Alexander Heffner, the host of The Open Mind on PBS stations, is debuting a new series, Mayors of the World, that will spotlight the public policy and innovation of civic leaders.
The series will debut this weekend on more than 200 stations, and will feature Heffner sitting down with mayors of Athens, Santiago, Lisbon, Toronto and Atlanta.
Each mayor is spotlighted having a meal with Heffner and touring their cities.
In one episode, Heffner has breakfast with Haris Doukas, the mayor of Athens, with the Acropolis as a backdrop. Doukas talks about his special responsibilities being the mayor city known as the birthplace of democracy. “You need to enhance what is special,” Doukas says. “You need to trigger attention of citizens, help them engage, so as to consider each and every one that they co-create decisions. … We listen to them and we co-create.”
Among other things, Doukas talked about his efforts to plant more trees throughout the city to provide more cool shade amid rising temperatures due to climate change, along with addressing other issues like affordability and healthcare.
Also featured in episodes are Carlos Moedas, mayor of Lisbon; Andre Dickens, mayor of Atlanta; Olivia Chow, mayor of Toronto; and Mario Desbordes, mayor of Santiago.
The series marks the 70th anniversary of The Open Mind, which was launched in 1956 by Heffner’s grandfather, Richard Heffner. The show, which is independently funded, specializes in extended conversations about politics, technology and the arts, emphasizing ideas rather than ideological rhetoric.
Airtimes vary across the country. The series airs at noon ET on Saturdays on Thirteen HD in New York and Sunday at noon PT on PBS SoCal World.