May 2017 | Vol. 30 Issue 4
San Antonio, Tejas
Inside: Esperanza’s Work on the Westside of SA
La Voz de Esperanza April 2017 vol. 30 Issue 3
Editor Gloria A. Ramírez Design Elizandro Carrington Contributors
Elliot Benjamin, Barbara Renaud González, Rachel Jennings, Tom Keene, Kathy Marston, Don Mathis, Darby Riley, M.E. Sánchez, Marilyn Wallner
Photos
Courtesy of Don Mathis
La Voz Mail Collective
Mario Carbajal, Juan Díaz, Claudia Enriquez, Charlie Esperiqueta, Christina García, Mildred Hilbrich, Gloria Lozano, Ray McDonald, Angelita Merla, Miriam Reed, Mary Agnes Rodríguez, Sapopo Sánchez, Guadalupe Segura, Roger Singler, Sandra Torres
Esperanza Director Graciela I. Sánchez
Esperanza Staff
Imelda Arismendez, Elizandro Carrington, Paty de la Garza, Jessica González, Eliza Pérez, Natalie Rodríguez, Gianna Rendón, Natalie Rodríguez, René Saenz, Susana Segura, Amelia Valdez
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Conjunto de Nepantleras
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—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 Letters with intent to slander individuals or groups will not be published.
Paseo Por El Westside, now in its 8th year, celebrates the the Westside of San Antonio. It will take place from 9am-3pm on Saturday, on May 6th at El Rinconcito de Esperanza, 816 S. Colorado, our Westside base of operations. The Esperanza, long active in the Westside, led the way in reclaiming Ben Milam Park as Plaza de Zacate starting with the International Woman’s Day Marches and hosting special events like the homenaje to Lydia Mendoza in 2001. Esperanza has also sponsored film festivals at the Guadalupe Theater and at the Alazan-Apache Courts. In 2001 the Esperanza began to work on preservation of Westside structures in alliance with other organizations and initiated programs such as Fotohistorias del Westside. The Corazones del Westside, a group of Esperanza elders, actively sponsors programs at the Casa de Cuentos. And, not to forget, Lila Downs’ first performance was at Guadalupe Plaza! This year Paseo will focus on the Mexican traveling carpas that featured music, comedy, acrobatics and teatro. The emcee for Paseo, Joaquina La Arlequina, (aka as Crystal González) will bring it all together as she introduces the program and comments on the Carpas’ tradition. In tribute to one of the most memorable guests at Paseo. I have included photos of Esther García of Carpa García —who approached the stage in 2010 as a little old lady using a walker then instantly transformed into an animated performer holding the audience captive with stories of her days en la carpa. That, I will not forget. QEPD, Esther G. Robinson, 1921-2011 —Gloria A. Ramirez, editor
#queergrito esperanza 3.0 #queergrito is a call for cultural output by lgbtq+ art-ists/cultural workers in response to the
current socio-political crises. This cry will manifest in an exhibition at the Esperanza Center opening on June 10, 2017. Content: #queercry #queercall #Quetzalcoatlqueer #Coahuiltecanqueer #conspiracyqueer #conquerorqueer #koyaanisqatsiqueer #istaqsinaayokqueer #cuckooclockqueer #georgecukorqueer #beerqueer #dearqueer #queerborg #queerbot #queercamelot #queerloquat #deepsquat #laughalot #queertear #queerfear #brassiere #queerleer #muchtofear #toomuchfear #pretty-coolqueer Dimensions: No larger than 24” x 24”—size of a—protest sign • video monitor • small suitcase • mirror • t-shirt • tabloid Media: Video output < 20 minute download/link | Music < 20 minute download/link | Digital work – submit URL Required Registration: Apply @ www.esperanzacenter.org or by request at submissions@esperanza.org Deadline: Esperanza Center will receive work ONLY from May 22-June 2, 2017. Deliveries: 922 San Pedro Ave, SATX 78212 Online: submissions@esperanzacenter.org
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.
Esperanza’s Work In The Westside — ¿El Porqué? This Is Why!
