Luis Joel Méndez González covers government preparedness around climate change for the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, a nonprofit investigative news organization. Born and raised in Moca, Puerto Rico, he was a ProPublica Emerging Reporter in 2019, and a Google News Initiative Fellow in 2020. Méndez González, an LGBTQIA+ first-generation college graduate, has interned with The Miami Herald I-Team, El Nuevo Día Investigative and Data Unit, and Metro Puerto Rico. As a freelancer he has reported for international media outlets. Méndez González holds a master’s degree in information design and data visualization from Northeastern University. In his free time, he enjoys reading and writing, and he also loves beauty pageants and coffee.
Beat: Government preparedness around climate change
Framing big issues such as the science behind the vulnerability of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, this bilingual multimedia reporter investigates public policies regarding climate change, government preparedness, energy and water issues, food sustainability and mental health issues, among other topics, integrating a regional cross-border reporting perspective.