Friday, October 23, 2026
Justina Thompson, a 2016 Baldwin High School graduate, has been selected as a Bloomberg American Health Fellow at Johns Hopkins University, where she will pursue a master’s degree in public health.
Thompson, who serves as the program manager for environmental justice in the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability, said the fellowship will help broaden her work at the intersection of environment, health and community.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to deepen my skill set to advance environmental justice in Philadelphia and beyond by pursuing my MPH at Johns Hopkins,” Thompson said. “Being selected as a Fellow in the environmental challenges focus area affirms the relationship between the health of our environment and the health of our communities.”
Thompson said she plans to focus on public health policy and spatial analysis during her fellowship, using tools such as ArcGIS to better understand and communicate the health impacts brought on by environmental burdens. She added that completing her graduate work in collaboration with Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability would allow her to directly apply what she learned to the city’s environmental justice efforts.
“The Bloomberg Fellowship is structured so that I apply with the support of my collaborating organization, which is the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability,” she said. “Through the fellowship, my graduate capstone and practicum requirements will be completed at my current place of work, and give a chance for direct application of my studies to my full-time job.”
Her mother, Charlene Thompson, said her daughter’s passion for serving others has always been evident.
“Even as a young child, Justina cared deeply about the world around her,” Charlene said. “She would often volunteer for community events bringing her young siblings along. I am so very proud of how Justina continues to channel her passion for uplifting the communities she serves.”
Thompson’s path toward environmental justice began when she volunteered at the Roosevelt Farmers Market at age 13. She and her peers handled everything from ordering produce and managing prices to coordinating a harvest festival.
“It sparked a lot of independence in me from a young age,” Thompson said. “It reminds me to support the autonomy and intelligence of our young people because they are much more capable than we remember at times.”
At Baldwin High School, Thompson was involved in the Medical & Health Sciences Academy, Stage Krew, robotics, Sportsnite, and served as manager for the varsity volleyball and softball teams. She credited those experiences, along with the school’s diversity, for giving her a broader perspective.
“I found a lot of mentors in coaches and advisors who connected me to new community events and professional development opportunities and ultimately had people believing in me to boost my confidence from an early age,” she said.
Thompson went on to earn a dual degree in sustainability and design at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania. She later became an urban farmer in Philadelphia, where she said she learned firsthand about regenerative systems and climate resilience.
“Stewarding the land with my hands on a daily basis taught me about the abundant natural resources available, even in an urban environment, when protected with care,” she said.
Her current role in Philadelphia centers on supporting community organizations with resources to advance environmental justice. She said urban communities face a wide range of challenges, including food sovereignty, extreme heat, energy burdens, flooding and air quality.
Despite the challenges, Thompson said she is encouraged by the national commitment represented by the Bloomberg Fellowship.
“I’m grateful for the recognition of my work at a local level and being chosen as a professional to invest in that will continue to have a positive impact on community,” she said.