La Gloria with its rooftop dance floor.
Why is historic preservation in working class communities important? —by Antonia Castañeda, PhD
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tures,” or under an unexamined notion of “progress” and “ecoWe must understand, appreciate, and honor the history, culnomic development” that denies the importance of working ture, and structures of the Westside, whose largely Mexican class history and culture, and that refuses to consider another American/Mexican working class community has labored approach to economic develmightily to make San Anopment, one that accounts for tonio the city it is today. and honors the history and Recognizing the historic culture of a people. cultural & social imporWhen we tear down tance of working class structures that have meaning communities begins to to a people who struggled rectify long-lived excluto build them, whether that sion of Westside history struggle was due to racial and culture from the pubsegregation and red-lining in lic story and discourse of real estate, as was the case in San Antonio. That is, what San Antonio, or whether they is not included in history built it because they wanted a books, or in historical particular store in their neighpreservation work of most borhood, we erase the stories, cities, including San Anthe memories, the history of a tonio, is the history of low people, of a community, of a income, poor, and working city. In doing so, we deny the class neighborhoods and people. It is the history of Community protestors at the demolition. Remember La Gloria April 4, 1928 to April 1, 2002. future; we deny our children and descendants, their legacy. We deny them their understandgente trabajadora, of gente México Americana y Mexicana, ing to who they are, and their pride in being of that space, that our parents, grandparents, and great-great grandparents whose community, that city. In my view, there is little that is more labor built, and continues to build, San Antonio. While the cruel or inhuman that we can do to children than to deny them city and state preserve homes and businesses of the rich and their history because it leaves them without a foundation, sin powerful, the homes, businesses, entertainment centers, and other structures of working class families and communities are raíces, sin nada. demolished, torn-down under the guise of “dangerous struc-
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El Rinconcito de Esperanza site of Paseo Por El Westside and Esperanza’s work in the Westside
Casa de Cuentos (porch, rear view), 816 S. Colorado St.
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Acquired in 2001, Casa de Cuentos is the largest structure at the Rinconcito appearing in city directories in 1916. It has been a bakery, Torres grocery and various cleaners. In 1994, it became know as La Casa de Misericordia when Emilia Sánchez, owner, began to care for the barrio’s needy from here. It is fully remodeled and used as a gathering place for Westside community to share their photos and stories. It is also a gathering place for the Corazones del Westside, elders who work to preserve Westside cultural traditions. During special events, the Casa hosts photo exhibits, workshops, community ofrendas and visiting artists.
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Ruben’s Ice House, 820 S. Colorado St. Formerly the M&E Grocery Store on the corner of S. Colorado and Guadalupe, this site was also a café and popular community gathering space. Mr. Ruben Reyes was listed as the owner in the 60s. It was bought in 2007 by the Esperanza, with the support of the Reyes children. It is used during the Paseo for pláticas and workshops and to screen films and videos. Plans include using it as part of a barrio museum.
La Casita (behind Casa de Cuentos, obscured by trees) La Casita (covered by the trees) is a small barrio home that has been restored. Daniel Gonzáles who grew up here tells his boyhood stories at every Paseo. It is used for office space, visiting artists, pláticas and exhibit space.
El Rinconcito de Esperanza, the little corner of Hope, is a set of buildings at 816 and 820 S. Colorado St. bought by the Esperanza following the demolition of La Gloria. They have been renovated in order to do the work of the Westside that includes the preservation of Westside historical sites and cultural traditions threatened by commercialization, appropriation of culture and encroaching gentrification.
MujerArtes Studio (under construction)
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MujerArtes’ adobe abode, their new studio, is almost done (see below). They will move from their casita on El Paso St. this summer. The mujeres have been involved in the construction of the new studio from the ground up: making Earth blocks and designing and maintaining the walls. They have decorated it with handmade tiles and murals. Acessible bathrooms, a full kitchen, a large workspace and a room for the kiln complete the studio. Open soon!
