Meet Our Team
At ARCH Collaborative, each team member brings unique skills, experiences and a dedication to community resilience that pushes our mission forward. We're proud to foster an inclusive culture and invest in our members' development as future leaders in climate and health.
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Get to know our team below!
Justine Po
CEO
Justine Po is a medical student and researcher dedicated to bridging innovation and equity across precision medicine, public health and climate resilience. She founded ARCH Collaborative with the goal of empowering communities with evidence-based tools to develop their own health x extreme weather solutions. Prior to entering medicine, Justine’s background was in the social impact space, having served as Senior Project Manager for the Bay Area Environmentally Aware Consulting Network and worked on Medicaid policy through KPMG LLP’s Advisory Office in Sacramento, California. As ARCH Collaborative's CEO, she sees her role as helping build capacity for the next generation of leaders to create healthy, resilient communities. She is continually inspired by the amazing volunteers and partners she works with at ARCH Collaborative, and looks forward to expanding its work to serve communities around the world.
Bree Rhodes
Education Fellow
Bree Rhodes is a Master’s in Interior Architecture and Design student at the Academy of Art University with experience in construction engineering and service dog advocacy. Prior to joining ARCH, Bree Rhodes volunteered with Canine Companions, and now is raising her 2nd puppy, Polenta, to one day be of service to a child, adult or veteran with a disability. She is excited to bring together her passion for design and building as well as service animals together in her new role as Education Fellow. In the future, she aspires to be on the new face on the 100 dollar bill, help rebuild after the Palisades fire, design shelters for homeless families with pets, design dormitories for college students raising and training service dogs as well as a Greek row for the Divine Nine (black sororities and fraternities).
Alexandra Bonaguidi
Research & Community Engagement Fellow
Alexandra Bonaguidi is a Junior, in the process of completing her BA in Psychology at University of Southern California. She is an inquisitive and creative individual with a passion for analysis. Before working as a Research and Community Engagement Fellow at Arch Collaborative, she played Division I Water Polo alongside completing relevant coursework such as Environmental Health Issues and Culture, Lifestyle, & Health in pursuit of a minor in Public Health. Her education has inspired her to pursue these topics further by joining our team here at Arch Collaborative. She is excited to learn more about environmental impacts on health outcomes and participate in a community based intervention. In the future, she plans on pursuing a graduate degree in a related field.
Yesenia Hernandez
Education Fellow
Yesenia Hernandez is an accomplished architect and project manager with over a decade of experience in managing diverse construction and technology projects. She is currently pursuing dual Master’s degrees in Architecture and Project Management at USC, where she explores the intersection of biomimetic architecture and adaptive reuse for sustainable urban regeneration. Passionate about innovation and community-focused design, Yesenia draws inspiration from sacred geometry, marine life, and natural systems. Her thesis project, Nature Whisper, envisions transformative housing solutions that integrate biomimicry and sustainability. Beyond academics, she mentors students in digital fabrication and architecture while actively contributing to accessibility projects.
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Arthur Bookstein
COO
Arthur Bookstein is a medical student at the Keck School of Medicine at USC and holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from UC Berkeley. As Chief Operating Officer at ARCH, his work bridges environmental health, epidemiology and community engagement. Prior to co-founding ARCH, Arthur conducted research on air pollution and cancer risk, led environmental justice initiatives and developed multicultural community-based health campaigns in Los Angeles. He is passionate about using data-driven solutions to advance health equity and environmental resilience. In his free time, he enjoys long-distance cycling, language learning, and volunteering.
Giselle Kim
Research & Community Engagement Fellow
Giselle Kim is a current medical student at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, and she has had a passion for the environment and its impact on public health since her undergraduate days. Giselle first became curious when studying the effect of air pollution on Alzheimer’s Disease, emboldening her to also start the first American Lung Association collegiate chapter at USC. She hopes to bring this experience to further ARCH’s mission as a Research & Community Engagement Fellow and to become an informed physician who best advocates for her future patients. In her free time, Giselle likes to play tennis and try new coffee shops.
David Rios Palomares
Community Engagement & Education Co-Director
David Rios Palomares is an Urban Planning student at the University of Southern California, committed to advancing environmental justice and creating equitable climate solutions. As the Community Engagement & Education Director at ARCH, David leads initiatives focused on building community resilience through outreach, youth empowerment, and advocacy. In addition, David serves as a Program Coordinator at Norwood Street Elementary through USC’s Joint Educational Project (JEP), where he helps foster academic success and supports English Language Learners. He is also actively involved in sustainability advocacy on campus. David aspires to become an urban planner dedicated to integrating social justice into urban planning to create inclusive, climate-resilient cities.
Aissatou Balde
Research & Marketing Fellow
Aissatou Balde is a recent Master’s in Public Health grad from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in community health. Prior to her involvement with ARCH, Aissatou worked as a racial & social justice and reproductive health intern for the YWCA and the African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Initiative. There she engaged in community outreach, created educational presentations and helped organize community events for Black mothers and families living in the San Gabriel Valley. Aissatou looks forward to her new role as a Marketing and Research fellow. In the future she hopes to be an OBGYN physician dedicating her career to health equity and reproductive justice. In her free time you can find her buried in her books or thrifting with her sister!
Giovana Romano Sanchez
Marketing & Communications Director, Project Manager
Giovana Romano Sanchez is a Brazilian journalist, producer, and project manager with over 15 years of experience in global reporting and non-fiction storytelling. Her work focuses on racial and social justice, gender equality, democracy, and human rights. For the past five years, she has produced and edited multilingual non-fiction podcasts for Spotify, Amazon, and Duolingo--while managing teams across the Americas. She received her Master's degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Her thesis investigated the structural motives for the reproduction of a predominantly white and male narrative in Brazilian history textbooks. As Project Manager and Marketing & Communications Director at ARCH Collaborative, Giovana is excited to bring impactful projects to life and build strong connections with her team.
Jessica Zhao
Marketing Fellow
Jessica Zhao is a sophomore at the University of Southern California, pursuing a major in Psychology and a minor in Consumer Behavior. As a Marketing Fellow with ARCH, she aims to highlight the critical role of psychology in advancing health and environmental advocacy. Jessica is passionate about promoting ARCH's mission to a broader audience and is eager to contribute her expertise in marketing and UX to the team. She looks forward to collaborating with peers, honing her skills, and making a meaningful impact through this opportunity. In her free time, Jessica enjoys doing watercolour paintings, listening to kpop, and playing golf!
Imani Musembi
Education & Research Co-Director
Imani is a highly motivated graduate student studying Applied Data Science at USC. She also recently received her B.S. in Computational Neuroscience from USC with specializations in Applied Analytics and Web Development. Imani draws inspiration from her experience as a Senior Research Assistant for the USC Radical Play Lab where she curates and analyzes games related to climate justice and anti-racism to promote social change. As a Graduate Research Assistant for USC's Rossier Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice, she designed surveys and performed statistical analysis to promote the use of policies to identify and extricate educational bias. Imani is determined to use her data science expertise to illuminate disparities, advocate for inclusive policies, and ensure that the voices of underrepresented groups are not only heard but are influential in shaping decisions. Her goal is not only to aggregate data but to be a driving force in decisions, shaping policies and strategies that foster inclusivity and address the complex societal issues facing marginalized communities.