NEW ORLEANS — This week, Mayor LaToya Cantrell will travel to Santa Barbara, Calif. to participate in the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Winter Leadership Meeting, taking place Feb. 15-17, 2024.
USCM President Mayor Hillary Schieve of Reno, Nev. will preside over the meeting. The USCM Winter Leadership Meeting in Santa Barbara, Calif. is essential for USCM leaders and mayors from across the country to attend because of its primary focus on mayors engaging together, “because cities are stronger together,” and to bring city priorities and future growth concepts directly to U.S. congressional leaders and the White House. Currently, Mayor Cantrell serves as a member of the USCM Board of Trustees and Co-Chair of the USCM Infrastructure Law Implementation Task Force, alongside Mayor Jim Ross of Arlington, Texas.
During the 2024 Winter Leadership Meeting, Mayor Cantrell will participate in a panel discussion titled, “Mayors’ Mental Health Solutions & Best Practices.” For this panel, Mayor Cantrell will focus on the sound investments New Orleans is making in mental health programs across the city. This includes, but is not limited to, the unprecedented $10 million investment to fund medical and mental health support for youth and the City’s first-of-its-kind Mobile Crisis Intervention Unit that provides rapid responses to behavioral health calls. By addressing this critical issue head-on, in partnership with our healthcare community, the City of New Orleans aims to continue the work of destigmatizing the need for additional mental health support. This panel will be moderated by USCM President Schieve, who also serves as Chair of the USCM Mental Health Task Force. Other participating mayors include:
- Mayor Elizabeth Kautz of Burnsville (Minn.), Past USCM President
- Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird of Lincoln (Neb.)
- Mayor Scott Brook of Coral Springs (Fla.)
- Mayor Todd Gloria of San Diego
- Mayor Christina Muryn of Findlay (Ohio)
Upon Mayor Cantrell’s return over the weekend, coordination for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans will continue with a unified City leadership press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 21, held with the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee.
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