Raffaella teaches architecture and dance, has been the program manager, and is now the Program Director at Out of Site. She received a Master of Architecture from California College of the Arts (CCA), and first came to Out of Site as a Community Student Fellow from the Center of Art and Public Life at CCA. She received her B.A. in Psychology and a Minor in Art from UC Berkeley. She has taught in the Cornerstone Architectural Program in Oakland working with youth out of Juvenile Hall. In the summer 2007, she received a fellowship from CCA and worked with the favela community of Manguinhos in Rio de Janeiro under the Brazilian architect Jorge Mario Jauregui  and his Favela/Barrio project. She is the Artistic Director and founder of Sambaxé Dance Company which offers dance classes, performances and costume design. Her samba class was also awarded Best of the Bay 2004. She speaks Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.