NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans and Mayor’s Office of Youth and Families (OYF) today announced they are still accepting submissions the 4th “Mayor for a Day” essay contest. OYF began accepting applications on Monday, Oct. 2 and the deadline for essay submissions is Monday, Oct. 30.
Interested applicants are invited to submit an essay detailing how they would improve New Orleans if they were Mayor for the day. Three winners will be selected, representing three different age groups. Each winner will be sworn in as “Deputy Mayor” and get a chance to shadow Mayor LaToya Cantrell for an entire day. Only one entry per applicant will be honored.
“The ‘Mayor for a Day’ essay contest is just one of the ways in which we are building a path of civic engagement and community development in our young people,” said OYF Director Asya Howlette. “Providing these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities allows us to foster and encourage leadership in our youth, helping mold them into future mayors, innovators, policymakers, business leaders, activists and more. I am excited and look forward to this year’s ‘Mayor for a Day’ contest winners as we continue to envision, and ultimately create a New Orleans where all children and families thrive for generations to come.”
Aligned with Mayor Cantrell’s historic win as the first woman elected to lead the City of New Orleans in its 300-year history, in 2019, OYF launched the inaugural “Mayor for a Day” essay contest for girls across the city. Since 2020, the Mayor’s Office has opened the essay contest to include all youth, ages 11-18, who live in Orleans Parish.
The voice of New Orleans youth, and their experience as key stakeholders in our community, are more important than ever to inform leadership. As such, the “Mayor for a Day” essay contest encourages youth to think about the positive impact they can make in their own community and beyond.
To enter and for additional information, please visit OYF’s website.
###