Juneteenth: Mosaic Networking Group Continues to Bring People Together
Mosaic Networking Group co-founders David Garnes, James Fridie III, and Andre Norwood pause at their networking event held June 27, 2025 at Essie's Restaurant and Lounge in Clementon. Photo by Meredith Winner/Mer-Made Photography
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
CLEMENTON – Co-founders of the Mosaic Networking Group and their monthly professional networking events said they see their efforts as an opportunity to attract people of color across professions to build connections with other people they may not see otherwise.
Camden County-based attorneys James Fridie III, David Garnes and Andre Norwood said they wanted to dissuade the idea that because they come from the legal field, that the Mosaic Networking Group is geared toward that profession.
Their latest event held in June captured the “vibe” of Juneteenth, embodying resilience, unity, helping each other and hope for the future.
“We take all comers,” said Norwood, a general practice attorney. “We have an array of people who have come out [our networking events]. We want people to connect and expand their networks.”
Garnes, a divorce attorney, and Fridie, who practices family law, added that they have seen people from all professions walk through the doors of their networking events over the nearly two years they have done the monthly gatherings.
“While we created this for people of color, we want to welcome everyone, of all colors and backgrounds,” Fridie said.
The co-founders made the comments to Front Runner New Jersey during their latest networking event at Essie’s Restaurant and Lounge, a Black owned establishment in Clementon on Friday, June 27. The swanky establishment gave the network their upstairs space, where a free buffet of chicken wings, pasta, shrimp rolls and salad were served.
Garnes said he and another attorney attended similar networking events before the COVID-19 pandemic that they thought was beneficial. After the pandemic, Garnes said he believed a networking effort for people of color was missing from efforts to get people back out into the public.
“I reached out to James and Andre and we were all of a liked mind that it was needed,” Garnes said. “I’m not aware of anyone doing this in a way we are coming at it from. We wanted to make sure we attracted people from a broad range of occupations.”
Norwood said the group was intentional in where they would hold the networking events and who they hoped to attract.
“We pretty much wanted to give Black owned businesses our business,” Norwood said. “[Essie’s] is pretty much centrally located and we have the upstairs to ourselves. It has been growing. Each event was more successful.
“We’re inviting some guest speakers that has made it more worthwhile in coming out. We’ve had some insightful and attentive crowds.”
Fridie said he hoped the networking events will build a spirit of collaboration and outreach that will connect professionals and others in businesses and cooperation.
“We’re stronger together,” Fridie said. “It reminds me of that Muhammad Ali quote that service is the price we pay for living here on Earth.
“I’m originally from D.C., and when I moved here there were a lot of older attorneys who guided me along the way, so I want to be in that role for younger attorneys and other professionals however I can.”
The networking event drew a large crowd in April, attracting small business owners and people from various business interests.
The co-founders said they all see their networking event growing and continuing the gain traction among Black professionals and others in the future. They said the next step will be for them to increase their marketing presence.
“As more people hear about what we’re doing, they get interested and want to come out,” Garnes said. “We have a good number of people coming out and we want to expand it. The sky’s the limit, but it’s just getting the word out to people.”
Norwood said he understands that some people still have not emerged from the post-pandemic era and continue to let social media speak for them rather than engage in person. He said the group wants to create an atmosphere where even the most reclusive person can be comfortable.
“That’s the way our society is today,” Norwood said. “They rather hide behind social media instead of being face to face with someone. We want to make people feel comfortable. That’s why we wanted to have something like this, something that is more intimate without being intimidating.”
NMG’s July networking event has not been announced but those interested can connect to their Facebook page, at https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=mosaic%20networking%20group.
One thing that is guaranteed is that attendees, new and regulars, will be greeted with open arms, just as the co-founders designed it to be.
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