Hiya, all!

 

    mEET

    Joyce           Mendez

We've had the honour of being taken on an unexpected journey since we started this newsletter. Still, we can safely say we never thought we'd be speaking to a technoxamanist (that's where technology meets shamanism, by the way). Joyce Mendez is an influential, profound voice in sustainability, bringing Indigenous knowledge and perspective together with the potential of technology.

 

Here, we discuss why academic achievements aren't the crucial marker we may think they are, the perception of volunteer work, and the power of using hydro energy, phyto energy and consciential energy to decompress. Hint: you should already be harnessing them. Plus, she gives us the most astutely simple advice we never knew we needed—"Procrastinate with other productive activities". Game. Changer. 

 

  Enjoy! xx 

 
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What anxieties, if any, do you hold about your life/career? And how do you deal with them?

[My anxieties are] about academic achievements like degrees, certifications, and publications. Even though my area is heavily based on experience and hands-on perspectives, I realise that it is still highly valued to have higher degrees and vast academic experience. The fact that you can't apply for a job because you don't have a certain academic pathway is sometimes frustrating. 

 

5. How has the current COVID-19 situation affected your industry, and your work personally? How have you dealt with it?

My community activities were mainly with social contact and applied projects. Now I've had to adapt most of my work as a home office. Likewise, work opportunities have decreased. Even though we are trying to go back to "normality", this won't happen if sustainability not seen as a priority. 

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How do you deal with procrastination?

Procrastinating with other productive activities, and trying to understand what is behind the root of procrastinating in a specific task.

 

7. What do you consider your biggest failure? And how did you persevere and grow from the experience?

Not to have written a book already! There's so much I want to write about indigenous futurisms, I'm trying to start compiling old writings, and taking elements from my current activities to this goal! I want to have it done in the next five years, wait for it!

 

8. When working on a new project, how do you overcome self-doubt and fear?

Through understanding all about the project; background, the people involved, and how I can be part of it.

 

9. Do you have any rituals that help with your work or mental health?

Aromatherapy; dancing; nature connection with hydro energy (energy from the water... every time I take a shower); phytoenergy (energy from my plants and from the surrounding areas); consciential energy (energy from living beings); and by connecting with my partner in every possible way. 

 

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Edx as a student and early-carrier friendly platforms to go forward from the knowledge given in universities, or to focus on specific areas.

 

What's the best and worst advice you've ever been given?

Best: Learn different languages to connect with the world and have an alternative way to see the world.

 

Worst: Why bother with reading? Spend your time enjoying TV and being brainwashed...

 

Are there any misconceptions about what you do that you'd like to dispel or clarify?

Volunteering is work! And it has to be valued as part of a professional career. If someone is a volunteer, it doesn't mean that they have a lot of money or free time! It has to be framed with more seriousness and innovative in ways to support the volunteers. Another misconception in the sustainability area is pretending to build a post-capitalist world with a capitalist paradigm. I have worked in several projects where the workers are treated as machines and not as designers of the future—not allowing us to express our opinions or not applying non-violent communication. 

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How do you navigate social media, any rules or guidelines you set for yourself?

Yes, we are all bombarded with so much bad news during this time, so I decided to focus on successful cases and good practices from all around the world. I [curate] my favourite content in my feeds and limit my time on social media. In the end, what we lack now is a human connection; it's sometimes important to disconnect to re-connect.

 

If you could distil it down to three key messages, what do you hope people learn/take away from what you do?

1. I'm very passionate about transboundary cooperation through the water-energy-food nexus, I want to strengthen intergenerational dialogue in the water sector, to promote youth participation as the key to a dynamic transition and continue to sustainable development.

 

2. Working with young people means investing in the present, and the opportunity for a real change in the civilizatory paradigm.

 

3. Even if you think that your area isn't related to sustainability and climate change, remember you are a human! It is part of your life project to guarantee your prosperity through a healthy environment! you are an important stakeholder to change the rules of the game in the transition to a sustainable future!

 
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List five things keeping you inspired and sane right now. 

L+A xx

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