James Coltella

James is a writer and communications professional committed to tackling dis/misinformation and political polarization, helping to bridge the gap between communities and policy leaders.

James’s writing has featured in a range of leading publications, including The Chicago Tribune and The Hill. Most recently, he worked for the Harvard Center for International Development, focused on executive communications and media relations, producing thought pieces on development and foreign aid.

He grew up near London in the United Kingdom, is a British/Italian dual national, and has also lived in Rome, Italy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in modern languages, a Master of Arts in English literature, and graduated in 2024 from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Master in Public Administration. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, music, cooking (and eating), as well as playing field hockey.

Initial Fellowship Focus: The fellow will develop and implement a strategy that fosters collaboration internally to communicate more effectively externally and help to establish channels within City Hall for surfacing critical information and stories of interest to residents and businesses.