Claudia Zapata is the daughter of a teacher and a product of her familia. She was raised in the neighborhoods of South Austin and East Austin, the “rural country” of Kyle, and the barrios of Mission, Texas. Zapata is no stranger to hard work, growing up helping her family make ends meet by cleaning toilets and picking citrus. She has been active in her community as the Former Treasurer of the Del Valle Community Coalition Non-Profit, a vocal member of the Austin Latino Coalition, an active member of Hays Latinos United, Hays County Young Democrats, and the Hays County Democratic Party, and a former spokesperson for the Restaurant Organizing Project Austin, Texas chapter.