James Ostis Email & Phone Number

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

In this role I have handled all legislative affairs for Senator Ed Kennedy including his personal legislation, committee work, and budget amendments. • Senate Staff on Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development, working closely with community stakeholders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. • Primary author of the COVID-19 Cultural Impact Commission Report released in June 2021• State Delegation Liaison to the city’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery working group. • Legislative Priorities included several aspects of Massachusetts Education Policy including Early College programming and the Student Opportunity Act.

Greater Boston Area

Currently enrolled at the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies as a doctoral candidate in the Public Policy PhD program, with a primary focus on local and regional development, particularly in Massachusetts's Gateway Cities. Completed all coursework and qualifying exams in 2016.Also served as a teaching assistant in the McCormack Graduate School's Master of Public Administration program for the Analytical Skills for Policy Analysis and Capstone courses, assisting Master's level graduate students work on their capstone projects, working both on a class-wide and individual student basis. Served as individual adviser for nine successful Masters Degree candidates' capstone projects. In 2016, added an additional teaching assignment working with doctoral students in public policy on Economics for Policy Scholars.

Greater Boston Area

Served as the only full-time staff member for the City's Mayors under the Plan E form of government. • Staffed all City Council, School Committee, and School Building Committee meetings. • Drawing upon an academic and professional background to greatly expand the scope of the role to include public policy analysis skills, authoring memos and both council motions and motion responses. • Worked collaboratively with city administration on local policy initiatives, constituent service, and all forms of external communications including the launch of a multimedia Mayor’s office blog. • Helped launch Lowell City of Learning Initiative to facilitate Lowell’s application to be the first UNESCO-designated Learning City in the United States.• Managed the Mayor’s Office Calendar and Budget.• Oversaw Youth and Young Adult Interns and provided them with firsthand municipal government experience and training.

Greater Boston Area

Worked in the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development through the Rappaport Institute’s public policy fellowship program with a focus on economic development in gateway cities with a particular concentration on innovation and leadership. Following completion of full-time Rappaport summer fellowship, I remained involved on a number of projects within the Secretary's office by working part-time while enrolled as a full-time doctoral student for a total of one year's service.My primary project during my fellowship was in assisting with the creation of the Lynn Economic Advancement and Development Team (LEAD Team), a working group of involved stakeholders from the local, state, and federal governments in Lynn, focused on fostering community development. My roles included assisting in event and meeting organization, doing research on properties in the Lynn Waterfront zone, and utilizing GIS in the creation of maps for targeted areas.Other duties included being part of the office-wide team working on Governor Charlie Baker's Economic Development Plan, Opportunities for All, staffing a number of community listening sessions, working on the creation of programs to support economic development capacity in rural communities, and other day to day projects.

Lowell, Massachusetts

Primary author of academic article, currently pending publication, and provided other key contributions in a collaborative research project focused on Lowell’s creative economy, which was presented to project funders in 2014. * Conducted and transcribed interviews with community stakeholders* Extensively surveyed neighborhood business districts for creative economy businesses* Implemented survey of visitors to Lowell Folk Festival and Lowell National Historical ParkAlso worked in the UMass Lowell Office of Arts and Ideas on a number of projects during the first half of 2014, including serving as the primary university office point person on collaborative Cambodian Arts Festival in April. Provided logistical planning, marketing, and graphic design support to the office.

Lowell, Massachusetts

Oversee a wide-ranging collaborative grant-funded project to create new community-driven cultural programming throughout Lowell National Historical Park. Working with the LHP board and Park staff to solicit public input on programming and institute sustainable pilot programs. * Provided general marketing and community outreach services for Lowell Heritage Partnership, including social media, graphic design work, and authoring press releases* Help establish cultural competency training program to better prepare Park Service staff and community leaders in a diverse multicultural community* Organize several community input sessions of varying sizes and formats* Oversee outreach program between Lowell National Historical Park and underserved populations in the Lowell community* Created a community-wide open entry video project and several public events

Boston, Massachusetts

Provided oversight for a variety of constituent and legislative programs on behalf of State Representative Colleen M. Garry with various stakeholders; including residents, local business owners, non-profit organizations and public officials. Collaborated with local legislative delegation team; creating and maintaining programs that met the needs of the Greater Lowell community. Provided logistical support for the Representative’s legislative agenda, in addition to management of local and internal State House events. * Crafted strategic communication plan and determined content for Representative Garry’s Office, including public testimony, speeches, press releases, newsletters, and constituent communication. * Served as office’s chief liaison on municipal and legislative issues* Represent the office at official functions and made public presentations on behalf of the Representative * Developed and implemented an online database management system for all constituent correspondence* Coordinated and provided supervision to entire volunteer staff for Representative Garry’s 2010 campaign and trained State House interns and new employees and supervised all office management tasks

Handled various positions including supervising concession stand staff and specializing in customer service

Quincy, Ma

Provided onsite coverage and reporting for high school sports programs on the South Shore (Quincy-based newspaper). Skilled in proofreading and copyediting, notably AP style.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Public Policy

Currently enrolled in the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies in the Public Policy PhD program as a doctoral.

Masters, Public Affairs

Received Outstanding Capstone Award from the faculty of the UMass Boston MSPA Program for second year capstone Project: Industrial.

Bachelors, Political Science, Magna Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Political Science Club, President

Education record

Activities and Societies: Sigma Alpha Lambda Honor Society