City Hall 101: An Intern's Guide to Civic Engagement
Today we’re proud to hand the newsletter reins over to one of our incredible interns, Ameera Suttles for this week’s policy deep dive!
You may recognize her from our Instagram as she took to the halls of Suffolk interviewing youth ahead of the November 2025 election.
I'm Ameera Suttles, a youth ambassador for Santana’s Youth Force within the office of Councilor At-Large Henry Santana.
For years now, I've been committed to my studies, building my knowledge in politics, and learning as much as I can as a young adult. I'm a sophomore at Suffolk University majoring in political science, where I get the best of both worlds: I’m able to study politics in college but also get hands-on experience with local politics as a youth ambassador.
Civic engagement is personal for me.
My mother used to take me to her polling area every election to vote. It had a huge impact on how committed I was to my own civic duty once I turned 18. It felt like a privilege I had earned after watching my mom all these years.
That's why today, I'm excited to share my first newsletter. My goal is to help everyone who's interested keep up with city council and clarify what the City Council’s role is in Boston’s local government. Enjoy!
Have you ever wondered what actually happens inside City Hall?
It’s more than just a big concrete building downtown—it's the heartbeat of Boston’s local government.
City Hall is where ideas from people like you become the real changes you see in your neighborhood. It’s where your city councilors, including Councilor Henry Santana, meet to talk, plan, and vote on legislation that shapes everything from affordable housing and youth jobs to transportation, safety, and community events.
Federal elections usually get all the attention, but participating in local elections and getting involved with your local government is important! Most people can recognize the White House 436 miles away but have never set foot inside Boston City Hall.
City Hall isn’t some faraway building; it’s us. Our ideas and experiences shape the decisions that impact all of Boston. When you speak up, the city council's job is to listen and take action.
Why Do We Need City Council?
City Hall is a hub of services for residents and one of those is our City Council!
City Hall provides tons of services for residents; one of those is our city council. The council's end goal is always to help Boston residents and groups add volume to their voice. When the city wants change, they can turn to their Councilor and ask for it.
Think of the council as the main link between the people of Boston and their city government. Councilors help constituents by connecting them to the right resources, services, and City departments. They are there to be advocates for all Bostonians. Plus, the City Council has the huge job of approving the city's entire annual budget. The council keeps things organized and ensures that decisions about the city are made fairly, transparently, and with the community’s input.
Pro-Tip! Your elected officials actually want to hear from you! When was the last time you reached out to your local officials?
Although every councilor's office focuses on its priorities a little differently, each councilor has a few legislative tools (we’ll get into that later!) they can use to advocate for the things their constituents need.
Alongside Councilor Santana, there are 12 other members of Council: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Each council member serves a 2 year term
But there’s a twist. You may be asking, "What's the difference between District and At-Large councilors?!"
At-Large Councilors
These are Councilors who represent all of Boston, not just a specific district.
In municipal elections everyone throughout the city can vote for 4 at-large councilors no matter what district they’re in!
District Councilors:
Councilors who represent a specific district of the city
Only voters who live in that specific district can vote for that district's councilor.
What Happens at a City Council Meeting?!
So here’s how it works: When legislation gets filed, it goes on the City Council’s agenda.
During City Council meetings, Councilors do a lot: they present new legislation, vote on laws (and other big things like the budget and grants), and share reports from their committees.
And a fun fact: The city council meets (almost) every Wednesday at 12pm to discuss that agenda. It's cool because you can attend in person, or you can watch the live stream from anywhere to stay up to date on issues you care about.
The meetings also include an invocation, which might highlight a local faith leader or community organizer and often have presentations that bring attention to community organizations and initiatives that are uplifting our neighbors.
How the City Council Gets Things Done
When your City Councilors want to make a difference, they’ve got a few key tools to make it happen!
1. Ordinance: A local law that creates long-term change. Like protecting renters’ rights, improving public parks, or expanding youth opportunities.
