Carmen Yulín Cruz

Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto was born on February 25, 1963, in San Juan to Carmen Irene Soto Molina from Lares and Pedro Cruz Vega.{{cite news|url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/conlasbotaspuestascarmenyulincruz-502596/ |title=Con "las botas puestas" Carmen Yulín Cruz |work=Primera Hora|author=Bauzá, Nydia|date=May 7, 2012 |language=es}} She has a brother named Pedro José Cruz. Cruz inherited the second part of her given name, Yulín, from her paternal grandmother, Lutgarda Vega.{{cite news|url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulinlesiguelospasosadonafelayasilamariacalderon-1380057.html|title=Carmen Yulín le sigue los pasos a Doña Fela y a Sila María Calderón|work=El Nuevo Día|author=Santiago, Amary|date=November 7, 2012|language=es|access-date=November 7, 2012|archive-date=November 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108133603/http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulinlesiguelospasosadonafelayasilamariacalderon-1380057.html|url-status=dead}} She graduated with honors from Julio Sellés Solá Elementary School{{Cite news|url=https://www.lainformacion.com/mundo/carmen-yulin-cruz-la-alcaldesa-de-puerto-rico-que-planto-cara-a-trump/6274377|title=Carmen Yulín Cruz: juventud, logros e historia negra del azote de Trump|last=LaInformacion|work=La Información|access-date=January 14, 2018|language=es-ES}} and attended University of Puerto Rico Secondary School where she was president of the student council as well as a representative at a presidential youth summit.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/09/30/trump-called-san-juans-mayor-a-weak-leader-heres-what-her-leadership-looks-like/|title=Trump called San Juan's mayor a weak leader. Here's what her leadership looks like.|date=September 30, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 24, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/puerto-rico-crisis/who-san-juan-s-mayor-carmen-yul-n-cruz-target-n806216|title=San Juan mayor who's "mad as hell" has said politics is a "rough game"|work=NBC News|access-date=January 14, 2018|language=en}}

Cruz earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Boston University on May 30, 1984, graduating Cum Laude.{{Cite news|url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/nota/conlasbotaspuestascarmenyulincruz-502596/|title=Con "las botas puestas" Carmen Yulín Cruz|date=May 7, 2011|work=Primera Hora|access-date=January 14, 2018|language=en}} She completed a Master of Science in Public Management and Policy at the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University on May 12, 1986, where she became the first student to receive the Spirit Award (now called the Barbara Jenkins Award),{{cite web|url=http://www.camaraderepresentantes.org/legs2.asp?r=DYKSJSSATN|title=Todos los Representantes: Hon. Carmen Y. Cruz Soto|publisher=Cámara de Representantes de Puerto Rico|access-date=November 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111154518/http://www.camaraderepresentantes.org/legs2.asp?r=DYKSJSSATN|archive-date=January 11, 2012|url-status=dead|language=es}} given to a graduating student for service and contributions to the college and region.{{cite web|title=Diploma Ceremony Awards: Barbara Jenkins Award|url=http://www.heinz.cmu.edu/academic-resources/commencement/diploma-ceremony-awards/index.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301191828/http://www.heinz.cmu.edu/academic-resources/commencement/diploma-ceremony-awards/index.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 1, 2015|website=Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College|access-date=September 30, 2017}}

In 1992, Cruz returned to Puerto Rico and became an adviser to San Juan mayor Sila María Calderón. She ran unsuccessfully for District 1 representative in the 2000 general elections.{{cite web |url=http://209.68.12.238/elecciones2000/escrutinio/representantes.html |title=Elecciones Generales 2000: Representantes |publisher=CEEPUR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040809204105/https://www.ceepur.org/elecciones2000/escrutinio/representantes.html#01 |archive-date=August 9, 2004 |url-status=live }}

