Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics (IOP) and the City of Newton created an Inaugural Setti Warren Memorial Internship that will place a Harvard undergraduate in City Hall to advance Newton’s creative sector and economic development, honoring the late former mayor and IOP director.
“A native son of Newton, Setti was profoundly proud of his time as mayor, and we couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute than enabling a Harvard undergraduate to help make a difference in the city that Setti so loved,” said IOP Interim Co-Directors Beth Myers and Ned Price in Harvard’s announcement of the internship on Tuesday.
This announcement comes almost two months after Warren died unexpectedly on Nov. 2 in his Newton home. He was remembered by friends and family as a joyful and dedicated man, powered by public service originating in Newton and Boston College.
The internship will be funded by the IOP, where the selected Harvard student will support the city’s Building a Creative Economy initiative, according to Harvard’s announcement.
“They will analyze the current financial impact of the creative sector on Newton’s economy and identify additional steps that the city can take to build and support its creative sector and use arts and culture to drive economic development,” Harvard’s announcement reads.
While the City of Newton hasn’t released an official Building a Creative Economy Initiative document, the city’s 2019 Economic Development Action Plan lists enhancing Newton’s arts community as one of its objectives under section 5E.
Harvard noted that when Warren initially took office, he formalized Newton’s internship program and facilitated the program’s partnership with BC by pairing graduate students with high school interns. At one point, the program included more than 100 student interns.
Warren’s investment in internships was born out of his own impactful experience as an intern and mentee.
“Setti benefited so much from the internships and mentoring he received from so many,” said his wife, Tassy Warren, in the announcement. “He would be thrilled to see this opportunity created for the next generation in the city he loved so much.”
Newton Mayor Marc Laredo is similarly confident that this internship will commemorate Warren appropriately.
“This internship honors his legacy in the most meaningful way—by opening doors for the next generation to learn, serve, and help shape Newton’s future,” read Laredo’s Wednesday newsletter.
One message was clear after Warren’s passing: the world needs more Setti Warrens. According to the IOP, his legacy will endure with this internship opportunity.
“I hope that a big part of his legacy will be that he inspired a lot more Setti Warrens to carry on that tradition, which our democracy needs so much right now,” said Warren’s friend and previous boss, former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
“This internship will help build that future,” Harvard’s announcement reads.
The applications for the internship are due by Feb. 1, and the internship will run from June 1 through Aug. 15.