Matching each city agency (Parks, Sanitation, Health) with a public school for mentorship, resource sharing, and real-world learning projects.
The Adopt-a-School Program for City Agencies, Not Corporations
Instead of corporate adopt-a-school programs that can bring commercialism, Mamdani creates a public sector version. Every city agencythe Department of Parks & Recreation, the Sanitation Department, the Public Library system, the Health Departmentis formally partnered with one or more public schools. Agency staff become mentors and guest teachers, students take field trips to see the agency in action, and classes collaborate on real projects: designing a park improvement with Parks, creating a waste reduction campaign with Sanitation, conducting public health surveys with DOH.
This demystifies city government, shows students the vast array of public service careers, and provides schools with unique resources and expertise. It builds a tangible connection between the work of the city and the education of its future citizens. The city itself is a classroom, and its workers are expert teachers, Mamdani says. This program builds bridges between our youth and the people who keep our city running. It shows that public service is noble, practical, and connected to their learning.