Eight years later, Cruz ran again for the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, this time for an islandwide at-large seat, at the 2008 elections, after nomination in the PDP primaries.{{cite web |url=http://64.185.222.182/Primarias/escrutinio/PRIMARIASPPD2008/ESCRUTINIOPPD/RepAcuAcumulacion/RepresentantesAcumulacion.aspx@mode=Blank.html |title=Primarias 2008: Representantes por Acumulación |publisher=CEEPUR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503003547/http://64.185.222.182/Primarias/escrutinio/PRIMARIASPPD2008/ESCRUTINIOPPD/RepAcuAcumulacion/RepresentantesAcumulacion.aspx%40mode%3DBlank.html |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://209.68.12.238/elecciones2008/CEE_Events/ELECCIONES_GENERALES_2008_4/ESCRUTINIO_GENERAL_8/REPRESENTANTES_POR_ACUMULACION_ISLA.xml |title=Elecciones Generales 2008 |publisher=CEEPUR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420201751/http://209.68.12.238/elecciones2008/CEE_Events/ELECCIONES_GENERALES_2008_4/ESCRUTINIO_GENERAL_8/REPRESENTANTES_POR_ACUMULACION_ISLA.xml |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |url-status=live }} After being elected, Cruz became the PDP's Ranking Member on the Women Affairs Committee. Due to the high population of Dominican immigrants in the subdivisions of San Juan, most notably in Santurce, Cruz became involved with the Dominican American National Roundtable as a supporter.{{cite web |url=http://danr.org/2011/08/22/culmina-exitosamente-en-puerto-rico-cumbre-de-lideres-de-mesa-redonda-dominico-americana-2/ |title=DANR Successfully Concludes Leadership Summit in Puerto Rico |publisher=Dominican American National Roundtable |date=August 22, 2011 |access-date=April 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420204643/http://danr.org/2011/08/22/culmina-exitosamente-en-puerto-rico-cumbre-de-lideres-de-mesa-redonda-dominico-americana-2/ |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |url-status=usurped |language=es }}

Upon launching her re-election campaign in 2011, she became the first candidate from her party to collect the required endorsements, presenting more than the 4,000 total within the time frame required to complete only 2,000.{{cite news|url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/nota/carmenyulinfuelaprimeraencompletarendosospoliticos-579422/|title=Carmen Yulín fue la primera en completar endosos políticos|work=Primera Hora|date=November 14, 2011 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420205014/http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/nota/carmenyulinfuelaprimeraencompletarendosospoliticos-579422/ |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |url-status=live}} At the Popular Democratic Party primaries in 2012, Cruz led all of the candidates to the House of Representatives in votes, followed by fellow soberanista (sovereigntist) Luis Vega Ramos.{{cite web |url=http://notiuno.com/soberanistas-dan-golpe-moral-a-liderato-de-la-pava-con-triunfo-en-primarias-populares/ |title=Soberanistas dan golpe moral a liderato de la pava con triunfo en primarias populares |date=March 19, 2012 |publisher=Noti Uno 630 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420205537/http://notiuno.com/soberanistas-dan-golpe-moral-a-liderato-de-la-pava-con-triunfo-en-primarias-populares/ |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |first=Javier |last=Villa |access-date=April 20, 2014 }} On the original result, she had 217,162 votes counted, which surpassed the incumbent House of Representatives President Jennifer González, with a reported 216,087 in the NPP{{clarify|what is NPP?|date=December 2017}} primaries.{{cite web |url=http://www.telemundopr.com/telenoticias/ultimas-noticias/Carmen-Yulin-con-mas-votos-que-Gonzalez-aunque-dice-no-mira-la-presidencia-de-la-Camara-143311926.html?m=y&smobile=y&clmob=y&c=n |title=Carmen Yulín con más votos que González aunque dice no mira la presidencia de la Cámara |publisher=Telemundo Puerto Rico |language=es |date=March 19, 2012 |access-date=October 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420210415/http://www.telemundopr.com/telenoticias/ultimas-noticias/Carmen-Yulin-con-mas-votos-que-Gonzalez-aunque-dice-no-mira-la-presidencia-de-la-Camara-143311926.html?m=y&smobile=y&clmob=y&c=n |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Cruz Soto began hinting at her interest in running for the mayorship of her native city of San Juan in early 2011, but decided to step down when opposed by the conservadores,{{cite book| title=Para Carmen Yulín la segunda será la vencida|author=Keila López Alicea|publisher=El Nuevo Día|quote=Hace apenas un año, Yulín llegó a considerar la candidatura, pero decidió aspirar a otro término luego de recibir oposición por parte del liderato conservador del PPD, esto como consecuencia de sus posturas soberanistas.|date=April 5, 2012|location=Puerto Rico|chapter=Política|page=12}} led by Popular Democratic Party president Alejandro García Padilla, who named the second in-command of that wing, representative Héctor Ferrer, to occupy the position. However, her name resurfaced following the resignation of Ferrer, who was forced to abandon the race due to a domestic abuse incident which led to a formal investigation.{{cite news |url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulinaseguraquenoaspiraraasanjuan-1217419.html|title=Carmen Yulín asegura que no aspirará a San Juan|work=El Nuevo Día|author=Rosario, Frances|date=March 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306222944/http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulinaseguraquenoaspiraraasanjuan-1217419.html |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |url-status=live}}

