Christine Culpepper De Ruiz’s Biography 

Christine Culpepper De Ruiz is a native of the Bronx, a wife, the mother of three adult children, and the proud daughter of an immigrant Chilean mother and a second generation Local 3 IBEW electrician father. She has been a member of Construction and General Building Laborers’ Local 79 since 1999. Her husband, brother and eldest son are also members of the same union.

Christine is an ANSI Certified Instructor, currently teaching construction skills and safety to members of various building trades unions, which is a position she has held since 2005. An eastern region representative for the LIUNA Women's Caucus, the President of the Women’s Committee of Laborers’ Local 79, a founding member of Building Trades for Workers’ Democracy, and a member of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, she has worked both as a shop steward and a foreman, doing recovery and cleanup work at Ground Zero following 9/11. She also is the first woman to serve as Deputy Sergeant at Arms at Local 79. She values all of the above accomplishments deeply and is proud to be a third generation construction trades member, who serves as a voice for women in the construction industry.

Christine was picked to be part of an assessment team sent to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, which was assembled by Governor Cuomo’s Administration. In 2021, she met the President of the United States in Queens, doing relief work after Hurricane Ida. She is a community activist, who has done mutual aid work during the COVID-19 pandemic in the South Bronx, who helped organize volunteers to unload and distribute supplies to the Bronx Fire victims, and who has been on various steering committees to bring affordable housing and good union jobs to the Bronx and other parts of New York City.

Christine has been recognized by various organizations for her advocacy and organizing efforts. In 2021, she was honored by the Liberty Democratic Association for her leadership in labor, and in 2022, she was picked by Assembly Member Fernandez to run on her slate as State Committeewoman for the 80th Assembly District, an elected Democratic Party position she currently holds.

Christine was appointed to Community Board 11 in 2022 as a Council Member Velazquez nominee.