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Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans in late August, 2005, leaving the city in ruins. The devastation of the storm penetrated through the surface level destruction. The racial representation in governmental positions changed. The education system was upended. These alterations had implications of their own. Some of these challenges are highlighted in my investigation of Frederick Douglass High School which was transitioned from a public high school to a charter school under the operation of the Knowledge is Power Program after Hurricane Katrina. The transition was met with opposition from local grassroots organizations. These organizations utilized organizing strategies that are in alignment with Ella Baker and participatory democracy.