File:Carmen Yulin Cruz campaign headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico.JPG

Although Cruz initially denied that she was running for mayor of San Juan, on March 26, 2012, she announced her decision to accept the party's petition and challenge incumbent mayor Jorge Santini.{{cite news |url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/elppdleapuestaacarmenyulinparalaalcaldiadesanjuan-1221937.html |title=El PPD le apuesta a Carmen Yulin para la alcaldia de San Juan |work=El Nuevo Día |date=March 27, 2012 |author=Rodríguez, Israel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306214835/http://www.elnuevodia.com/elppdleapuestaacarmenyulinparalaalcaldiadesanjuan-1221937.html |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 27, 2012 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/nota/carmenyulinseracandidataporlaalcaldiadesanjuan-629168/ |title=Carmen Yulín será candidata por la alcaldía de San Juan |author=Nydia Bauzá |publisher=Primera Hora |language=es |date=March 26, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226130841/http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/nota/carmenyulinseracandidataporlaalcaldiadesanjuan-629168/ |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |url-status=live}} In the media fallout that followed, Cruz was favored over Santini throughout the social networks, Facebook and Twitter, as reported by a specialist in media marketing.{{cite web |url=http://www.noticel.com/mobile/detalle/121088/se-activa-en-twitter-la-contienda-por-san-juan.html |title=Se activa en Twitter la contienda por San Juan |author=Ely Acevedo Denis |publisher=NotiCel.com |language=es |date=March 27, 2012 |access-date = March 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501060928/http://www.noticel.com/noticia/121088/se-activa-en-twitter-la-contienda-por-san-juan.html |archive-date=May 1, 2012 |url-status=live}} Likewise, she was favored in unofficial polls held by mainstream publications El Nuevo Día (64% of 1,940 votes) and Primera Hora (120,041 vs. 34,588 or 77.3%).{{cite web |url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/ganacarmenyulinenlasredessociales-1221628.html |title=Gana Carmen Yulín en las redes sociales |work=El Nuevo Dia |publisher=El Nuevo Día |language=es |date=March 26, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328030832/http://www.elnuevodia.com/ganacarmenyulinenlasredessociales-1221628.html |archive-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.primerahora.com/XStatic/primerahora/template/content.aspx?se=sondeo |title=Encuesta: ¿A quién prefieres para alcalde de San Juan? |publisher=Primera Hora |language=es |date=March 26, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814030714/http://www.primerahora.com/XStatic/primerahora/template/content.aspx?se=sondeo |archive-date=August 14, 2011 }}

