La Voz - December 2016 / January 2017

December 2016/January 2017 | Vol. 29 Issue 10

San Antonio, Tejas

Let’s decide not to allow fear to be the steering force for the future. Hope, is how we move forward.

—Susan Guerra, one of Esperanza’s founders

Inside! Reflections on Esperanza’s approaching 30th anniversary by Tom Keene and Susan M. Guerra, Whose City Is It? by Rodolfo Rosales, El Movimiento en Las Vegas, Nuevo Mexico by Yoly Zentella, Buena Gente thank yous and poetry by Rachel Jennings, Tom Keene, Selma Platt and Gianna Rendón

Almost 30 years ago

La Voz de Esperanza December 2016 / January 2017 vol. 29 Issue 10 Editor Gloria A. Ramírez Design Elizandro Carrington Contributors

Susan M. Guerra, Rachel Jennings, Tom Keene, Selma Platt, Gianna Rendón, Rodolfo Rosales, Yoly Zentella

La Voz Mail Collective

Alicia Arredondo, Olga Crespin, Margarita Elizarde, Charlie Esperiqueta, Mary Esperiqueta, Araceli Herrera, Mildred Hilbrich, Gloria Lozano, Ray McDonald, Angelita Merla, Mary Agnes Rodríguez, Bernard Sánchez, Roger Singler, Lynn Watson

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 Vol. 29 Issue 10•

Esperanza Director

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when Esperanza opened its doors, the Peace Market was a mere couple of tables with books, stickers, pamphlets and Tshirts.

Now we have a 3-day Mercado with almost 100 vendors, over 20 from outside the U.S. Our focus in regards to social justice and the environment, too, was simpler in 1987. Now, we have to constantly work to preserve not only our Photo: Carmen Rumbaut at a Peace Market in Esperanza’s early years cultural traditions but our communities and well-being on multiple levels—against the onslaught of corporatization and gentrification. We seem to be headed towards turbulent times, but we have a track record of almost 30 years that has prepared us for the onslaught. We are—as a community and as individuals—the hope for the future as we enter, yet, another new year.

In this Voz we thank the Buena Gente who made the last 2 major events possible. Tom Keene and Susan Guerra reflect on the Esperanza’s approaching 30th anniversary while Rudy Rosales reflects on our city’s future. Yoly Zentella shares a New Mexican Día de los muertos experience and poetry completes the issue. Join us for a year-long celebration and reflection on the work of Esperanza. If you want a favorite program to return to Esperanza this year, let us know! Send photos, ideas and reflections to: lavoz@esperanzacenter.org.

Graciela I. Sánchez

December

Esperanza Staff

— by Rachel Jennings

Imelda Arismendez, Elizandro Carrington, Paty de la Garza, Jessica González, Eliza Pérez, Gianna Rendón, Natalie Rodríguez, René Saenz, Susana Segura, Amelia Valdez

Conjunto de Nepantleras —Esperanza Board of Directors— Rachel Jennings, Amy Kastely, Jan Olsen, Ana Lucía Ramírez, Gloria A. Ramírez, Rudy Rosales, Tiffany Ross, Lilliana Saldaña, Nadine Saliba, Graciela I. Sánchez, Lillian Stevens • We advocate for a wide variety of social, economic & environmental justice issues.

• Opinions expressed in La Voz are not necessarily those of the Esperanza Center.

La Voz de Esperanza is a publication of

Esperanza Peace & Justice Center 922 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212 210.228.0201 • fax 1.877.327.5902 www.esperanzacenter.org Inquiries/Articles can be sent to: lavoz@esperanzacenter.org Articles due by the 8th of each month Policy Statements

* We ask that articles be visionary, progressive, instructive & thoughtful. Submissions must be literate & critical; not sexist, racist, homophobic, violent, or oppressive & may be edited for length. * All letters in response to Esperanza activities or articles in La Voz will be considered for publication.

Letters with intent to slander individuals or groups will not be published.

Short days, then darkness.

I can’t shake this December dread, each news story a portentous metaphor.

One cold, rainy night, drivers plunge into an unseen sinkhole opened in the asphalt by a ruptured sewer line.

Thirty-six young artists die in a blaze at their enclave, the Ghost Ship warehouse.

A follower of fake news opens fire at a pizza place described as the base of a child porn ring.

Real dark, real news stories are metaphors. Swastikas that began to appear postElection, Kristallnacht, are not metaphors— do not portend but are.

Artwork: Gerald Siegel

ATTENTION VOZ READERS: If you have a mailing address correction please send it to lavoz@ esperanzacenter.org. If you want to be removed from the La Voz mailing list, for whatever reason, please let us know. La Voz is provided as a courtesy to people on the mailing list of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center.

The subscription rate is $35 per year ($100 for institutions). The cost of producing and mailing La Voz has substantially increased and we need your help to keep it afloat. To help, send in your subscriptions, sign up as a monthly donor, or send in a donation to the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. Thank you. -GAR VOZ VISION STATEMENT: La Voz de Esperanza speaks for many individual, progressive voices who are gente-based, multi-visioned and milagro-bound. We are diverse survivors of materialism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, classism, violence, earth-damage, speciesism and cultural and political oppression. We are recapturing the powers of alliance, activism and healthy conflict in order to achieve interdependent economic/ spiritual healing and fuerza. La Voz is a resource for peace, justice, and human rights, providing a forum for criticism, information, education, humor and other creative works. La Voz provokes bold actions in response to local and global problems, with the knowledge that the many risks we take for the earth, our body, and the dignity of all people will result in profound change for the seven generations to come.

Justice and solidarity —heart and soul

by Tom Keene Editor’s note: Tom has been involved with Esperanza since its inception almost 30 years ago and he is a frequent contributor to La Voz. While this commentary is not an official Esperanza stance it hits the mark on many levels.

The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.

My Dream Slowly chipping a concrete wall Until it comes tumbling down; What has made us so hard and cold?

For what has light and warmth been sold?

Why were the walls of defense put up?

