OPEN plans community forum on education

By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer |

In culmination of a yearlong effort to get community members to engage in education issues, the Orleans Public Education Network is hosting a roundtable discussion Saturday dubbed Let the Circle Be Unbroken.

This event marks the end of the organization’s One Step community-engagement campaign, though a spokeswoman said Friday that it’s just the beginning of the organization’s attempts to let the community’s opinions on education be heard. The event aims to create an outlined vision that addresses major issues facing New Orleans education, and submit that vision to educational leaders.

Previous One Step discussions have focused on early-childhood-education issues, high school reform, and school choice versus neighborhood schools.

The event will be held Saturday at Kingsley House on 1600 Constance St., and it starts at 10 a.m.