OPEN expands awareness of effective and best practice and key policy issues to ensure an engaged public is also an informed public.

Our programs and research projects provide resources for the community so that they may participate more actively in the public education conversation. By fostering greater collaboration and increasing community awareness of best practices and the landscape of New Orleans schools, we believe that transformative change is possible.

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. - Thomas Jefferson

OPEN engages the community of New Orleans in a sustained dialogue about public education.

We believe there is a tremendous amount of wisdom within the New Orleans community. OPEN strives to bring everyone to the table in making decisions about public education—not just the “experts.” To achieve our vision of an equitable and excellent public school system, OPEN is committed to supporting broad participation in the education conversation through its programming.

Those closest to any change must be involved in the change in order for the change to be effective. -Kurt Lewin

OPEN amplifies the voice of the community and raises awareness about key education issues.

Meaningful community engagement results in sustained and systemic change. OPEN is committed to reconnectingcommunity voice and values to substantive policy change. By increasing the opportunities for community voices to be heard in education decision-making, we believe the process of improving public schools in New Orleans will be more sustainable and equitable. Through our One Step Campaign, Governance Series, and What Works and Why series, we set the stage for community members to collaborate with stakeholders and policymakers to produce the education reforms that Orleans Parish needs .

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. -Maya Angelou