Why bomb shelters inside and out?

From one another hearts are withheld; And no bond of spirit can we weld.

Come comrade, with hammer and chisel Help break walls down, let light stream through,

We’re all sinners we know, We all build walls high and low.

Not walls but bridges we need Not stumbling blocks, but gates, Not with bombs but fresh bread Can our starving world be fed.

Chip, chip till we hear the walls crack, A tiny hole is better than none, May the light break through to our low desire; Lord, purge us with both water and fire!

— Jan. 17, 1962 Selma Platt

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The day after the election, many shocked Americans wondered what —Charles de Montesquieu can we do? I believe the people of Esperanza have a different take on the matter. We know what to do. We keep doing what we have been Their puny experience of solidarity comes in Trump rallies where doing for 30 years: Working for justice and peace. We call ourselves, they chant together: Lock Her Up. They don’t know it but their deepthe ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER. est need is to encounter and learn from the people of Esperanza as These thoughts aim to explore how we go about this work and we build nourishing communities. why what we do is vital to America and San Antonio and the meanAnother thing is the nature of power. The people of Esperanza ing of our pledge: liberty and justice for all. have clarity on what makes for real power. We We have a clarity about how life works. We know that real power comes not from money understand that there can be no liberty, no peace and guns. It comes from personal dignity and without justice. We understand that the roots group solidarity. Real power is not power of justice run deeper than our system of courts, over others but power with others. That kind law enforcement and civil rights. We know that of power is the root of Esperanza’s work. We justice consists of nothing more and nothing know that to foster justice we need to realize less than this: From each according to their abilboth our personal and collective powers and ity, to each according to their need. exercise them in all our doings.

We know this because we experience and Finally, the people of Esperanza understand practice that idea, that truth in our homes and in that our activism is, in itself, not enough. We Esperanza. There the bottom line is family. We take time to reflect on what is going on in our stand committed to the wellbeing of all, not just hearts and souls. We say, “Heart, how are you our little egos. That understanding of justice and feeling? Soul, what do you need?” We let musolidarity makes us profoundly different from sic, art, poetry, story feed us. We find strength in Trump and his supporters. soul mates whom we trust and with whom Trump and his trumpsters see themselves we can speak truth and share what life means as isolated individuals competing with one to us. That is how we avoid burnout. another for mere survival and the things of a For now, we consider what American Artwork: Favianna Rodriguez consumer society: More for you means less politics will look like under the dictates of hate for me. When their fragile egos feel confused and threatened—they and fear, under a corporately driven political party that since the respond with fear and hate. They look for others to blame: minoriNixon years has employed a “Southern Strategy” to divide us along ties, LGBTQ, immigrants, Muslims, terrorists, those strange folks racial and economic lines. on the other side of town in the lower economic ghettos and barHow shall we respond? We have our answer: We be Esperanza. rios. They look for hope not in themselves and one another but We be the hope of our people. To paraphrase June Jordan: We are the to a brash billionaire offering nothing but promises and pizazz. ones America has been waiting for.

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Thirty years of Esperanza – what do we want now?

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 Vol. 29 Issue 10•

by Susan M. Guerra San Antonio, Texas and Hemnes, Norway

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from that day on. And then, in 1986 – 87 it had been true. There was no collective meeting space for us to know who we were and how to network. No, I am wrong here. There was already Editor’s Note: The Esperanza first opened its doors in January of the Interchange Network, a network which gathered activists, both religious and civil, at the St. Paul’s cafe, on the east side of 1987. Susan was the Esperanza’s first director. She was able to downtown. A variety of communities, but not any broad mixture serve only during the first year and subsequently moved to of organizations representing African-American and Mexican Norway but has always maintained a presence at the Esperanza.

American issues.

At the start of the Esperanza, it was To start with the future, I will beimportant for the ethnic groups for civil gin with the past. Thirty years ago, rights and justice, to begin to work side I stood and officially opened the by side. We wanted a space in order to Esperanza Peace and Justice Center know about each others ambitions, vitogether with Maria Berriozábal and sions and resources.

Amy Freeman Lee. This was an act of We needed a space to do our work, faith, hope and love by hundreds of gather, share and learn together about people in San Antonio. justice and social issues, health, educaSan Antonio activists worked tion, economic issues and political together to make that happen. Already issues. We needed to learn how to conin 1986 groups and individuals carnect the dots and build alliances where ried furniture, books, cleaning rags and it was possible and desired. repaired sewage lines so that people We needed a physical space to crelike you and me, would have a “politiate individual and common visions and cal” and “public” home in San Antonio. manifest these through the power of the Children played and then took their many genres of art so we could be able naps while parents toiled to fix up the to see and be our public selves; formubuilding on S. Flores, and through late our political identities and act as working together a community was citizens and residents, enabled beyond formed. New friends, new faces, several The first banner of the Esperanza hangs behind Cindy Duda (left) the realms of our individuality, family causes and a place to fill with creativof the Interchange Network and Susan Guerra, Esperanza’s first ity, dialogue and work. A public home, Director addressing a community gathering at 1305 N. Flores, the and friends.

It belongs to a democracy, for a home for sharing in workshops of first location of the Esperanza. people from all walks of life to be able art and play for network and growth. to act and communicate in the public sphere, and not limit that Together with other visionaries. After some brief periods of volunteer leadership, Graciela Sánchez has been the torch bearer for arena to political parties and public. over 25 years. Gracias, Graciela, board members, volunteers and What do we want now? all staff members since then.

The present is formed by the past. The future is unpredictIn 1986 people like me needed a home. People like me were the generation which never dreamed of leaving home, but learned able. We do know that what we do now, gives form for the future.

