NEW ORLEANS – Mayor LaToya Cantrell today will travel to Washington D.C. to attend the 91st Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) taking place Jan. 17-19, 2023, as well as the Mayors Innovation Project’s Winter 2023 Meeting taking place Jan. 20-21, 2023.
“Attending this year’s Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and Mayors Innovation Project presents multiple opportunities to engage and hear directly not only from my brother and sister mayors but also several top-level federal officials to ensure we work together to identify projects and programs that will benefit our residents,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “The support and shared experiences of mayors is a much-needed resource that federal officials lean on to understand what is happening on the ground in real time. Particularly during these unprecedented times, it is important that mayors come together to discuss and analyze ways in which we can make our cities more equitable through infrastructure improvements, crime prevention, workforce development programs, mental health initiatives and addressing our increased challenges presented by climate change. I am excited to build on our partnerships at the local, state and federal level through the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Mayors Innovation Project.”
Under the leadership of USCM President Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, key priorities to be discussed throughout the 91st Winter Meeting include mental health, public safety, technology and innovation, infrastructure, achieving functional zero homelessness and jobs. There will be many opportunities for direct mayor-to-mayor engagement on best practices on a wide range of topics impacting cities of all sizes and in all regions across the nation, as well as direct engagement with many high-level federal agency officials, congressional leaders and other policy and thought leaders. All mayors registered and in attendance have also been invited to meet with President Joseph Biden and his top staff in the White House.
On Tuesday, Jan. 17, Mayor Cantrell will participate in a USCM Special Session on “Mental Health for a Strong Workforce: Expanding Your Mental Healthcare Workforce.” She will be joined by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego to discuss their efforts to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion are included in their work to address the healthcare workforce shortages in their cities — particularly as they strive to address shortages in the mental healthcare workforce.
The Mayors Innovation Project is a national learning network for mayors committed to shared prosperity, environmental sustainability and efficient democratic government. For their 2023 Winter Meeting, discussion topics include: Financing Your City’s Future, Equitable Solutions for Pedestrian Safety, A Bridge to Solidarity: Conscious Leadership in Polarized Times and Leading Under a Microscope.
On Friday, Jan. 20, Mayor Cantrell will participate in the Mayors Innovation Project Showcase, an interactive session that offers mayors and City staff the opportunity to present on an innovative policy or program idea that they have successfully implemented in three minutes or less. During this showcase, Mayor Cantrell will highlight the City of New Orleans’ $790K FEMA-funded Emergency Generator Readiness Project, which was created in direct response to the City’s need for temporary backup natural-gas generators at City-owned facilities. These are critical to the City’s recovery following a disaster and allow the City to open Emergency Resource Centers (ERC) for impacted residents, especially during prolonged power outages and/or extreme weather.
Mayor Cantrell will return to New Orleans on Sunday, Jan. 22.
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