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Biographies and other Information

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Board of Directors

David Zamora Casas -is a self-taught artist native to San Antonio who has exhibited widely throughout the U.S. His artwork reflects themes of identity resonating with his cultural roots as a Mexicano/Chicano and a queer activist. His artwork is also infused with religious and folk iconography attesting to his roots. He regards himself as a queer activist and an AIDS activist.

Anel Flores is an educator at the secondary school level who teaches art and writing. She is also an artist who explores painting in abstract forms. She identifies as a lesbian writer and is developing her thematic base from her cultural background as a Chicana.

Amy Kastely is a professor of law at St. Mary's University Law School. She has published several articles in law journals that have focused on gender and the intersection of race. She served as lead counsel in winning the Esperanza's lawsuit against the City of San Antonio regarding arts funding and has recently worked on a lawsuit on behalf of community against city council to validate voter's efforts to call for a city referendum and stop the construction of a PGA Village on our aquifer.

Michael Marinez is a Chicano born and raised in San Antonio. He is a visual artist and gay rights activist who currently works with inner city youth as a consultant to New York City's Project Reach. He also coordinates outreach for PBS's P.O.V. program. His work history in San Antonio includes organizing in the LGBT community and working with youth in elementary and middle schools with Jump-Start Performance Company. Michael has also been an artist-in-residence with the Texas Commission on the Arts, traveling throughout the state to teach students about Chicano heritage, culture and history.

Marcos Marquez is an aspiring writer who is currently working on his first novel. He is currently employed at the Hispanic Research Center working with data related to the Latino population. He is also a peace activist who has been involved in organizing against war in the Middle East. 

Kamala Platt is an independent scholar, artist and a professor of ethnic American and world literatures, cultural studies, women's studies and creative writing. She has documented women's environmental justice work in many communities in the Americas and South Asia and has been involved in community work on justice, peace and equity issues.

Gloria A. Ramirez is a native of Austin who has chosen to live in San Antonio since 1977, is a recognized bilingual early childhood educator in the Edgewood I.S.D.  Her first years in teaching were during the desegregation phase in Boston, Massachusetts, where she played a key role in implementing the first bilingual kindergarten programs in the city. A former Chicana activist and anti-war activist, she also helped found ELLAS, a statewide Latina lesbian organization, and served on the board of the San Antonio Lesbian Gay Assembly.  In addition to teaching, she is currently the editor of La Voz de Esperanza.

Rudy Rosales is a professor at the University of Texas in San Antonio. He is author of The Illusion of Inclusion, which gives a social/political history of Chicano organizing in San Antonio. Rudy also spends time educating Mexicanos about recent immigration laws and mentors many youth of the community.

Honorary Board Members

Ron Dodson was born in the county of Defiance in NW Ohio, dedicated 20 years to the U.S. Air Force and is now retired, working part time as a volunteer at the Institute of Texan Cultures. A Vietnam Vet who has been disillusioned with this country's policies overseas since his last year in the Air Force, Ron has been an avid anti-war activist and an Esperanza Board member for many years.

Tecihtzin Enrique is a 75-year-old mestiza. She is the author of Chia, an autobiographical book that has received much acclaim, and is currently working on her second book. She is a long time activist with experience in community organizing in the Southwest, particularly San Diego and San Antonio. She has worked with the United Farm Workers, the San Diego Centro Cultural de la Raza, and with numerous entities throughout her lifetime. She is an elder and respected leader of the San Antonio Chicano/Indigenous community. She has eleven children, most of whom are activists and one of whom is an out lesbiana activista.

Gertrude Baker is a 62-year-old African American actor. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Gertrude has resided in San Antonio for the last 25 years organizing in the lesbian, African American and women's communities. She began her acting career as an undergraduate student at Incarnate Word and hasn't stopped since.

Antonia Castañeda is a professor of history specializing in colonial history of Indigenous women and Latinas. She is a published author with a number of articles in anthologies, academic journals and community publications. She is also a community-based activist who has repeatedly spoken out on behalf of issues affecting women and people of color, specifically the Chicano community of San Antonio.

Staff Members

Elizandro Carrington was born in Chicago IL where he received a BA in art from the University of Illinois, Chicago. He received his MFA in art from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Throughout both his professional career as a graphic professional and his personal life as an artist, Elizandro has always been involved himself with community, cultural and social issues.

Jessica Fuentes - No biography at this time.

Bárbara Renaud González has been a monthly columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and has published articles as a freelance in the SA Current, the Los Angeles Times, Albuquerque Journal, La Opinión, The Progressive, Ms. Magazine and The Nation. Her articles have been distributed through the New York Times New American Voices syndicate, Houston Chronicle, Pacific News Service, Progressive Media Service, Hispanic Link, among others. Her work has also appeared in American Way Magazine, Latina, El Andar, Zmagazine, and Salon.com.

Rene Saenz - No biography at this time.

Graciela I. Sánchez (executive director) is a native of the Westside of San Antonio. She has visioned the role of the Esperanza along with board and community for over 15 years. Graciela has challenged notions of arts and politics as separate work environments, having been cultural grounded by her parents and extended family.  She has served on several national and state-wide boards, including the Astraea Foundation, the National Lesbian Gay Task Force, Deep Dish TV, the OUT FUND, peer panelist for the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Paul Robeson Film Fund.