The City of Atlanta announced that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is joining 40 Mayors from around the world in New York this week for the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative.

Participating Mayors will study leadership, city-management practices and innovation with faculty from the Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School, as well as experts from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ global network. The goal is to drive performance, maximize efficiency and enhance the quality of life in their respective cities.

“I am proud to have been chosen for the second class of the Bloomberg Harvard City Initiative,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said. “I am looking forward to the year ahead as a great opportunity to meet with other city leaders to exchange ideas and develop innovative solutions to vital problems affecting our residents.”

The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative will connect Mayors to the university’s top educators, coaching from experts, and the latest technology available. The program aims to establish a network of peers through which Mayors can share best practices and learn from each other’s real-life experiences.

After the Mayors’ session this week, two senior-level city officials nominated by each Mayor will attend a similar convening in August. Training for both Mayors and senior leaders will continue throughout the year via a state-of-the-art virtual classroom.

Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term Mayor of New York City, collaborated with outgoing Harvard University President Drew Faust to create the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative in 2016.

Mayor Bottoms’ participation in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative—and that of her two senior leaders—is fully funded by the program, including tuition, accommodation, meals and airfare.