These Terriers Spent Their Summer Serving the People of Boston

These Terriers Spent Their Summer Serving the People of Boston

This summer, eight Boston University students got a crash course in Civics 101. As BU City Scholar Summer Fellows, they spent 10 weeks working at Boston City Hall, interning with individual city councilors and for numerous departments in Mayor Michelle Wu's administration, including the Office of Cultural Affairs, the Mayor's Equity and Inclusion Cabinet, the Office of Civic Engagement, and more.

The program, funded by BU's Office of Government & Community Affairs, affords a chance for full-time rising juniors and seniors who are Thomas M. Menino Scholarship or Boston Community Service Award recipients a rare opportunity to see how the wheels of municipal government work and how the needs of the city's 650,000 constituents are met each day through a variety of city programs and departments.

Over the course of their internships, this year's fellows conducted research, created social media content and updated websites and databases, attended City Council meetings and community events, and more. We asked each of them to reflect on what the experience meant to them and how working at City Hall this summer may shape their future career plans. Take a look.

Maisha Kazi (CAS'26, COM'26)

Maisha Kazi (CAS'26, COM'26). Photo by Cydney Scott

This summer, I had the privilege of interning in the office of City Councilor Sharon Durkan, representing District 8. I supported constituent services by answering calls and drafting correspondence, conducted policy research to support hearing orders that informed policy proposals, and wrote speeches and citations for council presentations and events. I also developed a database of schools, early childcare centers, and museums across District 8 to strengthen the office's reference materials and data tracking.

I was drawn to interning at City Hall because of my positive experience interning there last summer with the Mayor's Equity and Inclusion Cabinet. I enjoyed learning how City Hall functions, witnessing the dedication of every employee, and seeing how different departments collaborate to work toward one common goal: making sure that Boston works for everyone.

This year, I wanted to focus on the policy level and learn how elected officials operate once in office. I gained insight into how city councilors run their offices, interact with constituents, and turn ideas into policy proposals. I especially valued learning about the council's legislative process, which I was unfamiliar with before. To my surprise, I discovered how much the councilors collaborate with one another to accomplish their long-term priorities for both their districts and the city.

The highlight of my summer was engaging with the community, supporting Councilor Durkan at meetings, and getting to know the lovely staff of the District 8 office.

My experience reaffirmed my interest in pursuing a career in government and public service for the community I call home.

Kimberly Nguyen (Sargent'27)

Kimberly Nguyen (Sargent'27). Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

I had the opportunity to work for the Mayor's Office of Civic Organizing, which focuses on developing initiatives and resources to encourage community engagement among residents. The initiatives I worked on included the Summer Block Party Grants, Neighborhood Cleanups, and City Hall on the Go, which brings city hall services to local neighborhoods via a mobile truck. My responsibilities involved communicating with residents and connecting them to the appropriate support services, maintaining accurate records and website information, and supporting the department's administrative functions. Over two months, I assisted with the distribution of $65,000 in grant funds that will directly support Boston residents in hosting community events.

Interning at City Hall provided an opportunity to gain exposure to a new sector and become involved in the community. My goal was to develop social skills within a professional setting and broaden my knowledge of civic affairs. Through the internship, I improved my written and verbal communication skills, as well as my ability to strategize. It offered a valuable opportunity to gain insight into the city's effort to promote inclusivity and public safety. Additionally, I developed a deeper understanding of civic engagement operations and the unique needs of each community.

The best part of this internship was interacting with constituents and helping them make their events happen. I'm grateful for meeting and working with an enthusiastic and supportive team that guided me through the different sides of civic engagement. One day I hope to combine my programming skills and passion for optometry to give back to the Boston community and promote vision health.

Khang Le (CAS'26)

Khang Le (CAS'26). Photo by Cydney Scott

As a 2025 BU City Scholar Summer Fellow, I worked with the City of Boston's Equity and Inclusion Cabinet, supporting communications across multiple departments, including the Offices of Women's Advancement, Cultural Affairs, Reparations, and LGBTQ+ Advancement. My responsibilities ranged from updating and auditing Boston.gov content using Drupal to creating social media graphics for cultural observances to collaborating on a major project, developing an internal hub to improve communication and resource-sharing across all departments in the Cabinet.

Additionally, I was drawn to working at City Hall because I wanted to see how equity-focused work happens at the municipal level, where decisions and communications directly impact communities. I learned how even behind-the-scenes tasks such as website audits or event listings play an important role in ensuring the city remains visible, accessible, and connected to residents.

One surprise was just how collaborative the environment was; even across different offices, there was a shared sense of mission and mutual support. The best part of my experience was working with my mentor, Martine Maingot, the director of communications for Equity and Inclusion. Her guidance, patience, and leadership turned every project into a learning opportunity, and to top it off, she treated us to an unforgettable Thai lunch during our last team meeting.

I now better understand the strategic role communications play in advancing equity, from ensuring accurate public information to fostering internal collaboration. While I am still exploring my career path, this fellowship has strengthened my interest in work that combines public service with design, communications, and technology. It has shown me how meaningful it is to contribute to a mission that centers community and inclusion.

Carina Spinola (Sargent'26)

Carina Spinola (Sargent'26). Photo by Cydney Scott

This summer I worked in the Office of Cultural Affairs. I was interested in learning more about Boston's daily operations and how exactly city events are cultivated.

My tasks constantly changed in response to the needs of the cultural advisors. I designed flyers, created and posted media to our official Instagram account, collaborated on documents, aided in outreach, and attended multiple community events with Cape Verdean cultural advisor Eliseu Depina and Vietnamese cultural advisor Kevin Tran. We worked on upcoming back-to-school drives and citywide programs. As a Boston resident who is Cape Verdian, I am grateful to have attended numerous community events commemorating Cape Verde's 50 years of independence with Eliseu in July. We attended community celebrations, festivals, and a senior luncheon and hosted a flag-raising at City Hall Plaza.

