Born in a small town in Ecuador, Rafi immigrated to Charlotte at the age of 5. Having experienced the transformative impact of education on both herself and her family, she developed a profound belief in its power to bring about positive change and create opportunities.

At Wake Forest University, she studied psychology and neuroscience and developed a deep understanding of how the brain learns, culminating with a publication in the journal of Behavioral Brain Research. Rafi continued her education with a Masters Degree in Teaching Secondary Science, launching her career as a Science Teacher in Colorado. There, she fell in love with hiking and wildlife ecology while experiencing the worst wildfire in Colorado history.

Throughout her career, Rafi embraced dual roles as a volunteer and educator in informal learning environments, eventually claiming a leadership position with the Charlotte Wildlife Stewards team. Actively engaged in canvassing and advocating for Latine voters, Rafi also brings her commitment to civic participation to CleanAIRE NC. As the Education Manager, she collaborates with schools, healthcare systems, and community organizations to educate others on the impacts of climate change and air pollution, along with effective strategies to improve community health.