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From Demolition To Preservation: A response to La Gloria El Rinconcito - Ruben’s Ice House
El Rinconcito - Casa de Cuentos
El Rinconcito - La Casita
El Rinconcito de Esperanza
The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center at 922 San Pedro has committed to working towards the preservation of neighborhoods and cultural traditions of San Antonio’s Westside. Following the demolition of La Gloria, the Esperanza purchased two lots, at the corner of Colorado and Guadalupe St. Pictured are the three buildings before being remodeled (current aerial view on p. 4 &5 shows the buildings after being remodeled.)
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Lerma’s Nite Club, www.savelermas.org
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The historic conjunto dancehall, on San Antonio’s Westside, is now recognized on the national register of historic places and was granted historical landmark status by the San Antonio City Council in 2010. Lerma’s was known as the heart of conjunto music until concerns about the safety of the building shut it down. In danger of demolition, Esperanza stepped in as caretaker and started a Save Lerma’s campaign, a communitydriven initiative to restore Lerma’s Nite Club.
Casa Maldonado, 1310 Guadalupe, known as the “pink house”, is a historic West Side structure that was the home of early political activity in San Anotnio’s predominantly Mexican American West Side. In danger of demolition, community groups fought the destruction of the building winning support from city officials to preserve it after San Antonio’s Historic Design Review Committee (HDRC) deemed the site historic in March 2011. The Esperanza in partnership with the Westside Preservation Alliance and buena gente staved off plans to annihilate and gentrify the structure which has now been remodeled.
Casa Maldonado
The Westside Preservation Alliance was formed with the goal of bringing together community groups, residents, businesses and others committed to the economic well-being of Westside communities that will maintain historic & cultural preservation as a value of community progress. The group meets regularly to review concerns in the Westside related to preservation, economic development and encroaching gentrification. This Place Matters is a national campaign that encourages people to celebrate the places that are meaningful to them and to their communities.
Lerma’s Night Club is one of four spaces in the building on Zarzamoras St.
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Casa Maldonado, “The Pink House”
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Fotohistori
In 2001, Rita Vidaurri sang to Lydia Mendoza (seated) at the homenaje to Lydia Mendoza at Plaza de Zacate.
ARTE ES VIDA
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Arte Es Vida is an ongoing program of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center that strengthens the Westside Community’s cultural grounding–the sense of selfhood and identity, rooted in creative expression and cultural practice. It addresses issues of cultural equity and democracy and examines the role of artistic and cul-
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tural expression in a society that typically treats communities of color with oppressive attitudes of racism, sexism and homophobia—a legacy of cultural domination in the U.S. Reclaiming one’s own cultura and history empowers communities and individuals to participate more fully in civic life. Successful programs of Arte es Vida have included An Altar for Emma celebrating Emma Tenayuca and the pecan shellers strike from 1933-1938 and an homenaje to Lydia Mendoza, the legendary Tejana musician on her 85th birthday that took place at Plaza de Zacate. The event resulted in the discovery of a whole community of elder artists when Rita Vidaurri took to the stage to sing to Lydia Mendoza. Ultimately, this resulted in the birth of Las Tesoros de San Antonio. Another project of the Arte Es Vida program is MujerArtes now in its 22nd year.
Eva Garza visiting he Courts where she gre Lanier High School w basketball and baseb
Beatriz Llamas, La Paloma del Norte
LAS TESOROS
Rita Vidaurri,
Las Tesoros de San Antonio La Calandria are a group of women elders whose incredible singing careers soared both, locally and internationally, in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. All four artistas grew up in the Westside of San Antonio, Texas. They include: Rita Vidaurri, “La Calandria”; Beatriz Llamas, “La Paloma del Norte”; and Blanca Rodríguez, “Blanquita Blanca Rodríguez, Rosa”. A fourth member, Janet Cortez, “Perla Tapatia”, passed away in 2014.Each woman was inspired by and con- Blanca Rosa nected to other important Tejana singers including the great Lydia Mendoza and international star, Eva Garza, who died at an early age but opened doors for many other female singers. Rita, Beatriz, and Blanca have re-emerged as a fierce trio, releasing a new CD in February of 2016. Las Tesoros will perform at Esperanza’s Paseo Las Tesoros as a foursome. Janet Cortez, Perla Tapatia, second from the left, passed away in 2014. del Westside.
