I greatly enjoy the sense of community and peace rural communities have to offer. The friendly and uplifting spirit, and the welcome my family and I received when I moved to Cuming County, Nebraska, quickly made it feel like home.
Born in Mexico, I moved to the U.S. when I was five. I grew up knowing everyone in the two towns I called home—Beemer and West Point. My husband Andrew and I are now raising our two children, Andrew Alexander and Leilani Zulema, in West Point, and it’s my hope they will have the same experiences and grow to love small-town living as much as I do.
Growing up, my parents always encouraged me to volunteer, making it clear how important it was to be active in our community. It has been one of my greatest experiences, as it afforded me the opportunity to advocate for and help others, not only in my community but elsewhere in rural Nebraska.
While attending Wayne State College I did an internship with Masonic-Eastern Star Home for Children in Fremont, which seeks to provide an environment of love, security, and acceptance where a child can grow and develop as an individual. During my time there, I enjoyed being an advocate and helping educate the children. The experience stayed with me, and after graduating from Wayne State in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in human service counseling, I’ve worked as an interpreter and healthy families advocate, connecting Spanish speakers with critical services.
At the Center for Rural Affairs, I’ve helped advocate for a streamlined permitting process for food truck owners. I enjoyed speaking with them and seeing them testify and share their stories with lawmakers. It was also satisfying to see our hard work pay off when the Nebraska Legislature passed the bill and the governor signed it into law.
The work and volunteering I’ve done and the relationships I’ve built continue to fuel my need to give back to my community and help others. It’s my way of saying thank you to those who’ve helped me develop leadership skills and create lasting memories. Through my work at the Center, I hope to continue to build my skills and create new relationships as I advocate for and work with rural residents and communities across Nebraska.
When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family doing outdoor activities, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and volunteering in the community.
Connect with Zulema by email at zulemak@cfra.org or by phone at 402.687.2100, ext. 1036.
