Three of New Orleans’ native sons will discuss strategies for economic growth in the city when Dillard University hosts “New Orleans in the 21st Century: Lessons from the Making of Modern Atlanta” on March 12. The program, which will be held in the Georges Auditorium of Dillard’s Professional Schools Building, will include a reception at 5 p.m. and a panel discussion at 6 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

The panel will feature Andrew Young, the 14th U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former mayor of Atlanta; New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu; and Marc Morial, the president and C.E.O. of the National Urban League and former mayor of New Orleans. Norman Robinson, senior news anchor for WDSU-TV, will moderate.

The participants will examine the lessons learned during Young’s tenure as the mayor of Atlanta and seek to apply them to New Orleans today. Topics will include minority business joint ventures in city contracts; public-sector leverage of private-sector resources to preserve public institutions; and the role of education, sports, transportation and hospitality in creating a cycle of economic growth.

Young attended Dillard for one year and served on the university’s board of trustees.