a structured, supported way to build the kind of relationships that don't usually happen on their own — relationships that supersede differences and change how people see their neighbors and city,” said Karen Hiller, convener of Topeka United’s leadership team. “We know community doesn't happen by accident. It's woven, stitch by stitch, through the relationships and understanding we intentionally cultivate. Each person who joins this program is helping weave a stronger, more connected Topeka.”
Common Threads builds on the legacy of Mosaic Partner Pairs. More than 200 Topekans have completed the Mosaic program, with over 50 remaining actively engaged with Topeka United since. Participants in the predecessor program report continued relationship building and new or increased engagement with local experiences and events. Common Threads expects to deliver similar results, ensuring learning is meaningful and applicable to daily life.
“As someone who went through the Mosaic program and served as a curriculum coach, I can attest to how powerful this partner pairs programming is,” said James Bugg, Common Threads Program Coordinator. “It uses the Innovation Strengths Preference Indicator, or ISPI, to match participants in a way that sets the foundation for meaningful multicultural relationships and deeper shared understanding of what it takes to build community.”
Common Threads is offered at no cost to participants thanks to support from local companies, including Bartlett & West, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, and CoreFirst Bank & Trust. Prospective participants can visit TopekaUnited.org/CommonThreads to learn more and apply. The application process begins with creating an account and includes two parts that together take about 25 minutes to complete. Applicant information is used only for the pairing process and is not shared. Topeka United will follow up directly with applicants to confirm participation.
To learn more about the history of Topeka United and the organization’s mission, visit TopekaUnited.org.
