Esperanza Peace & Justice Center

a n d p u b l i c f u n d i n g

<--Return to
Index Esperanza v. City of San Antonio

The Esperanza Center

The people of Esperanza dream of a world where everyone has civil rights and economic justice, where the environment is cared for, where cultures are honored and communities are safe. The Esperanza Center advocates for those wounded by domination and inequality -- women, people of color, lesbians and gay men, the working class and poor. We believe in creating bridges between people by exchanging ideas and educating and empowering each other. We believe it is vital to share our visions of hope ...we are esperanza.

The Esperanza Center is a grassroots cultural organization dedicated to creating a better world through art, dialogue, and action. The Esperanza's programming works to erase borders and build alliances between peoples of different races, ethnic origins, genders, sexual orientations, ages and economic classes.

The Esperanza was founded in 1987 by Latina women, both lesbian and straight, who believed that working in coalition and open dialogue with other individuals and organizations is vital to a better future. From its humble beginnings as a volunteer-run, $6,000-a-year organization, the Esperanza has grown into a formidable national leader in combining community arts with social justice advocacy.

The Esperanza's diverse and dynamic programming includes the Other America Film Festival; visual art exhibitions; concerts; the MujerARTES handmade pottery cooperative; drama & poetry performances; writers' forums; the Visiones de Esperanza youth media project; a grassroots publication, La Voz de Esperanza; leadership workshops; technical assistance; marches and rallies; and the creation of and collaboration in activist networks. Through these programs, the Esperanza promotes the expression of those voices traditionally excluded from the mainstream--artistic voices, political voices, personal voices.

The Esperanza's transforming message of hope, respect, and dialogue is like an oasis in the midst of a world that is becoming increasingly violent, intolerant and materialistic.

The San Antonio Lesbian and Gay Media Project

The San Antonio Lesbian and Gay Media Project (often referred to as the Media Project,) was created in 1990 to promote fair, accurate, and inclusive media images and portrayals of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people. In 1992, the Media Project created Out At The Movies to exhibit and promote contemporary Queer film and video in San Antonio. The festival aims to demonstrate the strength and diversity of Queer culture, to increase discussion of current social and cultural issues within Queer communities, and to promote media education through programming a wide variety of film/video styles and through presenting speakers and panels to discuss media history and contemporary theory. Out At The Movies is programmed by female and male, Latina and Anglo co-curators. Selections are local and international in scope, and include films and videos from culturally, sexually, and racially diverse creators. Filmmakers and visitors to the Festival have included: Barbara Hammer, Daryl Chin, Arthur Dong, Ximena Cuevas, Michael Wilke, Peggy Gilpin, Yvonne Rainer, and many others.

VAN

VAN (pronounced "vane") was formed in 1994 for the purpose of bringing national and international artists who are visiting or working in other parts of Texas to San Antonio, creating an interdisciplinary alternative ad hoc extension of what's happening elsewhere and augmenting existing local contemporary cultural activity. VAN provides transportation, housing, and collaborative linking on an extremely flexible, artist-driven basis. VAN guests participate in an event of their own choosing: a community service project, for example, or a performance or lecture demo at alternative and not-so-alternative spaces throughout the city's artist community. VAN has facilitated residencies for such artists as Elia Arce, Leonard Cruz, Rick Lowe, Vicky Meek, Jaime Ortega, Ntozake Shange, Melanie Smith, Zocalo Mobile Village, Mark Pauline and many others.

What do you think? E-mail us at esperanza@esperanzacenter.org.