Alma Hernandez was born and raised on the south side of Tucson.

A proud product of Sunnyside School District’s Public Schools, Alma earned a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Arizona – majoring in Care Health and Society along with a minor in Public Health.  She went on and earned her Masters in Public Health at the University of Arizona as well. She has further Public Health training from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where she participated in their summer Biostatistics and Epidemiology institute program focusing on Epidemiology in Evidence-Based Policy and Social Epidemiology.

As a 14-year-old she was brutally attacked and subsequently exposed to the criminal justice system rigged against people of color especially those without means. This experience showed her first hand what happens in our school to prison pipeline that has ruined so many young lives. Alma, as a result, now suffers from severe spinal issues which have affected her physically over the years due to the brutal attack by the officer at such a young age. Because of her experiences, she is an outspoken activist who has worked on a variety of issues from education, women’s rights, criminal justice reform, and health care.

She has held a variety of leadership roles in the community:

• She has served on the Mental Health committee for Interfaith Community Services.
• Alma has also advocated for Arizona students with the Arizona Students Association pushing for funding and support of our state’s three public universities and community colleges.
• She has served with the Young Democrats of America Hispanic caucus, and is the former chair of the College Young Democrats of Arizona including serving as the President of CatPAC.

As a part of her humanitarian work as a Public Health professional Alma has traveled to developing countries including Ghana and Panama where she helped provide medical and public health services through free clinics.

At home in Tucson, Alma has worked with Powersource Tucson as the program coordinator of Bridging the Gap, a program that is helping women living with HIV/AIDS.

Most recently she led Arizonans United for Healthcare working to defeat the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. In this role, Alma organized protests in Tucson and Washington DC representing the underserved, uninsured and underrepresented of our home town.

Alma has worked hard to elect Progressive Democrats to offices throughout Southern Arizona for the last decade. Beginning as an intern, she quickly rose to become campaign manager for State Senator Steve Farley, Joel Feinman, candidate for Pima Country Attorney, and State Representative Daniel Hernandez.  She was elected as a Precinct Committeeman since she became old enough to vote in her district and is the former second vice chair of her legislative district board.  Most recently she was selected to be delegate for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton where she represented her district at the Democratic National Convention.

With a passion for progressive politics, Alma has been selected for and completed several prestigious fellowships:

• “Young People For” by People for the American Way
• “Courts Matter” by People for the American Way
• Future Women in Government
• Anti-Defamation League Glass Leadership Institute.

Alma is also proud alumni and sister of Alpha Chi Omega Panhellenic Sorority, Rho Lambda National Sorority Leadership Society for Women and Sigma Alpha Pi National Society for Leadership and Success.

She is an active member of the Jewish Community. She’s also the dog mom to 5: Bettina, Bettino, Mingo and Lola.