We are excited to share that Dominic Muratore (Pardee ’28) is this year’s City of Boston Planning Advisory Council (PAC) Intern, representing the Initiative on Cities and Boston University this summer at the City of Boston Planning Department. Dominic will work under the Executive Director of PAC Katharine Lusk, who is also the former Co-Director of the IOC, in a dynamic role that spans multiple areas of government, breaking down policy and implementation silos with the PAC to address challenges and pursue equity in the built environment.
Dominic is a rising junior from Rhode Island studying International Relations with minors in Urban Studies and Public Health. He is particularly interested in housing policy, education reform, and workforce development. Dominic plans to pursue a career in urban planning and eventually run for public office. His experiences interning with MassDems and the Providence City Council, and serving as a delegate in the United States Senate Youth Program, have reaffirmed his aspiration to lead and work in public service. Outside the classroom, Dominic enjoys running around Boston, trying new restaurants, and checking out new ice cream spots.
We asked Dominic several questions about his interests, motivations, and what he’s looking forward to at Boston City Hall this summer!
What made you want to apply for this internship?
I was drawn to this internship because it brings together everything I’m interested in about local government and planning. The Planning Advisory Council’s focus on connecting long-term planning with real implementation, especially across different parts of city government, is exactly the kind of work I want to understand. I’m especially interested in how coordination among housing, transportation, and infrastructure decisions can shape the built environment more intentionally. Being able to work on those kinds of projects in Boston and see how decisions are actually made at City Hall is a unique opportunity. I’m motivated by the opportunity to contribute to work that directly impacts how people experience the city, while gaining the kind of hands-on understanding that I hope to carry into a future role in public leadership.
Tell us about your interest in cities.
My interest in cities comes from the way they shape both how we live and how we feel. Growing up in Providence and now living in Boston, I’ve become attuned to the rhythm of urban life, the interaction between architecture, infrastructure, and public space that quietly organizes everyday experience. I’m especially drawn to how cities can foster strong, resilient communities through thoughtful investments in public transportation, affordable housing, and accessible green spaces. I’m especially drawn to the way cities create opportunity and bring people together. There’s something exciting about how a city can open doors through new experiences, careers, or connections. I love the energy and constant movement, the feeling that there’s always something happening and something to discover. To me, cities are places that inspire growth, creativity, and a strong sense of possibility.
How did you first become interested in governance and planning?
I first became interested in governance during a fourth-grade history lesson on local, state, and federal government, where I was struck by how decisions at different levels shape people’s everyday lives. Since that moment, I’ve wanted to run for public office as a way to be directly involved in that process. Over time, and through my own experiences working with government, I’ve come to see that the most meaningful change often happens at the local level, especially on issues I care deeply about like housing affordability and workforce development. That realization led me to urban planning, which I see as a practical way to connect policy to real outcomes. Planning brings together many different areas, including housing, transportation, economic development, and public health, and turns them into tangible improvements in people’s daily lives.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
I’m most looking forward to being in an environment where people genuinely care about the work and are thinking seriously about how to approach challenges in a more holistic way. I’m excited to contribute to conversations around the biggest issues facing Boston and to learn from the process up close. More than anything, I’m looking forward to understanding how city government actually operates day-to-day, since I hope to one day take on a leadership role within it.