A new chapter for Future Resources✨
A letter from Lydia Caldana and the launch of Future Resources Purpose Scanning
Dearest Future Resources community,
I know we have been quiet for a little while. Some of you might have seen that I started a new position. I am now working as a foresight policy analyst at the European Commission’s directorate-general of the Joint Research Centre, and more precisely, at a unit called EU Policy Lab: Foresight, Design and Behavioural Insights.
I heard the calling of moving away from the private sector back in 2020 during a practicum with UN-Habitat while pursuing my master’s at The New School. All my efforts since then have been pointing towards that direction – from working as a consultant at ALVA with António Alvarenga, to co-founding a participatory foresight festival, and to founding Asociación Latina de Futuros. To be now at the most prestigious, acclaimed and possibly the largest foresight for innovative policymaking team in the world is an honor that has been conquered after decades of hard work, which included mentors, jobs, passion projects, career spins, mentees, networking, privileges, family support, cheerleading (shoutout to Amy Daroukakis), risk taking, formal education, rejection, investment, and appreciation notes.
As many of you might know, last year I have founded ALAF - Latin Futures Association. In this new context, I have stepped down as president of Asociación Latina de Futuros due to conflict of interest with my position at the European Commission’s EU Policy Lab. I continue to support and admire the association, but my role now is of a passive member. I encourage you to become a member if you aren't already: if you are Latin American, there is a large community of futures curious, thinkers and doers who will happily welcome you! Moreover, the extremely talented Joice Preira and Isa Maria Rodrigues are now president and vice-president. ALAF couldn't be in better hands 🫶
Future Resources is five years old.
It is and will continue to be a space dedicated to putting futures from the Global South at the forefront. The lack of futures-related content about Global South initiatives in newspapers, blogs, scientific papers, magazines, etc in languages other than English, German and French remains an issue. Environmental and social justices remain a far distance from reality – especially for minorities and minoritized groups. Future Resources’ mission continues to be decolonizing and demystifying foresight and innovation, highlighting Global South solutions.
As a team, we have always been a mix of people from the South and the North. We have always featured content from both worlds. This has always been key because we believe systemic change requires allies and it is strategic to engage the Global North to expose what is happening in the South and get them to do better.
I will continue to steer Future Resources.
I might be a little more on the background, but I’m here – I am seeing you; I am reading you, and I am paying attention. I might not be quick to reply, but who is nowadays?
If you enjoy Future Resources, the best way to support us is by spreading the word. Forward our newsletter, the website with the databases, and the WhatsApp community to your contacts so that it keeps on getting more and more diverse.
We get quite a few love messages from you, and that makes all our work worth it. If you have any comments, suggestions or proposals, write to us!
You will see more and more of Victória Oliveira from now on.
You know her. She has been co-curating FED by Future Resources futures pills since March 2024. She did a FED takeover in October 2023.
She has also been my mentee, working with me on various client projects over these past 4 years.
Victória will be the key curator and admin of FED by Future Resources from now on – keep sending her your content suggestions!
Victória’s stewardship of Future Resources will be marked by the launch of something many of you have been asking for: A NEXT STEP IN OUR ECOSYSTEM.
We will soon launch Future Resources Purpose Scanning, an interactive foresight process that combines our mission to imagine plural, regenerative and decolonized futures with the opportunity to learn our take on the horizon scanning methodology, and the chance co-author a collaborative report.
Right now, we welcome volunteers from Brazil for a pilot program that will help us polish the details and make it perfect for future sessions.
Victória Oliveira is the leader of Future Resources Purpose Scanning, and she's looking forward to taking the community on this intentional, mission-driven process.
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Learn why Future Resources exist, what we do, who we are, etc:
See you on our WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn or here on Substack:
So excited for you!