For over fifteen years, Luis Candela has worked in marine science as an oceanographic mooring technician aboard scientific research vessels. Growing up between the USA and Mexico, with deep roots in nature and cross-cultural life, shaped his capacity for adaptability, reflection, and resilience—qualities he brings into men’s work and community spaces.
Today, Luis is an active member of the MenLiving community and has been part of the circle for two years. He currently serves as a bilingual virtual meeting facilitator and is preparing to step into the role of in-person weekend co-leader, offering presence, curiosity, and lived experience in support of connection and integration.
A significant turning point in Luis’s personal growth came with an ADHD diagnosis five years ago and his recovery from chronic depression. Through this process, along with the ongoing lessons of marriage and fatherhood, he learned to embrace neurodiversity as a strength and deepen his relationship with self-awareness and purpose.
Luis was born in San Diego and lives in Seattle. He is married and a father of two, with his family based in Mexico. He currently works at NOAA Leading Arctic surveys focused on climate change research and mitigation, and remains deeply passionate about environmental science and sustainability.