Prior to formally entering public life, Alvarado worked in City Hall as a Senior Executive Assistant to Houston Mayor Lee P. Brown.

Her past professional experience includes serving as a legislative assistant to Congressman Gene Green in Washington D.C., and as a consultant in economic and community development in East End neighborhoods.

During her time on the City Council, Alvarado worked to close down nuisance bars in neighborhoods, improve air quality, and secure cameras at problem rail crossings.

During her three terms in the House, she has authored bills to qualify all Texas four-year-olds for pre-kindergarten, to increase career and technology education funding, to limit elementary class sizes, and to freeze tuition at public colleges and universities.

Speaking on the floor of the House chamber, Alvarado displayed a 10-inch trans vaginal wand and described the intrusiveness of the sonogram procedure.