On March 28, 2012, Cruz was promoted to the position of PDP Minority Whip in the House of Representatives.{{cite web |url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulincruzyluisraultorresseranlosportavocesdelppdenlacamara-1223480.html |title=Carmen Yulín Cruz y Luis Raúl Torres serán los portavoces del PPD en la Cámara |author=Daniel Rivera Vargas |publisher=El Nuevo Día |language=es |date=March 28, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420214323/http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulincruzyluisraultorresseranlosportavocesdelppdenlacamara-1223480.html |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |url-status=live}} Two days later, the PDP's San Juan Municipal Committee ratified her as their new president.{{cite web |url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/asumelapresidenciadelppdenlaciudadcapital-1225333.html |title=Asume la presidencia del PPD en la ciudad capital |author=Yanira Hernández Cabiya |publisher=El Nuevo Día |language=es |date=March 31, 2012 |access-date=March 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401072955/http://www.elnuevodia.com/asumelapresidenciadelppdenlaciudadcapital-1225333.html |archive-date=April 1, 2012 |url-status=live}} In contrast to the majority of the candidates for any mayorship, she has expressed not believing in the "perpetuation of office", noting that eight years should be enough to fulfill a development plan, if executed correctly.{{cite web |url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulincruzsotoesperaestarenlaalcaldiadesanjuansoloochoanos-1245921.html |title=Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto espera estar en la Alcaldía de San Juan solo ocho años |author=Marvin Fonseca |publisher=El Nuevo Día |language=es |date=April 28, 2012 |access-date=April 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501074818/http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulincruzsotoesperaestarenlaalcaldiadesanjuansoloochoanos-1245921.html |archive-date=May 1, 2012 |url-status=live}} On May 4, 2012, she attended a Service Employees International Union conference and held a meeting with Jim Messina, campaign director for President Barack Obama, to discuss health care and education funds, citing that "it is important to take stances in US politics, since half of all Puerto Ricans live there".{{cite web |url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/nota/carmenyulinseintegraacampanadeobamaporfondosmedicaidybecaspell-643636/ |title=Carmen Yulín se integra a campaña de Obama por fondos Medicaid y Becas Pell |publisher=Primera Hora |language=es |date=May 4, 2012 |access-date=May 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420215318/http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/nota/carmenyulinseintegraacampanadeobamaporfondosmedicaidybecaspell-643636/ |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |url-status=live}} During this visit, Cruz also negotiated the establishment of a Chicago-San Juan alliance with the Puerto Rican community there, led by congressman Luis Gutierrez. Carmen Yulín has also expressed full support for LGBT and women's rights.{{cite web|url=http://www.telemundopr.com/telenoticias/puerto-rico/Agradece-apoyo-de-Carmen-Yulin-a-reclamos-de-comunidad-LGBTT-en-San-Juan--162718176.html?m=y&smobile=y|title=Agradece apoyo de Carmen Yulín a reclamos de comunidad LGBTT en San Juan|publisher=Telemundo Puerto Rico|language=es|date=July 17, 2012|access-date=October 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420220026/http://www.telemundopr.com/telenoticias/puerto-rico/Agradece-apoyo-de-Carmen-Yulin-a-reclamos-de-comunidad-LGBTT-en-San-Juan--162718176.html?m=y&smobile=y|archive-date=April 20, 2014|url-status=dead}}

Cruz was elected as the next mayor of San Juan on November 6, 2012, defeating three term-incumbent Mayor Jorge Santini in the city's 2012 mayoral election. She became the third woman to hold San Juan's mayoral office, after Felisa Rincón de Gautier and Sila Calderón.

Cruz's administration continued her predecessor Jorge Santini's plans for the revitalization of the Río Piedras district.{{cite web|url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/mejorasalcascourbanoderiopiedras-1596322.html|title=Mejoras al casco urbano de Río Piedras|author=Rosangely Piñero|publisher=El Nuevo Día|language=es|date=September 15, 2013|access-date=October 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420220340/http://www.elnuevodia.com/mejorasalcascourbanoderiopiedras-1596322.html |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |url-status=live}} The first phase of this plan consisted of the restoration of historic buildings in the subdivision. An economic plan spearheaded by José Rivera-Santana promoted incentives for housing and establishment of new businesses in Río Piedras, in an attempt to salvage the economic importance that the district once had. This was complemented with direct communication and collaboration with the local community and several institutions, including the University of Puerto Rico.

She won reelection in the city's 2016 mayoral election,{{cite web |title=CEE Event |url=http://elecciones2020.ceepur.org/Escrutinio_General_93/index.html#es/default_list/ALCALDES_Municipios.xml |website=elecciones2020.ceepur.org |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=12 March 2021}} then did not run for mayor in the 2020 mayoral elections.

{{See also|Hurricane Maria}}

In September 2017, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria,{{cite web | title=In San Juan, 'the aftermath is almost more horrific than the actual passing of the hurricane itself' | website=Los Angeles Times | date=September 26, 2017 | url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-puerto-rico-capital-20170926-story.html | access-date=January 22, 2022}} Cruz made frequent appearances on national and international television, criticizing federal aid efforts for not getting the aid shipments into the hands of the people who needed them, accusing President Donald Trump and his administration of "killing us with inefficiency", and giving pleas for help in numerous media interviews.{{cite news|title=Puerto Rico mayor: Trump 'killing us with inefficiency'|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/puerto-rican-mayor-begs-aid-hurricane-maria-170930064704078.html|access-date=October 1, 2017|agency=Al Jazeera|publisher=Al Jazeera Media Network}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nbc12.com/story/36475625/thousands-of-aid-containers-stuck-in-puerto-rico-port|title=Thousands of aid containers stuck in Puerto Rico port|date=September 28, 2017|work=NBC-12 news|access-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001030937/http://www.nbc12.com/story/36475625/thousands-of-aid-containers-stuck-in-puerto-rico-port|archive-date=October 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}