MujerArte
Eva Garza, international singer who sang on CBS’ Viva America.
ias del Westside
er family at the Alazan-Apache ew up. She attended where she was also a ball star.
in Mexico.
Started in 1995 and operating out of a Casita on El Paso St. for almost 22 years in San Antonio’s Westside, the MujerArtes Women’s Clay Cooperative part of Arte es Vida programming is about to move into a new home at El Rinconcito de Esperanza. The women’s clay cooperative has empowered low-income women of San Antonio’s Westside using clay to give expression to their lives. To date, they have had many special exhibits, the last being the remarkable, “Barrio de Barro: Reclamando y Recordando el Westside de San Antonio.” Look for the opening of their new space in the next few months.
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es
Fotohistorias del Westside, part of the Arte es Vida project, Gloria Rios, known as “la reina de rocanrol”. allows gente to tell the stories of their lives in the Westside through recordings and photographs shared at the Casa de Cuentos. Enlarged mesh banners depict faces, families, and landmarks from the early 1900s to the 1950s and are installed throughout the Westside along Guadalupe St., at the Alazan-Apache Courts, and along the fence of J.T. Brackenridge Elementary. This museo de la calle reclaims public space in Westside barrios validating their lives and cultura as part of San Antonio’s history. As a part of Fotohistorias, we have brought recognition to international stars like Eva Garza, the first Latina to be broadcast in the Americas by CBS durGloria Rios singing to her mom and daughter at home at the ing the 40s and Gloria Rios, the “queen Alazan-Apache Courts. of rock and roll” in Mexico—virtually She was famous for performunknown in their own backyard—the ing & translating hits like “Rock Around the Clock”/ El Relojito” Alazan Apache Courts!
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Best Quality of Life for One Another Should Be Our Abiding Concern by Ruth Lofgren
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Author’s Note: For the past few months I have been working on a lobbying concern. I’ve contacted the Friends Committee on National Legislation and find that it will be slow to get a new item on the lobbying agenda. Perhaps, Voz readers can help.
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I think that during the next year or two there will be a window of opportunity to deal with a cultural taboo that is costing healthcare a fortune and ignoring quality of life at the end-oflife for patients! With the present chaos come opportunities! Within the next few years, as the safety nets of our current world: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act, etc. are being challenged and modified or dismantled, I hope we can lobby to expand our world view by challenging the taboo against talking about death and inserting hospice into the end-of-life options that everyone knows about and understands. Hospice is a special concept of care designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families when a patient is terminally ill or at the end-of-life. This palliative care is covered by Medicare and Medicaid and most private insurance plans. Most hospice care is delivered at home or in a home-like hospice residence. Growing up I had never heard the word, hospice. Even when I had a Ph.D. in microbiology and taught at the University of Michigan’s medical school, in the 1950s, hospice was not a part of my world view for end-of-life care. After my father died in 1964, we remodeled my brother’s house to create an apartment for my mother. This brother was very concerned for my mother, but it was difficult for his young wife and family. By 1969 my mother had round-theclock nursing care. Then she was moved to a hospital where she received intravenous medication. (My mother, a proud woman who had been a community leader hated every minute of her existence in this facility.) When my youngest brother saw her with all the tubes, etc. he told the doctor, “You take those tubes out or I will!” The doctor said, “If we remove the tubes, she will die.” My sister who was a public health nurse, said, “Of course she will. She is 80 years old and in pain.” My 3 brothers and my sister agreed that the tubes should be removed. I was flying in from New York. The doctor worried that I might not agree. He removed the tubes and my mother died. Of course, I agreed. Why had my mother’s quality of life not been considered by any of us in these last years or even in this last month of
