Alma Canales

Biography

Alma Canales was born in La Rosita, Texas, and, as a girl, worked with her family in the summers as a migrant farm worker. She was recruited to the University of Texas Pan America on a journalism scholarship and it was there that she became involved with the Mexican American Youth Organization. As a journalist and, later, as a community organizer through Colonias del Valle, Canales learned to advocate for the needs of the Mexican/Mexican American community in the Rio Grande Valley. After attending and helping to shape El Colegio Jacinto Treviño in Mercedes, Texas, she moved to Austin to become involved in state-wide campaigning for La Raza Unida. At 24 years old, she was the youngest and first Chicana to run for Lieutenant Governor of Texas under the La Raza Unida ticket. After settling in Waco, Texas, Canales continued her advocacy work through LULAC and the Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project.