Hinsdale’s brand new Mayor for a Day program will give several local school children an inside look at how their hometown government operates.
Village President Greg Hart said the idea to start the program grew out of two priorities he’s had since taking office in 2025.
The first of those priorities is strengthening cooperation between the village and local school districts, particularly Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Elementary District 181 and Hinsdale High School District 86, which, Hart said, are a very important part of what makes Hinsdale a wonderful place to live.
“Our schools, along with the outstanding teachers, administrators and staff who serve our students every day, are part of the backbone of this community,” he said. “They play a major role in why so many families choose to call Hinsdale home and why our community continues to be recognized as one of the best places to raise a family. I believe it’s important that the village actively supports them whenever we can.”
In addition, the Mayor for a Day program connects the village with local schools in another way, allowing schools to “offer the experience as a live auction item during their fundraising events, creating a unique opportunity that helps support their educational fundraising efforts while providing students with an experience they can’t get anywhere else,” Hart said.
He said he also wanted to give young people a meaningful introduction to local government and public service.
“I benefited tremendously from learning about government at a young age, and that early exposure helped shape my own path into public service,” Hart said. “Rather than simply creating a ceremonial title, we designed a program that gives students a behind-the-scenes look at how local government operates.”
Each student who is Mayor for a Day is given a full schedule that introduces them to many aspects of village government.
“They spend time with me, meet village staff, visit departments like police, fire, public works and other village departments, learn how local government functions, and see firsthand how the services we provide impact residents every day,” Hart said.
He said it’s important for participating students to appreciate the responsibility that comes with leadership and public service.
“After learning about the village’s work throughout the day, each student has the opportunity to issue their own official proclamation on a topic related to local government that resonated with them,” Hart said. “It gives them a chance to think about the decisions leaders make, the priorities they set, and how government can have a positive impact on a community.”
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The program has primarily been geared toward elementary school students. Students from Elm School and Saint Isaac Jogues schools already have participated, and others from Oak, The Lane, Monroe and Madison schools will have the experience later in July.
Sami Akhras from Elm School was Mayor for a Day on June 30.
“I had a lot of fun,” he said. “I wanted to do it because I was curious about what a mayor does and how the village works. I got to meet a lot of nice people and learned that it takes teamwork and hard work to help the community. It was really interesting, and I’m happy I got to be part of it.”
Sami’s father, Rami Akhras, said the Mayor for a Day program was a wonderful experience for his son.
“It gave him a unique opportunity to see how our village operates and to learn about the people who work every day to serve the community,” Akhras said. “We appreciate the village creating programs like this that encourage young people to become engaged, ask questions, and learn about leadership.”
Hart said Mayor for the Day experiences will be scheduled through the year, based on school calendars, village schedules, and the fundraising events that support the program. And he is hopeful that the program will become a lasting tradition in Hinsdale.
“One of the responsibilities of local government is investing in the next generation of community leaders,” he said. “If we can inspire even a handful of students to become more engaged citizens — or someday serve their community themselves — that’s a worthwhile investment.”
And most of all, Hart hopes participants leave the experience with an appreciation for public service and a better understanding of how local government improves people’s daily lives.
“Local government is often the level of government people interact with most directly, yet many young people don’t have an opportunity to see what happens behind the scenes,” he said. “I hope participants walk away with a greater appreciation for the dedicated public servants who keep our community running and an understanding that they, too, can make a difference through service to others.”
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.