Now in its seventh year, the DreamWeek Summit, which this year takes place from January 11 to 26, is a series of events that focus on fostering “the free exchange of ideas on universal issues affecting the human race.” The ultimate goal of DreamWeek is to advance “the voices of tolerance, equality and diversity.” Over…
Azul Barrientos to Premier New Album With Concert at Carver Center
San Antonio-based chanteuse Azul Barrientos will premier her new album, Nuestro Corazón!, at a concert on Sunday, September 16 at the Carver Center’s Jo Long Theater. Barrientos, who is from Mexico City, has been artist-in-residence at the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center since 2007 where her monthly Noche Azul concerts have showcased traditional Mexican music…
Back to School Event Offers Support for Parents and Trans Kids in SA
For many kids, the beginning of a new school year sparks nervous excitement. For trans students and their parents, however, the experience may be a little more daunting. Fortunately, the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center has been keeping the needs and concerns of trans students in mind since 2016. It is hosting its third annual…
Sitting Down with Unerasable Graciela Sanchez
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. I’m sitting at Sweet Yams Café on the city’s East Side with Graciela Sanchez, director of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. The sunlight cascades down the right side of her face through the adjacent window, giving her a resplendent glow. Sanchez, who has devoted her life to…
Esperanza Center to Open Community Museum Focusing on SA’s Westside
The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center has announced it plans to create a museum which will focus on the history of San Antonio’s Westside. The new museum will be located in the former Ruben’s Ice House, at the corner of South Colorado and Guadalupe Streets, just west of downtown. The structure will undergo renovations. No…
Esperanza Center to Screen Documentary About Trans Pioneer Miss Major Griffin-Gracy
On June 23, the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center will screen the documentary Major!, which explores the life of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a transgender activist who has been fighting for the rights of trans women of color for over 40 years. The film first premiered in 2015. It was produced by Annalise Ophelian and StormMiguel…
LGBT Employment Issues Are Focus of Queer Corazones Resource Fair
The Queer Corazones de Esperanza are hosting a resource fair and panel discussion on June 9 which will address issues and topics relating to LGBT employment. According to the press release, the purpose of the event is to facilitate conversations about the conditions and experiences of LGBT individuals at their places of employment. One issue…
MujerArtes Sale Comes Just in Time for Mother’s Day
The MujerArtes clay cooperative’s annual Mother’s Day sale and exhibit opens on Saturday, May 5 at the group’s Adobe Studio located in the heart of San Antonio’s Westside. The exhibit and sale will feature handmade artworks fashioned by the women of the cooperative who work under the guidance of experienced ceramicists. “This is the perfect…
LGBT Community Organizations Participating in the ‘Big Give’
Eight organizations with links to San Antonio’s LGBT community are participating in the Big Give, a 24-hour day of online fundraising during which over 600 nonprofits from throughout South Central Texas make an appeal to potential donors. Since 2014, 150,000 donors have given nearly $15 million dollars to over 2,000 nonprofits via the Big Give,…
SA Women’s Day March to Emphasize ‘Positive Social Change’
The annual San Antonio International Woman’s Day March and Rally, slated for Saturday, March 3, historically addresses a wide range of issues, and this year is no exception. In a statement, organizers of this year’s event say they are coming together to “make positive social change” for people who have been the targets of racist,…