As of January 20, 2017, the United States will be in dire need of to “make do”, which is a strength but also led me to never know building connections among advocates of equal opportunity and what choices I could put for in life; as a woman, as a worker and as a citizen. My story is that—call it destiny— it took me to other social and economic justice. Equal opportunity in work life, in education and for health care. As of January 20, 2017, we risk parts of the world to work. Many others of my generation moved that civil rights and the quality of our earth will be weakened, if away because they reaped the benefits of the civil rights movenot destroyed. To know what we want, it is the time to reflect and ment and equal opportunity policies, and could qualify to enter universities which previous to these rights, had never been acces- learn from other nations and leaders like Nelson Mandela and Cesar Chavez, who mobilized for the power of justice in utmost sible for bright kids from low income households to attend. adversary conditions.

Many returned to San Antonio, too, in the 80’s and had no We can also look to the stories of our own ancestors. I have place to go and do political work. I recall performance artist and a story of hope with my grandparents as the “stars”. He and she MacArthur prize winner, Guillermo Gomez Peña once said at met after the Mexican revolution during the time when Mexicans the first “MacArturos” seminar in San Antonio at the Esperanza had to wander across the dry land of Northern Mexico and move (1997) “we are political orphans”. That really resonated with me

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 Vol. 29 Issue 10

towards new communities gathering where there were opportunities for work and housing. Towards San Cuilmas or now known as our lovely city of San Antonio. Wanderers, with only selves what is it that we want to promote, what is the subject the threads on their backs, but hopeful, in need of building their we want to set for the agenda? Where do we gather in order future without any home or material goods. to ask these questions?

They had their bodies as tools of hope to work, build and All my adult life I have been learning different skills to congrow food. They had their hearts of faith, which gave them vision nect my self with others and others to each other. Connect the when the external, real world seemed harsh and empty. They dots.

Create the future picture. Visions and ways and skills to be knew, and taught me, that when you have nothing, you can begin a builder of the future. To learn to live with those who want the with the resources you The Interchange opposite of my visions has been difficult. COPS, a community have. That is faith, Newsletter was a organizing organization grown out from The Industrial Area forerunner of La Voz hope and charity.

Foundations, teaches the skills of negotiation. First organize to de Esperanza that Personal knowledge. was first published gain position and power, and know what it is you want. Then in November, 1988. Physical strength. learn how to negotiate.

To have faith in Who will do that in the future of San Antonio? Who has skills one self is to have to share with youth? What does our youth know today which my inner-strength. Faith generation does not know? And how to formulate this, what must has always been vibe done first and in what order? sualized as either an It is time to ask many questions of ourselves. What do we image of a God and want now?

Goodness; visualized Activity is meaningful once we know why we choose to through rituals for the do something.

As the Brazilian pedagogue Paolo Freire wrote Earth and Nature; or in his book, Pedagogy of Oppressed, (1970)—action without felt as a connection dialogue turns into empty action, and dialogue without action is of love within famiempty dialogue. lies and communities; This is an essential thought for my life’s work. To take action as energy. is a way to gain knowledge and meaning underlying the actions Hope, is how we move forward. Gives us a reason to continue itself. To enrich the stories with depth and diversity of meaning. to do the work. If one person’s work is not ever noticed in the It may seem like what community wants is the same, but more public sphere, it still is essential. Maliciousness is counteracted often than not, community has a hard time to agree within itself. with benevolence. Everyone can choose acts of benevolence. It How to capture the essence of the lives in communities we want does not require money. Only hope to contribute in the best way to live in is important across generational lines. We are different, that you can and encourage others. That is what gives wings to and we are the same. hope. Applaud and appreciate what contributions all people do.

An old question with a new answer might be, how do we And not least is love. Charity, caritas; leads us to empower define community? It might be a smart start to begin in neighourselves, and each other. How do we share the wealth of love? borhoods. A neighborhood identity is a microcosm for the Wealth of knowledge and of experience? We can teach ourselves this. Analyze what we are doing which works and In memory of some who have passed on since the early days of Esperanza. moves our visions forward.

Left to right: Ron Dodson was an ever present figure at Esperanza helping at mailouts and To have a desire is not events, eventually becoming board chair. He was also part of Veterans for Peace. Labor organizenough. Faith, hope and er, Manuela Sager, was a comadre of Emma Tenayuca. She contincharity must have a maniued being an activist as an elder in marches and rallies. Emily Jones, festation to have transforpictured with Gary Poole and Jack Elder at an early Peace Market, mative power. What do we was part of the solidarity movement of Central America. She continwant now? ued her work of organizing for justice in I want to talk about Austin where she died in 2009. transforming our hope and experience to skills.

To manifest something tangible and powerful.

The power of dialogues, of art and of actions which reach out in the public sphere are ways to create something. That something which is important to a life quality which promotes health and wellbeing. We can ask our-

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diversity of people in San Antonio and for what is considered a good quality of life.

For my generation, a big question we can be asking is, How do we want to be old in this city? Or for younger people; how do we want to raise our children in this city? For the working force, How do we want work life to be? What kind of social structures do we need for achieving the kind of lives we want to live in everyday?

As far as taking action in the public sphere, we might ask; Where and what is my role? How can I have a role in decision making which has an effect on my daily life? How can decision-makers connect with regular people’s lives? How does dialogue take place so that decision- makers know what is important to people?

The distance between political decision-making and the lives we live as working people, or as students, as unemployed or underemployed, with good health and wealth or not, is seemingly not high on the agenda of most politicians.

Where is there a local social policy to be found? A local work life policy to be found? A policy for health and welfare for children?

Such local policies, and the lack of them, matter to our lives now and in the future. But these may not be found.

There are no democratic rights handed over to us. People throughout time have taken action to achieve these. And why?

The patio of the first Esperanza site To share a good hosted many events including the government. Of the people original Peace Markets, Mujercantos, and by the people. concerts and pláticas such as the one with poeta Ernesto Cardenal, But what kind of governMinister of Culture of Nicaragua from ment? I will gladly pay taxes 1979 to 1987 pictured with Lutecia for low-cost, quality educaChacón in 1989. tion. For medical safety for residents and citizens. For work programs for the unemployed. These are the programs and policies which create a city of people with skills, knowledge, health and sense of citizen participation from all socio-economic groups. These are the people who will build the future city we all love.

