Juana de J. Sarmiento

Juana de Jesús Sarmiento Ariza, better known as Juana de J. Sarmiento (1899-1979) was a Colombian politician and activist, recognized for having been the first elected mayor of a municipality in Colombia.[1]

Juana de J. Sarmiento

Early life and political career

Sarmiento was born in the municipality of Sabanalarga, Atlántico Department, in 1899. She began her political career by participating in the creation and organization of civic committees in the municipality. In the 1930s, she founded a women's organization called Colombia Democrática, also becoming its president. The establishment of this committee led to the creation of foundations which were led exclusively by women in the coffee-growing country.[2][3]

In 1935, she was one of the founders of the Sociedad de Mejoras Públicas de Sabanalarga. During the 1940s, she continued to lead activism campaigns for the benefit of her municipality and the rights of women and the underprivileged. In this way, she became a notable and respected citizen in Sabanalarga, consolidating her political career. On May 15, 1951, Sarmiento became the first elected mayor of a municipality in the entire history of Colombia.[1]

In 1955, Sarmiento was appointed Secretary of the Administrative Council of the municipality. In one of her last civic endeavors, she was instrumental in building a nursing home in the 1970s.

Sarmiento died on May 25, 1979, at the age of 79.[1]

References
  1. Ávila Patiño, Xavier (December 2016). "JUANA DE JESÚS SARMIENTO ARIZA. PRIMERA MUJER NOMBRADA ALCALDESA EN COLOMBIA (1951)" (PDF) (in Spanish). Bulletin Nº 7 of history and antiquities of Sabanalarga, of the Association Sabanalarga History Center. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  2. "Noticias de Sabanalarga-Atlántico: La casa de la primera alcaldesa de Sabanalarga, Juana de J. Sarmiento". Noticias de Sabanalarga. 23 September 2018. (in Spanish)
  3. "El tiempo de la mujer ya llegó". Las2orillas (in Spanish). 1 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
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