Josie Ramona Marrujo
Labor Leader & President, LULAC Council 8057 (New Mexico)
Women’s Hall of Fame Awardee
Josie Ramona Marrujo was born in Santa Cruz, New Mexico, and raised in a traditional Hispanic family rooted in respect, cultural pride, and a deep love of country. With over 50 years of experience in government and community relations, she is a retired federal employee, accomplished labor leader, and lifelong advocate for underserved communities.
Throughout her career, Josie led numerous initiatives to expand access and opportunity across rural New Mexico. In collaboration with the University of New Mexico, she played a pivotal role in establishing community-based healthcare centers that have served families since the late 1970s.
Her advocacy extended to the labor movement, where she held key leadership roles within the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). For more than two decades, she served as both Local President and Regional Vice President for the Dallas region. She was instrumental in national contract negotiations, lobbied Congress on behalf of federal workers, and helped found the AFGE Hispanic Coalition (HISCO) to advance Hispanic representation in the federal workforce. In 2008, she also contributed to federal legislation addressing pay equity, including HB 4738, One America, Many Voices.
In addition to her public service, Josie spent over 30 years promoting New Mexico’s rich cultural heritage through her dance company, Ballet Folklorico de Nuevo Mejico. Today, she continues her activism through the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), serving as President of Council 8057 and Chair of the 2025 State Convention Planning Committee.
Widely respected for her tenacity and vision, Josie Ramona Marrujo remains a powerful voice for equity, education, and the preservation of cultural identity.