There it goes again, our future.

If we cannot re-formulate what kind of future we want, we will not get it.

What is it we want to build together? What are the assumptions and values we want for a caring secular and civil life? I say secular, because there is a strong diversity of religious and spiritual life which should be allowed to remain diverse. It is not constructive when a particular religious group assumes their own religion has a higher value than another’s. Religious belief should be up to the individual.

We can lose a battle for justice by fear tactics, so lets decide to not allow fear be the steering force for the future. We have also experienced that the privileged do not want to let go of that privilege. So organizing for power is a skill we must continue to learn from those who know how.

As one of the elders, I want to share experience of how hope is powerful. How hope is a prerequisite to vision and actions. I bring here the vision statement and mission of the Esperanza Peace and Justice center: Mission and Vision 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 advocates for those wounded by domination and inequality — women, people of color, the lesbians, queer, trans and gay community, 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.

On January 27th, 1987, The Esperanza Peace and Justice center opened its doors to people who had faith, and I, more than ever, have faith that, in the real world; even after January 20, 2017, that the vision of the Esperanza is still achievable.

Someone once introduced me to a classroom of students I was about to speak to, as a “warrior”, and was alluding to my surname (Guerra), but he added that I was “a warrior of love and community”. That felt ok. A warrior for a vision from my own experience growing up in San Antonio, and which I have learned after listening to hundreds of people from all over the world, refugees who have lost all, who have witnessed massacres and genocide, torture and loss beyond the imagination for many of us. Their strength has been faith, hope and charity, just like my grandparents.

I have faith and am still a builder. My hope is that there are many builders for the future in San Antonio. Even though I do not reside in the city, the city is in me. My people and family, my culture are all within me. I have learned that all people who have had to endure great loss and lack, also have stories of resources and richness which can be transformed into knowledge, achievements and skills.

I have a vision of San Antonio, as a city of “Neighborhoods of diversity, compassion and esperanza”. I hope that the community builders gather on January 20, 2017 at the Esperanza Peace and Justice center to re-formulate, “What do we want now”? This is a question builders of compassionate communities will be asking in the year to come.

Un Oración a Santo Tanto

By Gianna Rendón O Santo Tanto, Saint of plenty, Saint of wealth, happiness y amor.

Do not be greedy, Share with the world Some of your riches, Your health, Your joy.

We are a country sufferingWe are a world sufferingWe are a people sufferingWhere 1 in 4 people suffer from depression, Where there is rising unemployment, Where domestic violence is the norm, Where pro-rape rallies aren’t punishable by law, Where Westside children are taught that they are nothing because of where they live, where the less cultura you have the better.

And although the Trumps of the world Want less of us, That we remember that we are más de 60% of San Antonio and ¼ of the U.S. Remind us that although our families are large, our ancestry and our legacy is larger.

Santo Tanto, Santo de mi corazón, remind us that we don’t need much, but that we are much. remind us that together ¡sí se puede!

Help me (In the voice of Trump supporters) Help me understand with the help of your understanding me.

Speak to them that I may feel understood.

Listen to my tale of how I got to where I am.

Show me where my hopes abide to counter my fears and hates.

Feel my confusions, my unyielding certainties.

—Tom Keene November 12, 2016

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 Vol. 29 Issue 10

Santo Tantito, por favor ruega por nosotros.

Remind us that We are much, We have much in our corazones, That we are a people that are creative, That can feed the 5,000 With tortillas y frijoles, That our mother tongue is Loud and laughing And takes up space,

And our hugs are plentiful, And our sonrisas bountiful.

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LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 Vol. 29 Issue 10•

Above: Zurina Wason-Carrington and Margarita Elizarde, buena gente Below: Cleo Hernández assists Christina Herrera from Mexico

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The 2016 Peace Market | Mercado de paz was the

biggest and best ever! The three-day fest was blessed with wonderful weather and great buena gente who volunteered throughout the day in the concessions stand, at the Esperanza Tiendita, translating for vendors from Mexico, helping to set-up and break down, and in transporting customers and vendors to and from the parking lots. The logistics of each day and daily operatives were made easier with buena gente working alongside Esperanza staff. Both buena gente and staff were lauded by the vendors and shoppers this year as being exceptionally helpful and generous in their assistance.

Some of the highlights of the 2016 Peace Market included that there was a greater diversity of shoppers and vendors. It seemed that children and babies were everywhere! Diana Galicia, the balloonista delighted children twisting balloons into animals and other figures and she often had a line of kids waiting for their balloons. Artisans from Mexico like Enedina Vasquez and Martha Santiago engaged the children as they watched them mold clay animals or paint fantastic imaginary alebrijes.

It was nice to see whole families enjoying every aspect of Peace Market from the vendors to the food to the music and poetry and—just the general ambiente of amiability.

This year’s stage performances had an incredible lineup that included every kind of music you can imagine plus poets interspersed in between musical sets. The stage was set-up at the San Pedro and Evergreen end of the tent city and drew the crowds in from the parking lots immediately engaging them in the conviviality of the Mercado.

With over 90 vendors and over 20 of those being from outside Texas, shoppers were treated to an extravaganza of goods. In the few minutes I got to shop I found some vintage molcajetes and feather paintings at Minnie and Roberto Villanueva’s Junketts’s tent. Mary

Restaurant Supporters - Donating food and desserts to the Esperanza: Liberty Bar • Simi’s Indian Food • La

• Rosario’s • 5 points • Sprouts • Trader Joes • Costco • Rudy’s • Ali Baba International Food Market • Tallercito

