Director reflects on 20 years of Esperanza – Graciela Sanchez – San Antonio

“The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center opened in 1987, initially operating out of a 150-square-foot space on South Flores Street on a shoestring budget. Countless exhibitions, screenings and performances later, the organization known as much for its politics as its cultural programming is marking its 20th anniversary.

During its existence, the Esperanza has faced at least two moments of reckoning. The first one was in the early ’90s when the still-young organization was kicked out of its first home. The second one was in 1997 when the city cut off the Esperanza’s funding because the organization’s programming was deemed too political. The Esperanza filed suit and won in federal court. Executive director Graciela Sanchez has been there through it all.”*

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