JOIN THE MOVEMENT to build community, one relationship at a time!
Topeka United's signature program, Common Threads — debuting in 2026 as the successor to TU’s highly acclaimed Mosaic Partner Pairs — encourages participants to build understanding of themselves and others through a nine-month curriculum, running August to May. At the core of Common Threads lies the belief that forging meaningful relationships between people who may differ in appearance, worship, or how they relate to others, is essential to fostering a healthy, prosperous community. Using the "partner pairs" strategy, Topeka United creates space for program participants to walk away with new friendships and a greater sense of what it takes to build an inclusive community that works for all. You could be part of the movement! Let's build community, one relationship at a time.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN for 2026-2027 COMMON THREADS
Common Threads is offered as two tracks, one for adults in the community and one specifically for Topeka teens. Participants in the community track are paired with a partner based on a formula of differences and similarities, and they become part of a small group of pairs. Teens participate in monthly main sessions with the community group, also in a small-group setting, and in arranged community experiences. There will also be a morning Teen Threads series held at the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers.
Common Threads is a nine-month commitment, starting with an orientation on Aug. 22, 2026. Participants are expected to be present for evening group sessions, held 6-8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month September through April (we don't meet in December). Partner pairs commit to meeting twice a month outside of full-group sessions, to deepen their relationships. The total monthly time commitment is six hours for Common Threads and five hours for Teen Threads. The program culminates with a celebration luncheon in early May.
Whether you're interested in Common Threads or Teen Threads, the application is the same and available at the link below. As a first step, you will be prompted to create an account. After that, the application involves two parts and may take about 25 minutes start to finish. Part One provides information on your background and preferences. Part Two provides insight into your personality and communication styles. Both of these data points help with the pairing process. Note that your information will not be shared. Please allow yourself enough time to complete both portions and make sure you download your full set of reports once your application is complete. Expect Topeka United to reach out to you and confirm!
Our ability to carry out Common Threads wouldn't be possible without local companies, who ensure the program is offered at no cost to participants. Thank you to Bartlett & West, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, and CoreFirst Bank & Trust for their meaningful support!
Are you interested in learning more about yourself and forming a deep relationship that goes beyond the surface? Would you like to be part of building a stronger Topeka community? Common Threads may be just what you need.
At Topeka United, we believe community doesn't happen by accident. It's woven, stitch by stitch, through the relationships and understanding we intentionally cultivate. YOU could be part of the movement! Apply to join Common Threads today.
Many in Topeka have heard of Mosaic Partner Pairs, the predecessor to Common Threads. Over 200 people completed the Mosaic Partner Pairs series, and more than 50 have remained active with Topeka United since, in what will now be Common Threads and other programming. Importantly, participants report that they have continued to build relationships; have taken learned experience back to their preexisting relationships; and are engaging in new experiences, events, and/or community building both with people they knew before and with new connections. We have also seen growth in participation in multicultural activities in the community since Topeka United and its parent organization, the Brown v. Board Sumner Legacy Trust, began in 2019 and 2011, respectively.
Check out the video below to learn more about the history of TU's partner pairs programming:
