The Opportunity Agenda project of the Tides Center was established in 2004 to build the national will to expand opportunity for all Americans through an integrated approach of research, advocacy and strategic communications. Publicly launched in February 2006, The Opportunity Agenda works to (a) advance an inclusive approach to opportunity and human rights in America that embraces racial justice, women’s rights, and the rights of immigrants, linking them to core American values and concerns like affordable housing and health care that affect us all; (b) harness the power of strategic communications and media to engage new audiences and move hearts and minds; and (c) link advocates, researchers, and media makers who share a common social justice vision and goals, but who often work in isolation.

Under its Human Rights Opinion Research Project, The Opportunity Agenda is currently conducting original public opinion research on Americans’ views on human rights in the U.S. Over the next year, the organization will work in consultation with a wide range of U.S. human rights groups and funders, and media consultants, to carry out a research agenda that includes the following components: moderated discussions with social justice advocates, an online survey that will be administered to thousands of social justice advocates, focus groups of key segments of the American public, and a national public opinion poll of 1500+ Americans. The ultimate goal of this research is to use the findings to create a collaborative message strategy to engage a growing audience of Americans in protecting and expanding human rights for all.

In working toward this goal, the Opportunity Agenda is also collaborating with groups such as the U.S. Human Rights Network, Breakthrough, Witness, ACLU, the SPIN Project, Amnesty International USA, Human Rights Watch, and The Nation Magazine on the development and dissemination of all the research tools through its “Developing a Communications Strategy for Human Rights in the US” Project.