At a September 29 press conference Cruz said:

"We are dying here and I cannot fathom the thought that the greatest nation in the world cannot figure out logistics for a small island of 100 miles by 35 miles long... People are drinking off a creek. So I am done being polite. I am done being politically correct. I am mad as hell... So I am asking the members of the press, to send a mayday call all over the world. We are dying here... And if it doesn't stop, and if we don't get the food and the water into people's hands, what we are going to see is something close to a genocide".{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/puerto-rico-crisis-hurricane-maria-san-juan-mayor-2017-9 |title='We Are Dying': Puerto Rico mayor says the island is 'inching close to a genocide' |last=Choi |first=David |date=September 29, 2017 |website=Business Insider |access-date=September 30, 2017}}

Speaking on Fox News, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) director Brock Long responded to Cruz's remarks saying that unity of command was the main thing needed for the relief effort to be successful, and suggested the mayor needed to go to the joint field office and "get plugged in".{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-san-juan-mayor-20170930-story.html|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|title=Trump snaps at San Juan mayor on Twitter after she criticizes federal response to Maria|first1=Jill|last1=Colvin|date=September 30, 2017|access-date=September 30, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/brock-long-defends-federal-response-to-hurricane-maria|work=Fox News|title=Brock Long defends federal response to Hurricane Maria|date=September 30, 2017|access-date=September 30, 2017}} Responding to her statements, President Trump tweeted, "The mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump. Such poor leadership ability by the mayor of San Juan and others in Puerto Rico who are not able to get their workers to help."

Many legislators responded to Cruz's comments and the Trump tweets. Speaking on CNN, Rep. Al Green said that he saw undertones of racism in the President's remarks. "If they were all Anglos, I don't believe the President would have the attitude that he has, because you don't hear that kind of dog whistle, of people not wanting to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, when the people are Anglos. That's something reserved for people of color." In tweets Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called Trump's remarks "offensive" and Sen. Ed Markey said that the President needed to apologize to the people of Puerto Rico, saying, ""The definition of 'poor leadership' is sitting at your golf club while millions of US citizens beg for your help, @realDonaldTrump," Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Puerto Rico was in "crisis" and Trump should "stop playing politics with their lives." Rep. Don Beyer writing the President "focused on aid efforts in TX & FL but ignored Puerto Rico. Now you attack San Juan's mayor for saying 'people are dying.' THEY ARE DYING."{{cite news |last1=Summers |first1=Juana |title=Trump attacks San Juan mayor over hurricane response |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/30/politics/trump-tweets-puerto-rico-mayor/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=June 8, 2018}}

{{Main|2020 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election}}

In March 2019, Cruz announced her candidacy for governor in the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for the 2020 elections.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-22/puerto-rico-mayor-trump-critic-announces-run-for-governor |title=San Juan Mayor Announces Run for Puerto Rico Governor|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Bloomberg |date=March 22, 2019 |access-date=July 25, 2019}} In a three-way race she failed to secure the PDP nomination,{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/16/puerto-rico-governor-primary-election-396745|title=Puerto Rico's governor loses primary in chaotic election|date=August 16, 2020|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Politico|access-date=August 19, 2020}} finishing third behind Isabela mayor Carlos Delgado Altieri and senator Eduardo Bhatia.