Buena Gente Volunteers 2016: Cynthia Spielman • Grace Rosales • Josie Hernández • Cleo Hernández • Josie Merla Martin • Hernández • Olga Crispin • Beatrice Moreno • Isabel Hernández • Jessica Roca • Jan Olsen • Isabel & Enrique Sánchez • Olivia M Lyn McWhite • Imelda De Leon • David Stokes • Sandra Torres • Helen Villarreal • Arlene Esparza • Tiffany Ross • Xochitl Martínez Cantú • Margarita Elizarde • Kathleen Dickinson • Raul Solis • Elizandro Carrington • Elva Treviño • Gloria Aguila • Sarah Mesa • J Rendón • Raul L. Rosa • Robert Rendón • Lacero Saldaña • Carol Pérez • George Treviño • Priscilla Toland • Brenda Davis • Laya • Christina • Tanya Gallegos • Maya Rodríguez • Carol Ann Aguero • Bernard Sánchez • Sylvia Reyna • Rachel Martínez • Gloria Carrington • Sophia Payer • Linda Brandmiller • Sara DeTurk • Ray McDonald • Chris Porras • Diamond Gonzáles • Mozelle Mo Debra Sifuentes • Yvonne Rendón • Isabel Sánchez • Giancarla Herrera • Tallercito de Son • Coyote Phoenix • Sylvia Mireles • M

Above: Diana Galicia, balloonista and Enedina Vásquez engage children.

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Helen Abrams had a line of folks waiting to enter her puesto under the patio stairs. She told me that in an effort to lighten her load she actually put out a box of brass items for 50 cents and another box of glassware for a dollar. On the other hand, jewelers out did themselves this year with fine jewelry and creative pieces like those of Sweet Creations whose pan dulce jewelry is all the rage. Body products, vintage clothing, knitted goods, rug weavings, alebrijes (wood carved fantasy animals) of all sizes, books, embroidery, clay products, paintings of all kinds and sizes, papier mache products, wood burned products, mosaics, leather—y mucho, mucho mas. Quite an incredible array of goods!

If that were not enough, artists donated special items to the Esperanza this year for a special raffle. Pat Gavin, local metal smith, donated a silver cuff embedded with precious stones for a special raffle in memory of her mom, Thelma Villanueva Gavin, a Peace Market vendor who passed 5 years ago. Pat’s generosity inspired Pearl Sánchez to donate a pair of hand painted Mexican chairs painted by Teresa Koslow, another vendor now deceased. Pearl also donated one of her wonderfully designed wood crosses for the raffle. In addition, some fine chocolates donated by MS Chocolatiers were thrown in the mix for a very special raffle that ultimately garnered over $1500 for the Esperanza.

While the photographers did an excellent job of taking many photos these are but a few of the images we have to share with you.

Our thanks are unending—the bar for next year has been set very high! Mil gracias y hasta la próxima!

—Gloria A. Ramírez, Peace Market coordinator

Above: Kamala Platt, poet and musicians with Lloronas (Honora Sánchez & Amanda Vega) Below: New artisans from the Lorenzo and De La Pila families of Mexico. At left: Mary Helen Abrams sits under the patio steps.

Botanica • Verts • Oh Yeah Cakes • Lily’s Cookies • The Cove • Lubys • Madhatter’s • Sweet Yams • Viva Vegeria o de Son • Shahi IndoPak Groceries— Mil gracias!—Be sure to visit these establishments and thank them!

• Mike Hernández • Richard Hernández • Clara Pérez (UTSA) • Jude Hernández • Paul Plouf • Fernandez Pérez (UTSA) • Marina Martínez • Rosemary Porras • Angie Merla • Mario Carbajal • Moses Porras • Jimmy Kitchen • Natalie Guerrero • Deyanira Rudd • z • Jaime Rivera • Elizabeth Delgado • Patricia Murrillo • Andi-Linn García • Lilliana Saldaña • Dorelia Vela • Viki Trautman • Corina Junko Williams • Beto Rodríguiz • Elisa Díaz • Gustavo Sánchez • Betty Diez-Gonzáles • Rhett Smith • María De La Rosa •´Yvonne ar Zakaria • Susie Wason • Justin Pérez • Bonnie Scott • Maria De La Rosa • Sally Gaytán-Baker • Blanca Rivera • April Marquez Lozano • Alyssia Maynard • Tomasa Torres • Maria Vidal • Sabrina Macal-Polaser • Lyn Watson • Eliana Cantú • Zurina Wasonoreno • Jennifer García • Jasmine Mendiola • María Miller • Arturo Ramírez Buena Gente Food Donations: Natalie Rodriguez • Mary Agnes Rodríguez • Gloria Hernández • Myrna Grijalva • Nadine Saliba • Junko ...and all Peace Market vendors who donated!

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Whose City Is It?

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by Dr. Rodolfo Rosales

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In 1776 Adam Smith penned his famous book ”An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations,” where he presented the emerging Capitalist economies, including the US, with the idea of the invisible hand.* In essence the invisible hand is based on both – the idea that trade and market exchange channel self-interest toward socially desirable ends—and that a regulated planned economy gets in the way.

As old as that idea is and as many redefinitions that it has gone through, it has not lost its influence on how we make policy in the area of economic development in the urban areas. From free market and free trade ideas, to tax abatements and rebates to tax free zones, these are some of the tools used by our policy makers and political representatives in their quest for a dynamic urban market economy that in their view should provide the infrastructure that will allow investment, development, and trade to occur. The idea behind this philosophical view is that market forces have to be liberated in order for the market to prosper. And as the market prospers the benefits to all the citizens, intended or not, occur, In San Antonio, the idea of attracting businesses and industry to our city begin with earnest in the late 1940s. At the end of that decade San Antonio had grown from 250,000 residents to 500,000 and never stopped growing. Today approximately 1.2 million residents live in San Antonio. As incredible as it sounds 1.2 million in growth is projected in the next twenty-five years. From the beginning of this growth San Antonio’s leaders have boasted of a large trainable (cheap?) labor force while they were busy establishing the infrastructure for growth.

One of the major goals was to attract a middle class, consisting of professionals, sales, investors and entrepreneurs. To do so, San Antonio, in the immediate post World War II period, utilized the national policy of FHA, utility subsidies to developers, state policies, and national policies to subsidize this growth. The end result has been a break-neck speed to develop, not a circle of middle class around San Antonio, like other industrial cities, but a northward push over our aquifer re-charge zone where land was there but for the taking. This, of course, included the construction of giant shopping malls surrounding San Antonio in an arc fashion including a successful university hospital and a University of Texas campus.

