Rosie Castro facts for kids

Maria del Rosario "Rosie" Castro (born in 1947) is an American civil rights activist and teacher from San Antonio, Texas. She has worked with many important groups like the Young Democrats of America and the Raza Unida Party. Rosie Castro is also the mother of well-known politicians Julian and Joaquin Castro.

Rosie Castro's Early Life and Education

Rosie Castro was born to Victoria Castro and Edward Perez. She grew up in San Antonio, raised by her mother and a guardian named Marcia Garcia. Living in the San Antonio barrio, Rosie saw how racial and economic differences affected her family. This experience sparked her interest in social justice from a young age.

How Education Shaped Her Path

Rosie earned a scholarship because she was the top student in her class. With this help, she went to Our Lady of the Lake University. She planned to become a teacher and earned a degree in Spanish in 1971. While at the university, she joined the Catholic Youth Association. However, she noticed that the group did not have many minority members.

Getting Involved in Student Activism

As a college student, Rosie first became involved in student activism. She joined the Young Democrats. She also helped organize the Young Republicans chapter on campus, which was required. Later, she earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Rosie Castro's Career and Activism

Rosie Castro began her career by volunteering for Lyndon B. Johnson's 1964 presidential campaign. Later, she joined the Mexican American Unity Council (MAUC). With MAUC, she helped organize a boycott against the San Antonio Savings Association. This was a savings and loan company led by former San Antonio Mayor Walter McAllister.

Fighting for Justice and Equality

Rosie was very active during the "Free Angela Davis" campaign in 1971. During this time, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) watched her activities.

Castro also worked with the Raza Unida Party in the 1970s. This party aimed to help Mexican-American candidates run for office in Texas. Rosie served as the party chair for Bexar County. The Raza Unida Party worked with the San Antonio Committee for Barrio Betterment (CBB). Together, they tried to win positions in the city government. In 1971, Rosie herself ran for the San Antonio City Council with the CBB. She finished second among four candidates.

Later Career and Public Service

From 2008 until her retirement in 2013, Castro was the interim dean of student affairs at Palo Alto College.

In March 2023, Rosie Castro was chosen to be the temporary councilperson for City Council District 7. This happened after Councilwoman Ana Sandoval resigned. Her term ended on June 21, 2023, when Marina Alderete Gavito took over the role.

Rosie Castro's Personal Life and Legacy

On September 16, 1974, Rosie Castro gave birth to twin brothers, Julián and Joaquin. Their father was Jessie Guzman, a math teacher and political activist. Rosie and Jessie were never married and separated when the twins were eight years old.

Rosie Castro continues to be involved in many community and national groups. These include Latinas Represent, the Texas Organizing Project, and AARP.

Awards and Recognition

In 2015, she was honored by being chosen for the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2017, she received an honorary Ph.D. from Our Lady of the Lake University.

Rosie Castro is also a published poet. She contributed four poems to a book called Entre Guadalupe y Malinche: Tejanas in Literature and Art. This book was published by the University of Texas Press in 2016.

Inspiring Future Leaders

Both Joaquin Castro and Julian Castro have said that their mother's activism inspired their own political careers. Julian once said that his mother "fought hard for civil rights so that instead of a mop, I could hold this microphone."

In an interview with Texas Monthly, Julian also noted that his mother, Maria del Rosario Castro, never held a political office herself. However, he added that because of her work, more people from diverse backgrounds are now in important roles like school boards, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and teachers.