Jordana Vasquez on Starting WOC/CS, Grassroots Public Art, and Being Curious - Ep 13
This week on First Coat we have Jordana Vasquez. Jordana and I met at a Placemaking conference a few years ago and we've stayed in touch ever since. Jordana studied architecture and has worked in design, art, community development, and sustainability. She recently co-founded the Women of Color Collective in Sustainability (WOC/CS), which facilitates strategic exchanges between Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) sustainability pioneers, climate justice organizers, and advocacy groups to fight inequity and address climate change.
On this episode we talk about how she and her co-founder started WOC/CS, her experience leading a grassroots public art project, her project Urbanonsite, and what it's like to be the only woman of color in the room. We brainstorm business development, for both Distill Creative and WOC/CS and how we're creating our directories. Jordana also shares how to use a personal project to connect with change-makers and artists around the world, thoughts on the role of public art, how to collaborate with sustainability organizations, and tips for career development.
This interview was recorded July, 2020.
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LINKS
Sign up for Women of Color Collective in Sustainability (WOC/CS) and their directory: https://www.woccs.co
Women of Color Collective in Sustainability (WOC/CS) LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8839721/
Guest | Jordana (Jordie) Vasquez, Co-Founder WOC/CS and Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Professional
Co-Founder WOC/CS + Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Professional for the built environment in NYC. Jordie is experienced in providing high-performance design strategies, cost-effective building system operations, and energy-saving practices during the design and construction phases. As the Co-founder of WOC/CS her mission is to serve as a key resource in the sustainability industry—especially by helping underrepresented women identify work, access development opportunities, form meaningful connections, create community, and feel supported within all the sustainability professions. She is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion for socially-driven multidisciplinary projects that advance green, healthy, and inclusive environments. Raised in the Dominican Republic and determined to pursue mediums that could empower minority communities she created Urbanonsite-a creative platform that specializes in producing photography and content for sustainable, socially-responsible businesses, and local champions.
Follow Jordana on Instagram (@vasdana, @urbanonsite, @woc__cs ), #thisiswhatsustainabilitylookslike, Twitter, LinkedIn, and check out Urbanonsite and WOC/CS.
Your Host | Stephanie Eche, CEO & Founder of Distill Creative
Stephanie Eche is an artist and art consultant based in Brooklyn, NYC.
Follow Stephanie on Instagram (@distillcreative or @stephanie_eche), Twitter (@stephanie_eche), YouTube (Distill Creative), LinkedIn, and check out her art website.
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