life? Because, our world views were incomplete. We all feel familiar with the First of LIFE: Birth, with the Middle of Life: Development and, of course we know about the End of Life: Death. But, while we have strong opinions about Right to Life, Pro-Choice, Prenatal Care, etc. for the First of Life, and we have lots of opinions about Education, Growth and Development, Health Care, Job Training, etc. for the Middle of Life—most of us choose not to plan for End-of-Life, not to think about it until necessary, and are uncomfortable talking or even thinking about it. Our World Views don’t include hospice. They should! What I propose is that each of us prepare to lobby our congressmen/women to broaden their developing views of healthcare to include hospice and quality of life as significant options in plans for end-of life. Also, we need to take time to consider our own attitudes and our plans for end of life. Do you know about hospice? Or will you, like so many old folks who have had an accident, wake up to find themselves in intensive care in the hospital? Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) has a great lobbying program, The Advocacy Corps, etc. I hope these young people can be informed and be prepared to lobby Congress, especially those who are working on healthcare legislation. I have submitted the request for lobbying on a place for hospice in our end of life health care options. Quality of life is important at all stages of life. I hope to contact medical schools with the request that they reexamine their curricula to see if hospice has a place in their end-of-life discussions with medical students. Over the years, I hope to see our world view broaden to include hospice. Bio: Ruth Lofgren, a supporter of the Esperanza recently completed 100 years of life. She was involved with the Friends Committee who met at the old Esperanza building on S. Flores. She remains active as an environmentalist and human rights advocate.
Editor’s note: The following experience is one in a series of stories, Somos Domesticas, that will be related to Voz readers by women of Domesticas Unidas, a group of immigrant women working as housekeepers and nannies who fight for just wages and working conditions.
Heart of Love • Corazón de Amor by Aracely Sandoval Ruiz
Hace unos años, buscaba trabajo y me entrevistaron varias familias hasta que una familia me contrató para cuidar los niños. Pronto, comencé a trabajar cuidando a un niño y dos niñas entre las edades de cuatro y siete años. Después de un tiempo, todo parecía bién, pero de repente dos de los niños empezarón a pelear mucho—uno contra el otro—y a veces conmigo, tambien. Un minute podrian decir, “Quiero que te mueras, Chely, para que tu familia te llore—y no te vas ir al cielo.” Al minuto siguiente podrían decir, “Te quiero mucho, Chely, eres la mejor niñera (“nanny”) en todo el mundo.” Gracias a Dios, soy paciente y sólo pensé, “¡Qué imaginación tienen éstos niños!” Pero, apenas estaba empezando algo muy dificil para manejar llamado, ADHD (“Desorden hiperactivo y deficit de atención”). He cuidado estos niños por cinco años y mientras han crecido, también los sintomas de ésta condición han aumentado. Cada vez que habiá una situación con los niños, yo los abrazaba fuerte para que no se lastimaran. Con el tiempo, los abrazos de protección se volvieron abrazos de amor y los niños me abrazaban fuerte tambien, llorando y preguntando, “¿Porqué tengo ésta enfermedad? ¿Porqué no puedo ser normal como otros niños?” Todo ésto me rompía el corazón. Mientras cuidaba estos niños, me enamore con la familia entera. Hubo momentos que sentía que el amor por ellos había crecido tanto que nunca me podría separar de ellos. Me di cuenta que Dios me había llevado a está familia para ayudar a criar estos niños para que tuvieran una vida mejor.
Bio: I arrived in San Antonio, TX. in 2000 looking for work knowing no one. Thanks to God, the place I worked at was one where they treated me quite well and I stayed there several years. I am part of Domesticas Unidas.
Bio: Llegue a San Antonio, Tx. en el 2000 buscando trabajo sin conocer a nadie, pero, gracias a Dios, consegui un trabajo donde me trataron muy bien y alli estuve varios años hasta que terminó. Soy parte del grupo, Domesticas Unidas.
Cocinando, limpiando, organizando y luchando el mundo van cambiando.
