Award-winning rapper Cardi B has partnered with Zohran Mamdani to promote New York City’s new 2-K program, a citywide initiative providing free childcare for 2-year-olds starting this fall.
The program, which will launch with 2,000 seats in the Bronx, Washington Heights, Southeast Queens, and Canarsie, aims to support families by saving them more than $25,000 per year in childcare costs.
Families can begin submitting applications on June 2, with the application period closing on June 26. Offers for enrollment will be released in August.
Cardi B, a Bronx native, highlighted the importance of accessible childcare for working parents.
“Sometimes us women, we can’t really go forward because we don’t have nobody to help us take care of our kids,” she said in a video announcement released Friday, April 3, 2026, alongside Mayor Mamdani.
Citywide Jingle Competition
As part of the campaign, Mamdani has launched a citywide jingle contest inviting New Yorkers to create 15- to 30-second original jingles promoting the 2-K program.
A panel of judges, including Cardi B, will select finalists, and the public will vote for the winning jingle, which will become the official 2-K theme for the city and receive radio play. Submissions are being accepted online until April 17.
Mayor Mamdani said, “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.”
Program Funding and Coverage
The state fully funds the 2-K initiative for its first two years.
The initial round of seats will cost $73 million, with funding projected to reach up to $425 million next year. The rollout covers the following school districts:
- Manhattan (District 6): Washington Heights, Inwood, Hamilton Heights, parts of Manhattanville
- Bronx (District 10): Fordham, Belmont, Norwood, Marble Hill, Morris Heights, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Van Cortlandt Village, Kingsbridge, Bedford Park, Mount Hope, Claremont-Bathgate, East Tremont
- Brooklyn (Districts 18 & 23): Canarsie, Rugby-Remsen Village, Brownsville, Ocean Hill, parts of East Flatbush-Farragut, Prospect Lefferts Garden-Wingate
- Queens (District 27): Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Howard Beach, Rockaways, parts of Lindenwood and Springfield Gardens North
The initiative marks a major step toward expanding access to early childhood education and easing the financial burden for families across New York City.
