"In my family, we believed, This is what you do for society. This is how you support. This is why you do it. It’s not personal needs. It’s always for and with the community.” |
Graciela SanchezGraciela follows in the footsteps of her mother and abuelitas, strong neighborhood women of color, cultural workers, and activists of San Antonio. As director of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, a community-based cultural arts/social justice organization, Graciela works with staff and community to develop programs that culturally ground working-class and poor people of color, queer people and women, and individuals who are survivors of cultural genocide.
Facilitating conversations on issues of colonization, genocide, power, violence, racism, sexism, and homophobia, among others. She challenges notions of the arts and politics as separate work environments. Graciela implements the vision and operations of the Esperanza as a community center, art/performance space, policy-change hub, and network facilitator for community-based arts/social justice organizations. |
Esperanza was founded in 1987 by a group made up of mostly Chicana activists seeking to bring together diverse movements for peace and justice in San Antonio and around the world. In the early years, the Esperanza was engaged in caravans to Central America, demonstrations against the KKK, mural projects that engaged children as artists, and the first art exhibit in Texas to focus on the Queer community and the AIDS crisis. Esperanza continues to be a politically progressive, outspoken, and unwavering force for justice in San Antonio and beyond.
For the last 30 years, the Esperanza has become a unique institution, having galvanized a multiracial, multicultural and bilingual cultural arts/social change community headed by Latinas, the majority of whom are lesbians. Esperanza is mujeres, Latinas, African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, and Whites. Esperanza is queer and straight. Esperanza is the economically disadvantaged trabajando junto con la gente de clase media. Esperanza is feminist, politically progressive, and outspoken.
Esperanza has also built a year-round calendar of arts and cultural programs intended to bring together diverse communities, bring a new political consciousness to community gatherings, and build solidarity among diverse groups and causes. Esperanza’s cultural programming continues to thrive, serving thousands of people each year through direct participation in arts and cultural events, including exhibitions, workshops, concerts, theater performances, film screenings, and more.
MujerArtes Clay Cooperative
The MujerArtes Women's Clay Cooperative is a project of Esperanza and one of its groundbreaking programs. MujerArtes Studio attracts thousands of visitors every year. It hosts exhibits at the Studio at 816 S. Colorado and at Esperanza at 922 San Pedro. Founded in 1995, the women mold clay into representations of historic events from their lives as workers and from their history as marginalized people in a country where they had to struggle.
Rinconcito de Esperanza
Translated to The Corner of Hope, it is the center of Esperanza's Westside cultural programming. The Rinconcito has grown since Esperanza purchased Casa de Cuentos in 2002. Ruben's Ice House was purchased in 2007, renovations there are underway and almost completed to transform the space into the Museo del Westside, the first Mexican-American community participatory museum in the city.
For the last 30 years, the Esperanza has become a unique institution, having galvanized a multiracial, multicultural and bilingual cultural arts/social change community headed by Latinas, the majority of whom are lesbians. Esperanza is mujeres, Latinas, African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, and Whites. Esperanza is queer and straight. Esperanza is the economically disadvantaged trabajando junto con la gente de clase media. Esperanza is feminist, politically progressive, and outspoken.
Esperanza has also built a year-round calendar of arts and cultural programs intended to bring together diverse communities, bring a new political consciousness to community gatherings, and build solidarity among diverse groups and causes. Esperanza’s cultural programming continues to thrive, serving thousands of people each year through direct participation in arts and cultural events, including exhibitions, workshops, concerts, theater performances, film screenings, and more.
MujerArtes Clay Cooperative
The MujerArtes Women's Clay Cooperative is a project of Esperanza and one of its groundbreaking programs. MujerArtes Studio attracts thousands of visitors every year. It hosts exhibits at the Studio at 816 S. Colorado and at Esperanza at 922 San Pedro. Founded in 1995, the women mold clay into representations of historic events from their lives as workers and from their history as marginalized people in a country where they had to struggle.
Rinconcito de Esperanza
Translated to The Corner of Hope, it is the center of Esperanza's Westside cultural programming. The Rinconcito has grown since Esperanza purchased Casa de Cuentos in 2002. Ruben's Ice House was purchased in 2007, renovations there are underway and almost completed to transform the space into the Museo del Westside, the first Mexican-American community participatory museum in the city.
Website: esperanzacenter.org
