By 
Nearly two decades after Hurricane Katrina, the people of New Orleans and Mississippi’s Gulf Coast continue to be a testament to hope, ingenuity and perseverance. Communities have done more than rebuild — they are reimagining systems to create opportunity for all, especially children. While significant progress has been made, critical work remains to ensure that growth is truly equitable and lasting. As part of an ongoing reflection series called Rooted in Us, W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) staff and local leaders share their perspectives on community efforts, lessons learned and the investments still needed to build a future where all children can thrive. WKKF has been investing in New Orleans and Mississippi since the 1940s but deepened its commitment after Hurricane Katrina, supporting locally driven efforts that improve health, education and economic opportunity.
As New Orleans marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, education leader Adrinda Kelly is calling for more than reflection — she’s calling for a reset.
In a recent op-ed and podcast conversation with The Lens, Kelly — executive director of Black Education for New Orleans (BE NOLA) — offers a vision for a more equitable public education system: one rooted in cultural pride, community accountability and deep investment in Black educators and families.
Drawing on the legacy of Black educational excellence in New Orleans, she challenges the city to tell a fuller story about the last 20 years, one that acknowledges both the progress made and the harm that still needs repair.
“We have an opportunity right now to shape the next 20 years of public education in New Orleans into a just and inclusive system for all,” Kelly told us. “By investing in Black education, centering community accountability and telling the truth, we can reimagine a system rooted in equity, care and cultural pride.”
Explore her full reflection:
🎧 Podcast:
Behind the Lens, Episode 259: “The education situation”
A conversation with Adrinda Kelly, hosted by Carolyne Heldman
How community voice, investment and truth-telling can shape the next chapter for New Orleans students
📖 Op-Ed:
The Lens: We’re not done yet: Twenty years after Katrina, we need an educational reset
By Adrinda Kelly
A call to invest in Black educators, honor community leadership and build a future rooted in care and equity
As part of an ongoing reflection series called Rooted in Us, W.K. Kellogg Foundation staff and local leaders share their perspectives on community efforts, lessons learned and the investments still needed to build a future where all children can thrive.
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