Zohran Mamdani teams up with Cardi B for jingle contest to promote New York City’s free child care program

new york rapper Cardi B In partnership with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a citywide jingle contest has been launched to promote the city’s new free child care program for two-year-olds.The competition invites city residents to create and submit 15- or 30-second original songs, and families are encouraged to apply for the program. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges, including Cardi B, and the winner will be voted on by New Yorkers. The winning song will become the official theme of the child care program and will be played on local radio stations.

Applications for the child care program (called 2‑K) will open on June 2, 2026 and close on June 26, 2026. The first batch of admission letters will be released in August. Families will be able to apply for free child care seats in several school districts across the city.The jingle contest is part of the city’s effort to build awareness and momentum for the child care program ahead of the application period. Mamdani said the competition is designed to get families involved and excited about the opportunities the program offers.Cardi B grew up in New York and is a parent herself. She will help review submissions along with other community members. Her involvement reflects her support for family and child care issues.The 2-K program is part of the city’s broader plan to provide free, accessible child care to two-year-olds regardless of family income or immigration status. The program will launch this autumn with 2,000 free places and will be scaled up over the next four years to provide a universal service to households in all boroughs.Officials hope the program will help ease the financial burden on families struggling with the cost of child care and support early childhood development in New York City. Free childcare for children in this age group is designed to give children a good start while also allowing parents to work without having to worry about the high cost of childcare.To enter the jingle contest, New Yorkers can submit audio clips through April 17, 2026, through the city’s official website.