Our History

Odyssey of Humanity grew out of the lived experiences of its founders, Robert and Debbie Rosenfeld.

Robert was shaped by the Civil Rights Movement and the unrest of 1960s New York City, while Debbie, a Holocaust descendant from Haifa, Israel, came to the U.S. as a teenager and witnessed the global fight for civil rights firsthand.

The struggles they saw—and felt—deeply moved them. The loss of leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the persistence of injustice ignited their lifelong commitment to building a more just and inclusive world.

 

 

 

Earnest Work Healing Racism

Robert and Debbie Rosenfeld’s commitment to racial healing is deeply personal. As parents of interracial children, people of faith, and lifelong advocates for diversity, their vision for a more equitable and harmonious world has shaped every chapter of their lives.

Robert, an innovative chemist, was raised in Brooklyn during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. He experienced the turbulence of the era firsthand, including race riots and the loss of national civil rights leaders. Debbie, a Holocaust descendant born in Haifa, Israel, immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager. She, too, witnessed injustice in many forms and carried with her a profound sense of duty to pursue compassion and unity.

Together, they believed the path to healing racism begins at home and must ripple outward into our communities and institutions. Robert often spoke of the need to go beyond surface-level change—to recognize the invisible forces behind prejudice and intentionally shift both hearts and perceptions.

In 2004, the Rosenfelds gathered with friends in Rochester, New York, to explore how to create lasting racial harmony. That conversation led to the founding of Odyssey of Humanity, and in 2006, it became an official nonprofit.

They partnered with industry experts and invited local business and community leaders into the work of confronting racism head-on. This effort culminated in the creation of the Bi-Racial Partnership Program, launched in 2007 by Mayor William A. Johnson of Rochester. The program brought together leaders from across sectors to foster a more inclusive and prejudice-free community.

Its success quickly grew. By 2008, the program expanded to include cross-cultural dialogues between Muslim and non-Muslim groups in the wake of 9/11. From there, it evolved into a powerful model for cultural understanding through shared meals, personal storytelling, and meaningful exchange.

Today, Odyssey of Humanity continues to honor its roots—building bridges between people, deepening empathy, and encouraging communities to do the hard but hopeful work of racial healing.

Building Bridges Beyond Racial Barriers

Leaders across Rochester—business, community, and academia—have long championed the *Bi-Racial Partnerships Program*, sharing how it transformed their workplaces, neighborhoods, and personal lives. As more cities sought to replicate its success, the program evolved into the *Mosaic Partnerships Program*—a name that reflects its growing reach and commitment to cross-cultural connection.

Mosaic Partnerships charters have since taken root in communities across the country, offering a framework for healing, unity, and understanding.

In recent years, the rise in racial injustice, political division, and hate-driven violence has underscored just how urgent this work remains. The resurgence of white supremacy, racism, and attacks against people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized communities reminds us: our mission is far from finished.

Now more than ever, *Odyssey of Humanity* stands as a beacon of hope. We believe healing happens when people come together—across racial, cultural, and social divides—to listen, learn, and build trust.

 

Approaching Our 20 Year Anniversary

As we near two decades of impact, *Odyssey of Humanity* continues to grow and evolve—partnering with organizations, sponsoring initiatives, and expanding our reach nationwide. Guided by the values that sparked our founding, we remain dedicated to fostering unity and dismantling racism—one conversation, one partnership, one community at a time.