Stakeholder Spotlight: Tony Rodriguez

The “Stakeholder Spotlight” is an occasional series of posts highlighting people who are helping to advance Learning Life’s work.  Our latest post in this series features Tony Rodriguez, Director of the Open Gov Hub, a Washington-DC located “dedicated work and event space supporting organizations in the open governance and transparency sector.”  With Tony’s leadership, Open Gov Hub has kindly been hosting most of Learning Life’s Democracy Dinners since November 2023.  See photos at bottom taken from some our Democracy Dinners at The Hub.       

First, please tell us about you, Tony.

I’m originally from New York City, and despite living in DC, I continue to proudly—and sometimes painfully—follow the New York Mets.

My first foray into the nonprofit sector came through an internship in high school in the Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood of Manhattan.  I learned a lot about giving back to the community, information sharing, and resource scarcity.  That internship had a lasting impact as it led to a college scholarship, and eventually my bachelor’s degree in business management.

I have an extensive background in operations and facilities management, which really shapes how I approach creating spaces where people can do their best work.  In this field, you’re forced to wear a lot of hats and support a lot of teams. Because of this, I’ve picked up a lot of experience in network building, sales, marketing, and people management. This broad skillset helps me in my current role as the Director of a nonprofit co-working community and event space.

Lastly, a fun fact: I’m a bit of a Disney nerd.  I love the storytelling, the world-building, and yes, especially theme-park operations and logistics.

Please tell us about the Open Gov Hub, and the benefits of joining the Hub.

The Open Gov Hub (OGH) is a dynamic co-working community and event space in Washington, DC, home to organizations advancing transparency, accountability, open government, and civic participation around the world. We bring together nonprofits, social enterprises, and changemakers who believe governance works best when it’s open, inclusive, and accountable.

As a member of OGH, you benefit from:

  • A collaborative community of mission-aligned organizations
  • Regular events, workshops, and networking that spark new partnerships
  • A flexible, well-designed workspace built for connection and productivity
  • Access to shared resources, from meeting rooms to event space to community programming
  • A culture of learning, innovation, and collective impact

We’re more than just a workspace—we’re a hub where ideas, people, and projects come together to strengthen open government movements globally.

Organizations that are members with the Open Gov Hub include:

Get Hub membership information here, or request event space here. You can also contact Tony directly at tony@opengovhub.org, or the Hub at info@opengovhub.org.

Why does the Hub support Learning Life’s Democracy Dinners?

OGH supports Learning Life’s Democracy Dinners because they align perfectly with our mission to foster open, participatory, and informed communities.  Democracy Dinners create intimate, thoughtful spaces for people to engage across differences, deepen their understanding of civic issues, and strengthen the social fabric that healthy democracies rely on.

We believe that democracy isn’t just shaped in formal institutions—it’s shaped in conversations, relationships, and shared learning. Supporting Democracy Dinners is one way we help cultivate a more connected, informed, and engaged citizenry, locally and nationally.