JACKSON — Jackson Mayor John Horhn has been selected as one of 46 mayors from 15 countries to participate in the 10th class of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, a nine-month program focused on strengthening local government leadership.
According to the mayor’s office, Horhn and two City of Jackson officials will begin the program in August, where they will work with Harvard faculty, policy experts and other mayors to develop strategies for improving city services and addressing local priorities.
“I’m honored to be part of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, and I’m eager to bring what I learn back home to improve city services for the residents of Jackson,” Horhn said. “I plan to use this experience to sharpen our approach to problem-solving and deliver a more effective government for our city.”
The initiative is a partnership between Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School. Since its launch, the program has served 447 mayors and more than 3,000 senior municipal officials from around the world.
Participants attend classroom sessions, virtual meetings and field experiences, beginning with a multi-day convening in New York City this week. The program focuses on using data-driven decision-making, improving government operations and fostering collaboration across city departments.
Following the program, Jackson will remain eligible for additional support, including professional education opportunities for senior city staff, the placement of a Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellow for up to two years and access to research and training resources developed through the initiative.
Horhn is among 28 U.S. mayors and 18 international mayors selected for this year’s class, representing cities with a combined population of more than 22 million people.
