Zulnette García was born and raised in San Germán, Puerto Rico. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in counseling with a specialization in mental health. During his undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus (RUM), from 2002 to 2006, he was a research assistant in the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities. At the RUM Community Development Institute she worked as a community and educational liaison and as a support group coordinator and facilitator for Siemprevivas, a women’s advocacy organization.
After graduating from the University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus (UPR-RP) in 2007, Zulnette has worked as a community educator on sexual and reproductive health issues in organizations such as Taller Salud. Furthermore, she combined her commitment to the eradication of domestic violence with her dedication to the economic empowerment of women in organizations such as Matria, Casa Protegida Julia de Burgos and the Office for the Comprehensive Development of Women of the Municipality of San Juan.
She has also been a consultant and hotline operator for sexual violence emergencies and counseling. Her 17 years of experience in the third sector are complemented by solid experience as a workshop facilitator in economic development, domestic violence, sexual violence and advocacy for both survivors of gender 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 is also the recipient of the 2021 National Sexual Assault Resource Center Visionary Voice Award.
Her feminist work extends beyond the educational and work spheres to also encompass culture. In 2007 Zulnette founded La Juntilla X, an “activism” collective that uses spectacle and women’s bodies as grounds for social protest.
More recently, she co-founded Albanistería, an economic project that seeks to reduce the employment gap for women in non-traditional professions such as crafts and carpentry. Masonry, offers workshops to empower women and girls in the use of manual and power tools, thus increasing their self-sufficiency and autonomy and enhancing their work skills.
