About Melissa Guardaro, Assistant Research Professor in the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University and Masavi Perea, Coalitions and Training Director for Chispa Arizona

Melissa Guardaro is an Assistant Research Professor in the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University. Her research focuses on adaptation, equity, vulnerability, urban policy, and governance for the mitigation and adaptation to extreme heat and urban heat island effects. She is currently working with The Nature Conservancy, the Maricopa County Public Health Department, and community-based organizations to create neighborhood heat solutions that improve thermal comfort and public health outcomes.

Masavi Perea is the Coalitions and Training Director at Chispa Arizona. Masavi Joined the League of Conservation Voters, Chispa, AZ in July of 2016. He is originally from Chihuahua Mexico. He believes that community grassroots organizing is the most effective way to empower and positively impact our families, neighborhoods, communities, and our Mother Earth. Masavi’s goals are to bring urgency to Environmental Justices issues that affect the Latinx community, and create alliances with groups and communities that are not normally part of the decisions making process.