Zulnette García Ramos

Zulnette García was born and raised in San Germán. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Counseling with a specialization in Mental Health. During her undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez from 2002 to 2006, she worked as a research assistant in the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities. At the RUM Community Development Institute, she served as a community and educational liaison, as well as coordinator and facilitator of the support group for Siemprevivas, a women’s advocacy organization.

After graduating from the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras in 2007, Zulnette has worked as a community educator on sexual and reproductive health issues in organizations such as Taller Salud. She later combined her commitment to eradicating domestic violence with her dedication to women’s economic empowerment through organizations such as Matria, Casa Protegida Julia de Burgos, and the Office for the Integral Development of Women of the Municipality of San Juan.

She has also worked as a consultant and hotline operator for sexual violence emergencies and guidance services. Her 17 years of experience in the nonprofit sector are complemented by extensive expertise as a workshop facilitator in economic development, domestic violence, sexual violence, and advocacy for both survivors of gender-based violence and the professionals who work with them.

She has reflected on these countless experiences at national and international conferences on violence against women and local community development. She was also the recipient of the 2021 Visionary Voice Award from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

Her feminist work extends beyond educational and professional spaces into the cultural sphere as well. In 2007, Zulnette founded La Juntilla X, an activist collective that uses performance and women’s bodies as platforms for social protest.

More recently, she co-founded Albanistería, an economic initiative aimed at reducing the labor gap for women in nontraditional professions such as craftsmanship and carpentry. Albanistería offers workshops that empower women and girls in the use of hand and power tools, increasing their self-sufficiency, autonomy, and professional skills.