Key Takeaways

• Cardi B is working with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani to raise awareness about the city’s new 2-K initiative.
• Families can submit applications between June 2 and June 26, with placement decisions announced in August.
• Community members have until April 17 to enter an original jingle contest for a chance to become the program’s official theme.

New York City is tapping into star power to get the word out about its latest child care initiative. Mayor Zohran Mamdani teamed up with Cardi B to announce key details for the city’s new 2-K program — including when families can apply and how residents can get involved through a creative jingle competition.

The program will offer 2,000 free child care seats for 2-year-olds starting this fall, with applications opening June 2 and closing June 26. Families will learn about placements in August. The initiative, first unveiled alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul in March, is fully funded by the state for its first two years, per CBS News.

In a promotional video shared Friday (April 3), Mamdani linked up with the Bronx rapper backstage — notably during her ongoing “Little Miss Drama Tour” — to break down the program’s impact. The clip opens with Cardi B greeting the mayor, saying, “Hi. Omg, how are you? Can you believe that we got a 34-year-old mayor? Like, I feel like I'm a kid and you’re, like, running New York." When asked about the initiative, she responded, "I feel like free childcare is very important. Sometimes us women, we can't really go forward because we don't have nobody to help us take care of our kids."

The clip also shows Mamdani asking the Grammy-winning artist to help judge a new citywide contest — and she agreed.

How the 2-K program and jingle contest work

To build buzz, the mayor’s office is inviting New Yorkers to submit original 15- to 30-second jingles encouraging families to apply for 2-K. According to CBS News, submissions are due by April 17, and Cardi B will help select finalists before the public votes on a winner. The chosen jingle will become the program’s official theme and air across the city. Entries must also be shared on social media using #NYC2KJingle and tagging the mayor’s office.

Mamdani emphasized the broader goal in a statement, saying, “As Cardi B says: ‘I can get 'em both. I don't wanna choose.’ With universal child care, New Yorkers won't have to. For too long, families have been forced to choose between affordable care and staying in the city they love. Now, they can have both — free care in the greatest city in the world.”

The program’s first rollout will focus on select neighborhoods across Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens — including areas like Washington Heights, Fordham, Canarsie, and Ozone Park, according to PIX11. Eligibility is broad: families can apply regardless of income, immigration status, or occupation. Children must turn 2 in 2026 and live in one of the designated districts. As previously reported by the outlet, Mamdani framed child care costs as a major reason families leave the city, noting the financial burden many households face.

With more seats expected in the coming years, the mayor’s long-term vision is to expand access citywide. For now, the combination of policy and pop culture, powered by Cardi B, is helping bring attention to a program designed to support working families at a critical stage.