While already established military presence has dwindled with the closing of Kelley Air Force Base, one of the largest, if not largest, logistical bases in America, San Antonio today boasts of a tourist industry that brings in millions, a health industry that has produced one of the finest public hospitals in this area of the coun-

try, along with the multiple private hospitals that have grown around it and added to that the continual construction and expansion of the infrastructure that can support this growth. As is evident San Antonio’s straight-line path to success has been built on the development of a service industry.

This incredible growth has transformed the city into a giant policeman, directing traffic, in this case—investment, growth, and expansion—many times, at the expense of the less economically and politically able communities that happen to get in the way. This accounts for about two thirds of San Antonio or in political representational terms seven out of the ten council districts of San Antonio.

While one would expect the representatives from those seven council districts to engage the elite sector of bankers, investors, developers, and major business interests in protecting their communities from the harsh development process where we have witnessed entire communities losing in the battle to keep their homesteads, what we have is a city council that continues to see the market as the answer to the growth of San Antonio. (See Illusion of Inclusion by Rosales for an historical explanation of this view).

Further, from this view even public spaces are vulnerable to private acquisition of land in the mad quest for self-interest in an urban economy that is guarded and protected by the “traffic cop.” From this view even communities are seen as hazards along the road to economic success.

This then brings us to the question “Whose City is it? Where do the majority of citizens fit in this scheme of a city? To whom do the public spaces belong? Where does the right to a living space begin?

Where does it end? What is more important? The right to property as a commodity in the urban market or property by which citizens build their communities?

These questions become more important to consider as we enter a year of uncertainty. How will we fair under the new administration, especially with the new Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development, of Education, of Health and Human Services, of Transportation, and of Labor, which will directly affect our city.

More important, at this moment of seeming powerlessness, we have city elections coming up. Are we ready? *Invisible Hand Definition | https://goo.gl/IytvZX See Rodolfo Rosales, The Illusion of Inclusion: The Untold Political Story of San Antonio, (Univ. of Texas Press, 2000) for an historical and structural explanation of this view.

El Movimiento en Las Vegas, Nuevo Mexico:

by Yoly Zentella

Photo: Yoly Zentella

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 Vol. 29 Issue 10

My friend, Davíd, waved his hand across the room,“see Highlands demanding Chicano faculty and administrators, all of this?” He was the referring to the packed art departand Chicano studies at both educational levels. Through ment exhibit space at Highlands University. The high political education and awareness, students’ understanding school Mariachi Cardenal was playing as Chicano faces of colonization and racism was evident when the organi—joyous parents, friends and comunidad— watched and zation’s name changed from Spanish American Student listened in admiration and pride. The periphery of the ex- Organization to Chicano Associated Student Organization. hibit space was occupied by elaborately decorated altares El Partido Raza Unida was born out of activism at and ofrendas to those who the time with Chicano walked before us: Las Gorcandidates running for city ras Blancas 19th century government posts and oractivists against colonizaganizing around issues that tion of El Norte and Che impacted la gente. among others. We were El Movimiento actively celebrating the opening supported the struggle by of El Día de los Muertos, La Alianza de las Mercedes, Day of the Dead, a yearly spearheaded by Reies López event when the community Tijerina in Tierra Amarilla. remembers their ancestors The goal was to regain or memorialize a crucial the land grant stolen from Photo: Adelita Medina, circa 1972-1973 event. David continued, ancestors of area residents “this would have never been possible here at Highlands and incorporated into Forest Service jurisdiction. El Movhad it not been for the Movimiento.” imiento and La Alianza were one struggle because a true In the late ‘60s Davíd, a Movimiento veterano, end of oppression in El Norte was and still is in the return witnessed first-hand the Anglo-centric dominance at of stolen lands, the return to a sustainable rural way of Highlands — the lack of Chicano professors and adminlife, and a return to the dignity, pride, and empowerment istrators, the watered down, biased, courses that Chicano that living within one’s culture gives. college students were required to take, and the air of The Forest Service did not return any lands to La Anglo superiority that permeated the campus. Similar Alainza and their activists were dispersed, arrested, and conditions existed in the Las Vegas public high schools. hunted down by the FBI. The Movimiento waned around But, as the spirit of liberation spread across U.S. high 1974. Yet the ramifications of activism could be seen on schools and colleges in the late ‘60s, such historically that opening night of Día de los Muertos in 2016. The abusive circumstances, overlapping with other conseuse of Spanish, at one time prohibited in the schools, quences of 19th century colonization of the Southwest, pride in our música, the honoring of our ancestors, and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo of 1848, in particular, maintaining El Norte traditions openly in New Mexico were about to change. would never have been El Movimiento, taking place in Las Vegas, 1968tolerated by Highlands or 1974, was instrumental in creating change. High school even dared to be expressed and college student activists and organizers marched and by the community. Now— picketed. They took over the administration building at we are not afraid of who we are, and we dare those that would attempt to silence us to just try...

—Orale Davíd!

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Día de los muertos at the

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 Vol. 29 Issue 10•

Rinconcito de Esperanza on the Westside of San Antonio on Tuesday, November 1st was a turning point for future Muertos’ celebrations of the Esperanza. The weeks leading up to it— mujeres from Mujerartes’ clay cooperative with members of the Corazones group of the Casa de Cuentos [elders who come together monthly to preserve cultural traditions and share community cuentos] plus other buena gente worked with Bernard Sánchez to dye wood shavings and sawdust that they used to fill in a floor length tapete or carpet with the Esperanza’s Katrina image designed by Mary Agnes Rodríguez.

Photo: Jessica Gonzáles The tapete graced the entrance into the Rinconcito leading to the backyard where the new Mujerartes earth block building is being finished.

