NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today will travel to Coral Gables, Fla. to attend the 2023 Winter Leadership Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) taking place March 3-6, 2023, as well as travel to Miami to attend the Aspen Ideas: Climate Conference taking place March 6-9, 2023.
“Attending this year’s Winter Leadership Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Aspen Ideas: Climate Conference presents multiple opportunities to interact with and learn from not only from my brother and sister mayors but also several top-level executives, officials and leaders to ensure we work together to identify projects and programs that will directly benefit our residents,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “My attendance and participation as a panelist throughout both this year’s conferences speak to the work we are doing locally in New Orleans not only in terms of climate change but also as it relates to prioritizing mental health initiatives, especially for our youth. The nation and world are watching New Orleans as we quickly become a model for how to build back as a more resilient city, as well as how we raise awareness, break down stigmas, share resources and develop solutions to meet the mental health needs of our children.”
Under the leadership of USCM President Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, key priorities to be discussed throughout the 2023 Winter Leadership 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.
On Sunday, March 5, Mayor Cantrell will participate in a USCM Special Session on “Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in Cities.” Mayor Cantrell will lead a discussion on “Shining the Light: Mental Health Challenges Facing Youth,” where she will discuss mental health challenges our young people face in our communities. She will be joined by Miami-Dade County, Fla. Mayor Daniella Lavine Cava, Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and College Park, Ga. Mayor Patrick Wojahn to highlight their efforts across their cities in terms of mental health and the advancements being made to ensure their residents have adequate mental health accommodations.
The Aspen Ideas: Climate Conference is hosted in collaboration with the Aspen Institute, the City of Miami Beach and a diverse group of partner institutions, bringing global policymakers, scientific experts, corporate leaders, inventors and innovators, artists, young leaders and engaged members of the public together. This is a solutions-focused event designed for experts and the public to interact, learn and collaborate on ideas and actions critical to addressing the realities of a changing climate.
On Wednesday, March 8, Mayor Cantrell will participate in a panel discussion titled, “Charging Forward: Transportation, Electrification, and Resilience.” She will be joined by Paul Huelskamp of Moxion Power, Lynda Tran, who serves as Director of Public Engagement and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation and Davida Herzl, Co-Founder and CEO of Aclima, Inc. Panelists will discuss effective ways to stopping climate change and what we need to work toward in terms of carbon-free energy delivery.
Mayor Cantrell will return to New Orleans on Thursday, March 9.
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