Mayor-President Edwards Hosts Bloomberg Harvard Cross-Boundary Collaboration Program in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, LA - October 14, 2025 - Mayor-President Sid Edwards hosted the Cross-Boundary Collaboration Program, a Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative event at the Watermark Hotel.

The half-day session brought together City-Parish department leaders, Metro Councilmembers, and community partners to explore strategies for improving collaboration across government, nonprofit, and private sectors. The program marked the official introduction of the Collaboration Track of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative to key stakeholders in Baton Rouge, with this year's focus centered on addressing blight in the capital city.

"This initiative reinforces what we've been building across our city-parish government - that teamwork and communication are essential to solving complex challenges," said Mayor-President Sid Edwards. "Blight impacts every neighborhood in different ways, and by working together across departments and organizations, we can restore pride in our communities and move Baton Rouge forward."

The event gave attendees an opportunity to voice their perspectives on the blight challenge, connect with peers from various sectors, and align their efforts with the Edwards Administration's top goals. By fostering shared understanding and identifying common objectives, the workshop aimed to strengthen the foundation for continued progress and innovation in Baton Rouge's blight reduction efforts.

The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative is a global program that equips mayors and senior city officials with the leadership and management tools needed to tackle their cities' most pressing issues. Baton Rouge's participation underscores the city's ongoing commitment to collaborative governance and results-driven public service.