A series of workshops were offered for the Dead celebration at the Rinconcito, the Esperanza, and libraries during the week before and after the Muertos celebration. Flower

12

¡ Gracias,

making was taught by Guadalupe Segura while molding sugar skulls and cutting papel picado were offered by Angie Merla. Blanca Rivera taught altar making resulting in over 20 altars being set up by community members Photo: Jessica Gonzáles at the Casa de Cuentos and the Casita. A Queer ofrenda organized by staff member, Natalie Rodríguez with the Queer Corazones group was also included. A face painting workshop by Laura Rios Ramírez trained voluteers to paint calavera faces on children and adults at the event.

Students at all levels participated in this year’s Day of the Dead festivities: Lanier High School students made calavera masks with Andi Lin-García as did students at J.T. Brackenridge Elementary. Lanier students learned to write calaveras and literary ofrendas with Esperanza staff members, Eliza Pérez and Jessica González, who took November Calavera issues of La Voz to show examples of such writing. UTSA students in Lilliana Saldaña’s class dropped by the Rinconcito on Sunday to help in the preparation of flowers (cempasuchitl) for the ofrendas— wrapping cans in foil and cutting and assembling the flowers in vases and other containers.

Photo: Jessica Gonzáles

Buena Gente

!

The day of the muertos festivities included a fun-filled procession of calacas gigantas and calavera faces walking through the Alazán-Apache Courts with “musical” accompaniment. Performances at the event included the annual serenade by Las Tesoros de San Antonio, dancing and music by Tallercito de Son, and accordion music by Conjunto Heritage Taller. A special appearance by Santiago Jimenez, recent recipient of the 2015 National Medals of Arts, got people up and onto the dance floor!

Calavera readings, poetry and storytelling rounded out the evening with tamales, chocolate and pan de muerto enjoyed by the audience sitting at small cabaret tables watching dancers swirl to the beat of conjunto as the night fell. ¡Que en paz descansen, muertos! RIP!

TAPETE

Photo: Mary Agnes Rodríguez

Photo: Mary Agnes Rodríguez

Santiago Jimenez, Jr.

Joaquin

Photo: Olga Crespin

Mario Carbajal • Janeth Valdez • Elva Treviño • Rachel Jennings • Blanca Rivera • Jaime Rivera • Tamera Ford & Lanier Police Explorers • Paul & Mary Esperiqueta • Raul Solis • Robert & Yvonne Rendón • Tomasa Torres • Lilliana Saldaña (UTSA) students • Lyn McWhite • Mozelle Moreno • Claudine • Alicia Arendondo • Arecili Herrera • Mary Agnes Rodríguez • Mike Sánchez • Lyn Watson • Elizandro Carrington • Elizabeth Delgado • Olivia Martínez • Ruben García • Rose García • Cleo Hernández • Lupe (OLLU) • Ruby (OLLU) • Luz Torres • Angie Merla • Jimmy Kitchen • Mildred Hilbrich • Andi Linn -Garcia • Guadalupe Segura . Photographers: Jessica Gonzáles, Mary Agnes Rodríguez, Raul Solis, & Olga Crespin.

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 Vol. 29 Issue 10

Photo: Raul Solis

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* community meetings *

Amnesty International #127 For info. call Arthur @ 210.213.5919.

People’s Power Coalition meets last Thursdays | 210.878.6751

Bexar Co. Green Party: Call 210.

471.1791 or bcgp@bexargreens.org

PFLAG, meets 1st Thurs. @ 7pm,

House, 7052 Vandiver. 210.533.6767.

Community Ctr, 107 Glenarm | www. pomcsanantonio.org.

Give to the Esperanza & University PresbyterianPeace Church 300 Bushnell Ave. | 210.848.7407.

Celebration Circle meetsJustice Sun., 11amCenter at your workplace, of Murdered Children, @ Say Sí, 1518 S. Alamo. Meditation: today! UseParents the2 appropriate code: meets Weds @7:30pm, Friends Meeting Mondays @ Balcones Heights nd

Combined Federal Campaign Rape Crisis Center 7500 US (Gov’t/military) code: 77773 Hwy 90W. Hotline: 210.349.7273

DIGNITY SA Mass, 5:30pm, Sun. @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1018 E. Grayson St | 210.340.2230

Adult Wellness Support Group of PRIDE Center meets 4th Mon., 7-9 pm @ Lions Field, 2809 Broadway. Call 210.213.5919.

| 210.521.7273 Email: sgabriel@ rapecrisis.com

City of San Antonio: 8022

Energía Mía: (512) 838-3351

The Religious Society of Friends

meets Sunday @10am @ The Friends Bexar County: 8022 Meeting House, 7052 N. Vandiver. | 210.945.8456.

City/County I.S.D.s: 8022 S.A. Gender Association meets 1st &

Fuerza Unida, 710 New Laredo Hwy. www.lafuerzaunida.org | 210.927.2294

3rd Thursday, 6-9pm @ 611 E. Myrtle,

Church.

State Metropolitan of TexasCommunity Employee SA AIDS Fdn 818 E. Grayson St. Charitable Campaign: 413013 offers free Syphilis & HIV testing |

Habitat for Humanity meets 1st Tues. for volunteers, 6pm, HFHSA Office @ 311 Probandt.

LGBTQ LULAC Council #22198 meets 3rd Thursdays @ 6:45pm @ Luby’s on Main. E-mail: info@ lulac22198.org

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 Vol. 29 Issue 10•

Give to the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center at your workplace, today! Use the appropriate code: Combined Federal Campaign (Gov’t/military) code: 77773

210.225.4715 | www.txsaaf.org.

¡TodosSASomos Esperanza!

Women Will March: www.

City of San Antonio: 8022

For more info: callLGBT 210.228.0201 SGI-USA Buddhists meet 2nd Sat. at 10am @ 7142 San Pedro Ave., or email esperanza Ste 117 | 210.653.7755. esperanzacenter.org Shambhala Buddhist Meditation

Bexar County: 8022

sawomenwillmarch.org|(830) 488-7493

NOW SA Chapter meets 3rd Wed’s.

