In cities around America, mayors often report to their residents on a wide range of city initiatives in an annual speech called the State of the City. Typically, the mayor will highlight the accomplishments of his term and discuss his vision for the future.
As a highly visible public figure, the mayor is well-positioned to lead the conversation and mobilize resources for his city. However, if the mayor doesn’t have effective ways to share his message and engage with residents, his leadership can be limited. That’s why many mayors have sought out training to enhance their ability to speak about themselves and their vision.
Mayors can use their speeches to discuss a variety of issues, but the most common topics include tackling blight, homelessness and education. In the area of education, mayors have been highlighting efforts to improve local schools and programs that support school-related needs such as civic engagement and connecting unhoused expectant mothers with homes.
Across the country, mayors have also been using their speeches to address national issues that impact their communities. This has included addressing the federal tax law, expressing views on immigration and urging support for the Paris Climate Accords.
The most recent mayor speech that captured attention focused on Islamophobia. In New York, the speech from Jamal Mamdani, a Brooklyn-born Muslim who was running to become the city’s first openly Muslim mayor, resonated with Muslims in his largely Arab-American borough. Bilqees Akhtar, 56, a school administrator who started wearing a headscarf after the Sept. 11 attacks, said the mayor’s remarks reminded her that she must always be on guard while out in public.
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