Public education was established to provide all Americans with the opportunity to become informed citizens capable of participating in public life. New York City Mission Society believes that community members, parents, business owners, non-profit professionals, executives, and faith-based leaders all have an important role in creating the policies that impact the young people who attend New York City public schools.

More than 1.1 million students attend New York City public schools. Community involvement is critical to the success of the nation?s largest school system. New York City Mission Society's Community Conversations in Education Project [CCEP], funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is aimed at bringing together opinion leaders from the city's diverse communities to discuss key issues in education and the impact of public education reforms underway over the past six years. Through a series of formal and informal conversations, city leaders will define the challenges facing the public school system and explore the opportunities for effective change.

The dialogue emerging from these community conversations will be an important source of perspective and guidance to inform policy decisions on education reform. Transcripts of the conversations will be shared widely with educators, neighborhood groups, donors, the Mayor's Office and the NYC Department of Education.

The chance to share your thoughts and positively impact the decisions about public school education is now! Will you raise your hand?