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A few years ago I was looking for a job and was interviewed by different families until, finally, a family hired me as a nanny. Soon, I began to work caring for a boy and two girls between the ages of seven and four years old As time passed, everything seemed fine, but soon and without warning two of the children started to fight alot with each other and against me, also. One minute they might say, “I want you to die, Chely, that way your family can cry for you —and you are not going to heaven.” The next minute, they would say, “I love you, Chely, you are the best nanny in the whole world.” Thank goodness that I am very patient so I just thought, “What an imagination these kids have.” But, that was just the beginning of something extremely difficult to handle that is called ADHD (Attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder). I have taken care of these children for five years and as they’ve grown so have the symptoms of this condition. Every time that we had issues, I would hug them as tight as I could. At first, the hugs were to protect them from getting hurt. Then they turned into hugs of love and they’d wind up hugging me as they cried and asked, “Why do I have this illness? Why can’t I be like a normal kid?” Of course, all of that would just break my heart. While I was taking care of these children, I fell in love with the entire family. There were moments when I felt the love in my heart had grown so big that I would not be able to leave them. I realized that God had led me to this family to help raise these children to have a better life.
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THE NEW ELMENDORF LAKE PARK
By: Gloria Almaraz
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The concrete seating made of mosaic tiles that winds around is usually full of kids balancing themselves on the stone runway. In the background is the walking bridge that connects to a small island full of flora and fauna.
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In October 2014, I wrote my first article on Elmendorf Lake Park. when I was given a tour for the first time, the Westside Creeks At the time, I mentioned that I had been quite impressed by what Restoration Oversight Committee is to be commended for now the park had to offer. making it an even more beautiful site. Although I knew the park existed, I was unfamiliar with its hisFor the past ten years, under the leadership of its co-chairs, tory and its hidden beauty. Like countless of other San Antonians, I Olga Lizcano and Robert Ramirez, the Westside Creeks Restohad driven by the park many times but had never stopped to visit. ration Oversight Committee kept the vision for the Park alive After taking a tour of the park, I wrote that I considered the with countless meetings, planning sessions, and, I’m sure, lots of park to be “a hidden gem in the west side.” Others have reached contention. Yet, the goal of having a park that could be enjoyed the same conclusion by families living in as I have heard the the Westside of San park referred to as “a Antonio, but aimed hidden gem” by two especially for neighlocal politicians. borhood children who Since the time could come and play of my original visit in a safe environment, to Elmendorf Lake made them persevere. Park, restoration The fruit of work on the park to their labor is quite the tune of $14 milobvious to anyone lion from the City of visiting the park. The San Antonio and the park looks fantastic San Antonio River and can rival any City planners chose to build a new playground instead of saving the swimming pool. Authority (SARA) other park in the city has almost been com- Plans to build a new neighborhood pool are contingent on the May 15th bond election. with grounds that have pleted. Monies for this restoration were voted on by the citizens been nicely transformed. of San Antonio through a 2012 bond election. The lake is a beautiful sight and has a bird sanctuary at one I attended the opening ceremonies on January 21, 2017 on end. It’s not unusual to see ducks swimming by or people kayaka beautiful, sunny Saturday morning. There were hundreds of ing in the lake. people in attendance, many listening to the speakers during the As I walked through the park on that Saturday morning, I formal program and others enjoying the park’s amenities such as saw entire families taking in the park’s sites. I spoke with the the bike trails, children’s splash pad, the seating areas of picnic first family getting ready to have a picnic utilizing one of the new tables, etc. The park was full many four-legged animals, as well. picnic tables. They had been coming to Elmendorf for years and Among the dignitaries were Bexar County Commissioner were thrilled with the transformation of the park. Nelson Wolf, Mayor Ivy Taylor, District 5 Council Woman Children were enjoying their new playground, and many Shirley Gonzales, SARA representatives and Roberto Rodríguez were laughing as they got wet running through the water jets in who can be credited for having the foresight and fortitude to fight the splash pad. Bikers and walkers were sharing the bike trails. so that the City of San Antonio would make upgrades to ElmenThe park also has large fields that are available for anyone wishdorf Lake Park. Little did Rodríguez know that it would take ten ing to play softball, football or soccer. years for his vision to become a reality. Speakers appeared to be The park’s main entrance is now a colorful sight with mosaic impressed by the park’s renovation and surprised by the large tile covering the concrete seating areas near the entrance. Live muturnout at the opening day ceremonies. sic could be heard from a group performing in the bandstand area. If I thought that the park was impressive three years before During the program, it was mentioned that people could now
Ramón Hernández, photographer for Street Talk magazine, took some great pictures of the park for my story. GA
A family eats a pizza across from Paradise Island, a bird sanctuary that draws all kinds of birds, year round.