2. Hearing Order: Starts a public conversation about an issue the Council wants to look into. You can offer testimony and share your thought on proposed policies, or budget items.
3. Legislative Resolution: Used to recognize causes, celebrate community wins, or make the Council’s stance clear on important topics.
4. Home Rule Petition: When Boston needs permission from the State House to do something new or different (like changing local laws or rules). This allows Boston to get an exemption from state law to address unique local issues.
5. 17F Order: A less common tool that lets councilors request data or reports from city departments to hold them accountable.
I still remember sitting in my first public hearing, which was discussing the Boston Public Schools cell phone restrictions
It was packed with students in the audience, supporting their friends for their bravery to speak at this public hearing.
While some were objecting and others were in favor, every time I thought I knew where I stood, someone’s story would completely shift my perspective. Hearing different perspectives out loud from students, teachers, and City Councilors felt more personal than just reading about it online.
It also reminded me that civic conversations aren’t black and white; they’re layered, personal, and real. Sitting there, listening to people share their stories, something clicked.
It made me want to raise my hand and speak up too.
An Inside Look at Councilor Santana’s Office
While passing legislation is a big part of the job, a lot of the work the City Council does happens outside the Council chamber.
I started working for Henry Santana last summer, 2025. It was another way for me to further my knowledge and skills in politics and community. And I learned fast that City Hall wasn't where I was going to be stationed every day.
This summer, I really hit all over Boston and found myself embedded in creative communities, and I loved it.
Every day, our office helps residents navigate city services, fix neighborhood issues, and connect to the resources they deserve.
Councilor Santana does everything he can to promote and include youth like me. He shows us a human side of him every time we see him and treats us not like interns or political votes but as kids who really just have a dream and need all the encouragement they can get to achieve it.
But teamwork makes the dream work, and I’ve found Councilor Santana’s team represents that well.
One team member, who has now turned into a mentor for me, is Wilmer, our Director of Youth and Community Engagement. He has shown me in many different ways that what I'm doing, even at the age of 19, is truly changing our futures and affecting lives daily. He makes sure all of our youth are heard in a building where they tend not to be, while always checking in on our mental state and always putting our academics, health, and happiness ahead of anything else.
This job has also opened doors to so many brilliant and kind people, like Indus, our Director of Constituent Services, who helps advocate for constituents and organize partnerships that bring people together and always has a smile on her face, making sure our youth are okay and settled.
And Ana, our Chief of Staff, keeps everything running behind the scenes, from coordinating meetings to making sure community concerns reach the right departments. Her work ethic reminds me that if this is something I want to do for a career, I can.
We also team up with nonprofits, youth-led organizations, like Santana’s Youth Force!), and local leaders to push for change that actually lasts. At the end of the day, our goal is simple: build trust, uplift voices, and make city government feel like one big voice with many different thoughts and views.
We want every Boston resident, especially young people, to feel comfortable engaging with their government; to feel the sense of influence through their vote, and see that influence reflected in the candidate they've voted for.
That’s what this newsletter is all about:
making City Hall more transparent, accessible, and maybe even a little fun to learn about.
Get Involved! City Hall Is Yours Too
Here’s the best part: City Hall isn’t just for elected officials!
It’s your space, too.
I can name over 5 things you could easily do to get involved with your local government
Attend hearings and testify about issues that matter to you
Call and email your elected officials about concerns or important ideas you have.
Join local community groups! Find your local Civic or Neighborhood Association or join an abutter’s meeting for a building project. Connecting in your own community helps people get involved with community organizations that advocate for issues you care about.
For example, I remember last summer sitting in a conference about WAMO (self-driving vehicles). The room was filled with different age groups and people. Seniors and disabled people were there, speaking out on why they agreed or disagreed with WAMO, and union drivers like Lyft and Uber were there speaking against it. It gave everyone a space to express their concerns or share their reasons for excitement!
In City Hall, the opportunities are almost endless.I hope this helps clarify what City Hall does and shows you that your voice truly matters.
Thanks for reading!