For time and location check FB/satx.now | 210. 802.9068 | nowsaareachapter@ gmail.com

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The United Way Combined Federal Campaign is Here!

Pax Christi, SA meets monthly on Saturdays. Call 210.460.8448

Tues. 7pm & Sun. 9:30am 257 E. Hildebrand Ave. | 210.222.9303.

Proyecto Hospitalidad Liturgy meets Thurs. 7pm, 325 Courtland.

S.N.A.P. (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests). Contact Barbara at 210.725.8329.

Metropolitan Community Church services & Sunday school @10:30am, 611 East Myrtle. Call 210.472.3597

Voice for Animals: 210.737.3138 or www.voiceforanimals.org

Overeaters Anonymous meets MWF in Spanish & daily in English | www. oasanantonio.org | 210.492.5400.

SA’s LGBTQA Youth meets Tues., 6:30pm at Univ. Presby. Church, 300 Bushnell Ave. | www.fiesta-youth.org

City/County I.S.D.s: 8022 State of Texas Employee Charitable Campaign: 413013 ¡Todos Somos Esperanza!

For more info: call 210.228.0201 or email esperanza esperanzacenter.org

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Notas Y Más Dec 2016 | Jan 2017

Gemini Ink hosts a Christmas Open House on December 16th from 3-8pm at 1111 Navarro St. And, on December 20th from 6:30-8pm, Manuel Puig will read from his first novel, Betrayed by Rita Hayworth—part of Gemini’s Around the World with the Novel. See geminiink.org The San Antonio Catholic Worker group at 626 Nolan St. will hold its annual Christmas Brunch on Saturday, December 24th from 9-10:30am. Share a meal and camp out at their annual slumber party! See www.sa-catholicworker.org

Awardees must be present. E-mail nominations to roberto.calderon@unt.edu Join the Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera delegation to Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuña, México with a visit to Fuerza Unida in San Antonio on January 6-8, 2017! ATCF raises awareness about conditions of social and economic injustice along the Texas/Mexico border particularly as they affect women workers and supports community-driven alternatives through transnational solidarity and fair trade. To register for the trip or learn more go to: www.atcf.org/ delegations_to_ the_mexican_ border

(TCADP) annual conference, Moving to Higher Ground takes place Saturday, February 18, 2017 at St. David’s Episcopal Church (301 E 8th St, Austin, TX 78701). Brian Stolarz author of Grace and Justice on Death Row: The Race Against Time and Texas to Free an Innocent Man will be the keynote. See: http://tcadp.org/ Visit Esperanza’s Tiendita for Holiday gifts, open 10-7pm. Call 210-228-0201.

The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

In Memoriam. . .

On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of her passing, Thelma Villanueva Gavin’s daughter, Pat Gavin, a metal smith, decided to honor the memory of her mother in a special way. Pat donated a fine silver cuff encrusted with precious stones to the Esperanza for a special raffle held during the 2016 Peace Market. Pat honored her mother’s roots as an activist, folk artist, teacher and creative who was a natural fit as a vendor in the Mercado for a few years before her passing. The Esperanza is very thankful for Pat’s generosity which garnered funds exceeding $1500. Thanks, also, to Jan Olsen who coordinated the special raffle for the 3 days. Thelma’s spirit was, indeed, very present at the Mercado this year.

See: www.patgavin.com

One of our Peace Market guardian angels this year was artist, Pearl Sánchez, who donated her “scribbles” from last year’s Mercado to be used in whatever way we chose to use them. She had drawn images of whimsical vendors on the backs of brown paper bags while waiting to be checked out in 2015.

Those images turned out to be the basis for the 2016 Mercado de paz invitations and T-shirts and other promotional Peace Market materials. Not to be outdone in 2015, Pearl then turned around and donated 2 Mexican chairs for the special raffle in memory of Teresa Koslow who painted the chairs. On top of that, Pearl also donated one of her designer crosses for the raffle as well. Pearl’s generosity has been a great boon for Esperanza and we thank her from the depths of our hearts. Felices Fiestas, Pearl y Muchisimas gracias!

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 Vol. 29 Issue 10

The Texas Foco of NACCS announces a Call for Nominations for the Premio Estrella de Aztlán Lifetime Achievement Award honoring individuals whose work has contributed towards the betterment of Chicanas/os in Tejas. The deadline for letters of nomination is December 31st.

The Premios will be presented at the 2017 NACCS Tejas Foco Regional Conference, “Relational Histories, Inter-Ethnic Alliances: Chican@/x Coalition Politics in Tejas,” at Texas A&M University, College Station on February 23-25, 2017.

Brief news items on upcoming community events.

Send items for Notas y Más to: lavoz@esperanzacenter.org or mail to: 922 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212.

The deadline is the 8th of each month.

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LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2016 | Jan 2017 Vol. 29 Issue 10

Feliz cumpleaños, Ruth! 100 years old!

“The worth of every person and the power of love to overcome injustice is the essence of what I believe...”

Dr. Ruth Lofgren, a scientific and environmental pioneer has been a powerful presence in San Antonio since the Esperanza opened its doors at 1305 N. Flores in 1987 when she was part of the Quakers (The American Friends Service Committee) who met at the Esperanza building on Sundays.

Since then Ruth, our city’s first Peace Laureate, has been working alongside peace and social and environmental justice activists on multiple issues. Thank you Ruth for setting a standard for activism!

Coming in February 2017—new Las Tesoros CD Release!

Esperanza Peace & Justice Center

922 San Pedro San Antonio TX 78212 210.228.0201 • www.esperanzacenter.org

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|Todos Somos Esperanza|

T he 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 advocates for those wounded by domination and inequality — women, people of color, queer people, 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.

Give what you can to the Esperanza in the spirit of solidarity so we can continue to speak out, organize and fight for our communities. Your support is needed now more than ever! Send donations to Esperanza at 922 San Pedro, SATX 78210 or call 210.228.0201 to sign up as a monthly donor. Visit www.esperanzacenter.org for online giving options. ¡Mil Gracias!