I learned that the city doesn't sleep. Until now, I had no idea of the magnitude of programs, events, and outreach the city conducts on a daily basis to make Boston better. My experience has motivated me to continue doing public service in the future so I can support our diverse communities. This fellowship made me proud to be a Bostonian.

Maggie Olson (CAS'26, Pardee'26)

Maggie Olson (CAS'26, Pardee'26). Photo by Cydney Scott

As a communications intern in Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune's office, I attended council meetings and hearings, joined the council president at community events, and engaged with constituents throughout Boston. I also created social media content, drafted talking points and speeches, and wrote monthly and midyear newsletters for residents.

One of my favorite projects was updating the council president's website. I researched previous legislation that Ruthzee Louijeune has led and examples of real change that her work as an at-large city councilor has created on issues such as affordable housing, accessible education, and immigrant rights. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the most meaningful impact in municipal government occurs working alongside, and in conversation with, constituents to address the issues Bostonians face daily.

I had such a valuable 10 weeks at City Hall, and I am so grateful for the support and mentorship of the team in Council President Louijeune's office. The past few months have inspired me to consider a future in public service, but more important, they have given me insight into the day-to-day work of advocating for residents across Boston, while providing me with the experience to continue building connections between policy, constituent, and communications work as a more engaged Bostonian.

Zakariya Hussein (Questrom'27)

Zakariya Hussein (Questrom'27). Photo courtesy of Hussein

Working in Boston City Hall's Equity & Inclusion Cabinet this summer was an eye-opening experience. As part of the communications team, I spent much of my time helping departments tell their stories. I edited animated videos-short, visually engaging clips created to highlight the Equity & Inclusion Cabinet's programs, initiatives, and events, such as the Somali Flag Raising and Juneteenth celebrations-in a simple and accessible way for social media, and I photographed events ranging from Eid festivals to flag raisings. I also updated sections of the Reparations Task Force webpage and the cabinet's hub site, helped compile vendor lists, and tracked account codes for food, photography, and consultant services. As part of the mayor's Menstrual Equity campaign, I gathered materials for a newsletter and researched how other cities approach menstruation policy. Every week brought a new challenge, from drafting social media copy to recording headshots and organizing internal assets.

Growing up in Boston, I was curious to see how City Hall works behind the scenes. I quickly learned that "government" is really a community: before we are city workers, we are residents, and our job is to serve our neighbors as we would want to be served. Discovering that Mayor Michelle Wu herself once interned at City Hall reminded me that leadership is rooted in learning. I was surprised by how much cross-department collaboration and data work goes into seemingly simple projects and how passionate everyone is about celebrating diversity through observances and flag raisings.

The best part of the internship was the people. My supervisor, Martine, championed my work and invited me to shine, and my colleagues were generous with guidance. Photographing residents enjoying cultural celebrations and knowing my footage would help amplify their voices felt particularly meaningful. I leave City Hall with new skills in communications and public relations, a deeper understanding of procurement and budgeting, and a renewed appreciation for public service. This experience has strengthened my desire to pursue a career that combines storytelling and community engagement in government or the nonprofit sector.

Gretta Healy (CGS'25, CAS'27)

Gretta Healy (CGS'25, CAS'27). Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

As a BU City Scholar Summer Fellow, I interned with City Councilor Liz Breadon. She represents District 9, Allston-Brighton, where I grew up. This experience was especially meaningful as I was able to give back to the place I call home while learning how local government operates.

My main project focused on the urban heat island (UHI) effect in Allston-Brighton. I explored components like geographical information systems (GIS) to analyze data on intense heat. Something that surprised me was how accessible public research is when you dive deep to find it. Towards the end, I centralized information through a StoryMap to highlight the causes, effects, and potential solutions to this environmental challenge.

In addition to my main project, other responsibilities included attending City Council meetings, engaging with constituents, and contributing to public statements. I learned how essential community outreach is in driving meaningful change. I did this by educating residents on issues important for engagement and empowering people to advocate for their neighborhood. I also had the opportunity to speak with nonprofits and explore next steps for community initiatives focused on education and climate resilience.

This summer internship has allowed me to gain valuable experience and the chance to work alongside a passionate group of people. It has inspired me to pursue a career in the public sector and to create a platform to advocate for environmental resilience in Boston.

Mickayla Davis (CAS'27)

Mickayla Davis (CAS'27). Photo by Cydney Scott

This summer, I interned in the Policy & Planning Department at the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) under Krystal Garcia. As a premed student, I entered this experience wanting a deeper understanding of how policy and public health intersect, specifically how government decisions impact health outcomes in underserved communities.

My work focused on two key areas: supporting the city's response to legalized sports betting and assisting with gallery walks for the Boston Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). I also attended a press event where city leaders announced new public health funding and addressed current health challenges facing Boston residents.

I was especially interested in how policies like those regulating sports betting can influence youth behavior, mental health, and long-term public health risks. As someone planning to pursue medicine, it was eye-opening to see how upstream decisions made by BPHC shape the environments in which patients live.

What surprised me most was how collaborative and community-driven local government can be. I expected top-down processes, but instead witnessed departments working closely with residents and responding quickly to community needs.

The best part of the internship was contributing ideas across different departments within the Commission. Being in a space where my thoughts were welcomed, and sometimes even used, showed me how innovation happens when multiple teams work together toward shared goals.

This experience confirmed my interest in working at the intersection of medicine and public policy. Whether in a clinic or the BPHC, I now understand that improving health starts far beyond the exam room.

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