Marcy Ostberg, Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics

Marcy Ostberg brings an eclectic background in civic innovation, urban policy, and education to her work in advancing social impact and equity. She currently serves as Director of the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics in Boston, leading efforts to scale human-centered civic innovation across city departments to better meet the needs of residents.

Previously, Marcy held leadership roles including Director of Operations for Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development, overseeing a $100 million budget and a team of 150 staff, and Housing Innovation Lab Director, where she launched experimental affordable housing programs and advanced racial equity initiatives. As a strategic consultant, she has guided organizations addressing housing affordability, health equity, environmental justice, and education, applying Human-Centered Design to drive systemic improvements.

Marcy began her career as a science teacher at BDEA, where she designed experiential curricula on sustainability, climate, and environmental science, and led participatory research projects with the Boston Museum of Science. Known for her creativity, strategic thinking, and ability to unite diverse stakeholders, Marcy leverages her varied experiences to develop innovative solutions to complex social challenges.