Carmen Yulín Cruz is the author of El Poder está en la Calle and a passionate advocate for justice and equality. She studied political science at Boston University and earned a master’s degree in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Cruz began her career in human resources before returning to Puerto Rico to work in public service roles, eventually entering politics. Elected as a Representative At-Large in 2008 and later as Mayor of San Juan in 2012, she became a vocal advocate for Puerto Rico, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane María. Cruz is a champion of LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant rights, and community empowerment through participatory governance.

In 2018, Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

She currently serves as President of the Global Advisory Board of Geoversity, a 501(c)(3) environmental non-profit organization.