With the support of Gertrudis Tenorio Zavala and Cristina Farfn, a noted educator and writer who promoted women's education and was involved in the emergence of the first wave feminist movement in Mexico, Rita Cetina Gutirrez, who wrote poetry from about 1860 which was published in many local journals and newspapers, opened La Siempreviva (Everlasting), an institution consisting of Mexico's first secular school for poor girls as well as an art college for young women.
With the support of Gertrudis Tenorio Zavala and Cristina Farfan, on 3 May 1870 Cetina opened La Siempreviva (Everlasting), an institution consisting of Mexico's first secular school for poor girls as well as an art college for young women. She wrote poetry from about 1860 which was published in many local journals and newspapers, sometimes using the pen name Cristabela. 