On February 21, 2019, Cruz announced that she was joining Senator Bernie Sanders' Presidential campaign as one of its four national co-chairs.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/san-juan-mayor-carmen-yul-n-cruz-co-chair-bernie-n974276|title=San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz to co-chair Bernie Sanders 2020 campaign|last=Gamboa|first=Suzanne|website=NBC News|date=February 21, 2019 }}

2021 Mount Holyoke College - Harriet L. Weissman and Paul M. Weissman Distinguished Fellow in Leadership{{Cite web|date=2021-01-04|title=Carmen Yulín Cruz|url=https://www.mtholyoke.edu/people/carmen-yul%C3%ADn-cruz|access-date=2021-05-23|website=Mount Holyoke College|language=en}}

{{BLP sources|date=August 2018}}

Cruz has received numerous recognitions and awards, including the Martin Luther King Centre Justice, Peace and Freedom Award and Humanitarian Leadership Award in 2018, the Antonio Villaraigosa Leadership Award in 2018, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation Humanitarian Award 2017, and the Puerto Rico Arts Alliance Felisa Rincón Legacy Public Service Award. She was also nominated by People en Español as one of the 50 most Powerful Women in 2017, and Time magazine chose her as candidate for Person of the Year recognition in 2017. In 2018, she was on the Time list of the 100 most Influential People in the World for her leadership in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.{{Cite magazine|title=Carmen Yulín Cruz: The World's 100 Most Influential People|url=https://time.com/collection/most-influential-people-2018/5217603/carmen-yulin-cruz/|access-date=October 22, 2020|magazine=Time}} In 2018, Cruz received the prestigious Ridenhour Truth-Telling Award,{{cite web | title=Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto | website=Ridenhour Prizes | date=April 14, 2023 | url=https://www.ridenhour.org/recipients/carmen-yul%C3%ADn-cruz-soto | access-date=June 11, 2024}} as well as Casa de Esperanza's Award for Inspirational leadership, the Hank Aaron Champion of Justice Award, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's Award for Economic Justice. In 2018, she was named to Essence magazine's Woke 100 Women list.{{Cite web|title=Essence Presents 2018's 'Woke 100 Women' List To Highlight Black Women Change-Agents|url=https://www.essence.com/news/woke-100-women-2018/#11336|access-date=February 24, 2021|website=Essence|date=October 24, 2020 }}

Cruz married psychologist and University of Sacred Heart professor{{cite web|url=https://insagrado.sagrado.edu/sme/|title=Alfredo Carrasquillo expone retos de la diversidad generacional|first=Comunicaciones|last=Integradas|date=November 22, 2016|website=insagrado.sagrado.edu}} Alfredo Carrasquillo on September 25, 2010, three months after their relationship started. They divorced a year later, but remarried in 2013 and divorced again in 2017.{{cite news|url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulincruzsevuelveacasar-1489953.html|title=Carmen Yulín Cruz se vuelve a casar |work=El Nuevo Día|author=Rodríguez, Israel|date=April 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415232239/http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulincruzsevuelveacasar-1489953.html |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |url-status=live |language=es}} Cruz has a daughter, Marina Yulín Paul Cruz, from a previous marriage.{{cite news|url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulincruzsecasoensecreto-793558.html|title=Carmen Yulín Cruz se casó en secreto|author=Rosario, Frances |date=October 7, 2010 |publisher=El Nuevo Día |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010102253/http://www.elnuevodia.com/carmenyulincruzsecasoensecreto-793558.html |archive-date=October 10, 2010 |url-status=live |language=es}}{{cite news|url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/orgullosasmamagallina-701415.html |title=Orgullosas mamá-gallina |author=Muñiz Gracia, Alba Y. |date=May 9, 2010 |publisher=El Nuevo Día |access-date=April 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512155443/http://www.elnuevodia.com/orgullosasmamagallina-701415.html |archive-date=May 12, 2010 |url-status=live}}

{{Portal|Puerto Rico|Biography}}

• List of Puerto Ricans
• History of women in Puerto Rico

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120111154518/http://www.camaraderepresentantes.org/legs2.asp?r=DYKSJSSATN Carmen Yulín Cruz] on CamaraDeRepresentantes.org

{{s-start}}

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=Jorge Santini}}

{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of San Juan|years=2013–2020}}

{{s-aft|after={{nowrap|Miguel Romero}}}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Carmen}}

Category:1963 births

Category:21st-century mayors of places in Puerto Rico

Category:21st-century Puerto Rican women politicians

Category:Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign

Category:Boston University College of Arts and Sciences alumni

Category:Democratic Party (Puerto Rico) politicians

Category:Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy alumni

Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics

Category:Living people

Category:Mayors of San Juan, Puerto Rico

Category:People associated with the 2020 United States presidential election

Category:Popular Democratic Party members of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico

Category:Women mayors of places in Puerto Rico

Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico