Opelousas Community Conversations Event
Plus, Last Chance to See "Where We Live: Opelousas Neighborhoods"
OPELOUSAS, La. – The Opelousas Museum will host Community Conversations, inviting community members to share and listen to stories on April 21 at the Opelousas Museum.
Locals are invited to share stories of people and activities, past and present, in an effort to preserve the rich history and culture of Opelousas Neighborhoods. Organizers welcome stories of growing up in Brickyard to telling your favorite stories of The Hill.
Participants are encouraged to bring snacks and food that remind them of home to share.
Community Conversations Event Details
When: Tuesday, April 21, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Where: Opelousas Museum, 315 N Main St., Opelousas, La., 70570
Contact: Patrice Melnick 337-948-2589; museum@cityofopelousas.com
The Community Conversations event will take place among the photo exhibit, “Where We Live: Opelousas Neighborhoods.” The exhibit showcases photographs contributed by residents of Opelousas, featuring everyday scenes, historic spaces, traditions and moments of community life.
Contributions represent a wide range of neighborhoods, including the North End, South Park, the Oil Mill and multiple other beloved sections of the city.
Each image reflects a piece of personal perspective—a front porch gathering, a street corner conversation, a driveway basketball game—collectively forming a portrait of how residents experience the place they call home.
While at the museum, visitors can vote on their favorite exhibit image for Best in Show, which will be displayed on a billboard.
“Where We Live: Opelousas Neighborhoods”
The Opelousas Museum opened the “Where We Live: Opelousas Neighborhoods” exhibit on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.
“We have seen a beautiful response from the community,” says Project Director Divine Bailey-Nicholas. “These photos are more than pictures—they are living reflections of identity, memory and belonging. This exhibit helps us see Opelousas through the eyes of the people who live here.”
“Where We Live: Opelousas Neighborhoods” is supported by a grant from the Division of the Arts, a part of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, as administered by the Acadiana Center for the Arts.
The National Endowment for the Arts has also provided funding. And the Museums Advancing Racial Justice Initiative is supporting the project.
The exhibit closes Saturday, May 2, with an open-mic closing celebration.
