SAIS Students Drive Public Innovation in U.S. City Halls Through Bloomberg Fellowship
During the summer of 2025, several Johns Hopkins SAIS students worked at the heart of local government, advancing community-centered innovation in cities across the United States through the Summer Scholars Program at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation (BCPI). The program places emerging public sector leaders in mayoral offices to tackle urgent local challenges, from climate resilience to equitable community development.
“The Summer Scholars program is a unique opportunity to engage Johns Hopkins graduate students in public innovation and hopefully spark a lasting interest in public service,” said Cory J. Anderson, program manager at BCPI. “I love working with such smart, dedicated young professionals and seeing them bring their talents to local government, where they are so greatly needed to tackle pressing challenges in our communities. This fellowship gives them a powerful, hands-on way to do just that.”
Krithiga Narayanan, MAIR ’26, spent Summer 2025 in the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics in Boston, Massachusetts, where she worked on a behavioral change communications project focused on waste reduction and climate action. Her work explored how residents’ behavior change can support Boston’s zero-waste goals while strengthening trust between communities and the city.
Narayanan developed and tested solutions grounded in public storytelling and civic participation. These included a city-wide Waste Ambassador Program, empowering residents to become climate champions within their neighborhoods, and a storytelling initiative that elevated community voices about waste, stewardship, and shared responsibility. Both approaches aimed to shift norms and reinforce climate action as a collective, citywide effort.
A moment with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who held her young child during a meeting, reshaped Narayanan’s understanding of leadership. “Mayor Wu models a form of women’s leadership that is deeply human, one that does not compartmentalize or hide everyday life, but makes space for it,” Narayanan said. “This experience affirmed that care, identity, and accountability can coexist in public service, and that trust grows when leadership embraces the fullness of life.”
In Los Angeles, California, Niomi Choksi, MAIR ’26, collaborated with the city’s Office of Strategic Partnerships to leverage data-driven solutions and strengthen collaboration across government and community organizations. “I saw how meaningful impact can be made in a short time,” Choksi said. “From wildfire preparedness to planning for major games, I gained deep appreciation for the power of partnerships to drive change.”
Morgan Engel, MAIR ’26, supported efforts to prepare the city of Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, helping to align policies and stakeholder priorities to ensure long-term community benefit. “The work was not just timely, but important, as the city endeavors to create a positive and lasting legacy,” Engel said. “I am proud to have played a role in guiding policy toward shared goals across government.”
Vandana Yadav, MAIR ’26, brought a people-driven approach to Newport News, Virginia, where she worked on environmental justice priorities alongside residents in the city’s Southeast community. “Public innovation demands perseverance and trust-building with communities,” Yadav said. “Knowing that my work may help inform policy efforts around century-old coal dust concerns gives me hope and fulfillment.” She credits the fellowship with shaping both her understanding of civic innovation and her commitment to advancing equitable public outcomes.
Working with the Office of Sustainability in Newark, New Jersey, Lyonne Zhu, MAIR '26, helped draft ordinances that showed how even small policy shifts can lead to meaningful change. “This summer taught me that public innovation starts with listening and translating community needs into action,” Zhu stated. “The experience strengthened my skills as a policy analyst, deepened my commitment to climate resilience and equity, and inspired me to keep building solutions that make cities stronger and more connected.”
Through immersive placements, the Summer Scholars Program equips SAIS students with the experience, networks, and practical skills needed to lead in government and public innovation roles. Participants return to campus with a deeper understanding of how cities operate and how public policy succeeds when it is informed by lived experience and close collaboration with residents.
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