We are excited to share that Metis Christodoulou (WED ’26) is this year’s City of Boston Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM) Fellow representing Boston University and the Initiative on Cities! Metis will join a cohort of fellows to develop, research, or implement innovative, actionable prototypes, policies, and experiments that benefit Boston residents. MONUM fellows will also participate in professional development opportunities to gain a broad view of careers in city government.
The Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM) is Boston’s civic innovation team working to improve participatory urbanism in Boston, smarter city infrastructure, and innovative service delivery. They serve as the clearinghouse for civic innovation projects involving the City of Boston and its partners, ranging from residents and community groups to universities, companies, and other government agencies.
Metis Christodoulou (she/they) is currently a graduate student pursuing an EdM in Early Childhood Education at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Metis’ background is in game design, working and managing indie studios, and as an adjunct professor teaching game design principles. She pivoted towards teaching, applying her knowledge of play towards early education. She hopes to apply her learning either to her own classroom or to an educational policy position in the future. Metis is excited about this opportunity with MONUM to expand her skill set and make a tangible impact on the Boston community.
We asked Metis a few questions about her interests, motivations, and what she’s looking forward to as she embarks on her MONUM fellowship.
What made you want to apply for this internship/fellowship?
I had the pleasure of working with MONUM during my undergrad on a series of interactive art pieces about the MBTA. This was a major highlight of my time at Northeastern University, and when I saw the opportunity to work with MONUM again, I had to explore it. I have been trying to figure out my future trajectory with my EdM in Early Childhood Education, and I’m hopeful that this experience will help me better understand navigating policies in today’s climate and potentially prepare me for a job in educational policy.
Tell us about your interest in cities.
I grew up just outside of New York City. I would visit constantly, and it was like a second home, but I always lived in the suburbs. I didn’t live in a city until I moved to Boston for college. Moving to Boston helped me better understand how cities actually function day-to-day: how people navigate them, the communities they foster, and the benefits they offer society. Cities are where innovation, diversity, and community thrive. I’ve been so happy calling Boston my home for the last 11 years, and I hope to call it home for many more years to come.
How did you first become interested in civic innovation?
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I had just graduated from undergrad. I was still figuring out how to navigate the world outside of academia, and didn’t know where I was headed. I ended up running COVID-19 testing sites for much of the early pandemic, before transitioning to running primary care clinics. This experience helped instill in me a passion for community, community health, and community activism. As the pandemic continued, I started helping out with food deliveries, trash walks, and other volunteer activities.
While all of these things made me feel better about myself, they also showed me how much help was needed in our community. My game design background was built upon innovation and rapid prototyping. When I realized the shortcomings of our current system, I couldn’t help but want to iterate on and improve them. However, as an individual, this is a tricky task. I’m excited about this opportunity with MONUM to gain a more structured way to practice civic innovation, and I hope to make a tangible impact on my community.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
I am most looking forward to engaging with and innovating alongside people from vastly different fields and backgrounds than mine. I have had a very multidisciplinary career and education, and each experience has helped shape who I am and how I think about and navigate the world. Diversity breeds innovation, and I’m excited to explore the unique perspectives of those at MONUM.