Meet the WFM Board: Julieta Mendez

Julieta works as HR Service Partner for International Services at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Born in Argentina, she has called Mississippi home since 2007. Julieta received a J.D. from Universidad de Mendoza in the year 2000. Prior to working at UMMC, she served as Program Director of the Immigration Clinic at Catholic Charities of Jackson. She has volunteered for multiple organizations, such as Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights and Legal Assistance of Olmsted County, in Rochester, Minnesota. In 2012 and 2013, she served as Advisory Board Member of The Center for Violence Prevention. Julieta lives in Brandon with her husband, Alex, and their two beautiful children.

We asked Julieta a couple of questions about her obvious passion for the WFM:

Q:  What made you want to become involved with the WFM?

It was many things all together. I was working for another nonprofit at the time, helping mainly women and children, and realized that no matter how much effort I put into my work I was never going to change the outcome; they were always going to live in poverty and were going to deal with the same issues over and over. We were not making a real difference and it was extremely sad and discouraging.

The Women’s Foundation was working to find permanent solutions to systemic problems. I felt immediately inspired by Carol’s passion for the work and by the Foundation’s premise that by improving the lives of women and girls in the state we were helping our entire community. The staff’s level of expertise and their sincere commitment to diversity added to the equation and I just knew I had to be part of this organization and its mission.

Q:  What is one thing you wish people knew about the work and mission of the WFM?

A year ago, I had the opportunity to attend the annual conference of the Women’s Funding Network in San Francisco, California, and was able to see for myself how influential our foundation is on the national level. The WFM’s success —the clear result of consistent work that leaves no room for improvisation— is highly admired. The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi is a leader among other women’s foundations in the country.