The process involves locating two schools - one in Maine and one in New York City. The schools must show an interest in building an alliance that makes their students part of a larger world and encourages them to “act for human dignity” (Loeb). Although the actual exchanges are short-term, lasting four or five days, the relationships developed between both the schools and the students are long-term.

OBS facilitates the following:

• A meeting with the principals to discuss the development of a relationship between their two schools
• Identification of the program coordinators at each school
• Selection of participants
• Development of itinerary for exchange
• Preparation of the students, school and community for this ongoing relationship.

Although each relationship reflects the needs of individual schools and communities, Operation Breaking Stereotypes exchanges always include the following:

• Preparatory sessions where students read about and discuss cultural and social justice issues, write, reflect, and share their stories in preparation for their first meeting.
• Writing and exchanging “How I Became Who I Am Today” written pieces before students meet for the first time. These essays are used to match students from the participating schools in pairs.
• A four day family home stay and visit to each host school and community including a day attending classes, a social gathering of all participants, a day with their host families, several opportunities to discuss and write reflections about the exchange, and a performance for the community demonstrating a connection among cultures
• Reflection and planning sessions after the exchange during which students will discuss the experience, plan the other leg of the exchange, talk with the school community about future plans for a continuing relationship between the two schools.

The primary purpose of this program is to improve the understanding of differences in our global society and to empower youth to work for social justice. Additionally, OBS focuses on issues of equity, rigor, and personalization through the following goals:

• Building equity for all students regardless of race, ethnicity,gender, socio-economic status, and geography by sharing strategies that address common barriers to a promising future and by encouraging students and communities to be aware of the current inequities that exist in schools in order to work together to amend this condition
• Working to foster schools and education systems that not only expect quality from every student, but provide the support to make this possible by exposing students to a broader world, preparing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to face its challenges, and helping them appreciate and thrive on the diversity it will present
• Focusing on each student's story and journey as worthy of attention and to help every student find a voice to advocate not only for their own education but also for equal opportunity for a rigorous education for all.