If you haven’t visited Elmendorf Lake Park yet, let me suggest that you do. How long has it been since you’ve planned a picnic with your family or friends? How long has it been that you made time for yourself, read a book, and enjoyed reading it on a park bench with the view of a lake as a background? You can do these things, and more, at Elmendorf Lake Park. It is family-oriented with many amenities for the entire family, it has a safe environment, and you and your family/friends will have a wonderful time. It is a beautiful park, and you won’t regret the visit. Elmendorf Lake Park is located at 3700 W. Commerce St., in San Antonio, Texas on the Westside. Bio: Gloria Almaraz is a former federal investigator. She is a free-lance writer in San Antonio.
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fish off of the fishing pier as it had been recently been restocked with fish. This brought applause from the crowd. The official program ended with a fireworks display that was impressive and unexpected. Other activities were held during the day. I have made subsequent visits to the park including a couple of evening visits. The park looks spectacular at night with so much lighting that one feels safe walking through it. During one evening visit, there were more than one hundred parents and children enjoying the playground. It was a beautiful sight to see them enjoying the park’s amenities and to hear the laughter of the children as they played in their new playground. Whoever designed the seating for parents to be close to their children while playing had great foresight providing great security and safety features. The $14 million bond investment that was passed to improve the park’s amenities included creating additional bike trails, picnic areas with covered shelters, exercise stations, pedestrians bridges, improved lighting, lake fountains that illuminate different colors at night and a floating pier. It should be noted that the park will also be enjoyed by the students at Our Lady of the Lake University. Protection of the environment is evident in many of these improvements. Among them are the creation rain gardens that will reduce the speed of flash flooding and benefit plants and animals by removing toxins and pollutants and bio swales—landscape elements that are designed to concentrate or remove salt and impurities from surface runoff water. In addition, water will be recirculated through a wetland adding to the movement of the lake’s water. Furthermore, the expanded parking will feature a pervious parking lot that, according to Jeff Taylor, a SARA engineer, “allows water to percolate into the ground instead of flowing directly into the lake. It will trap sediments and act as a filter.” The only amenity missing from Elmendorf Lake Park at this time is a new swimming pool. As part of the restoration work of the park, the existing pool was demolished. Sufficient funds were lacking from the $14 million bond to allow for a new swimming pool to be built; however, plans are in place to build a competitive-size pool enabling competitive swim meets for all residents. According to Robert Ramirez, funds to pay for the new swimming pool can be allocated from the citywide bond election scheduled for May 16, 2017. If voters approve the bonds, the pool could be completed by 2019 at a cost of $2 million. Thus, it is imperative that the bond election pass.
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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, University Presbyterian Church 300 Bushnell Ave. | 210.848.7407.
* community meetings *
Amnesty International #127 For info. call Arthur @ 210.213.5919.
Celebration Circle meets Sun., 11am @ Say Sí, 1518 S. Alamo. Meditation: Weds @7:30pm, Friends Meeting House, 7052 Vandiver. 210.533.6767. 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. Energía Mía: (512) 838-3351 Fuerza Unida, 710 New Laredo Hwy. www.lafuerzaunida.org | 210.927.2294 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
NOW SA Chapter meets 3 Wed’s. For time and location check FB/satx.now | 210. 802.9068 | nowsaareachapter@ gmail.com rd
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Pax Christi, SA meets monthly on Saturdays. Call 210.460.8448
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Parents of Murdered Children, meets 2nd Mondays @ Balcones Heights Community Ctr, 107 Glenarm | www. pomcsanantonio.org.
Come by, have fun and GIVE!
Rape Crisis Center 7500 US Hwy 90W. Hotline: 210.349.7273 | 210.521.7273 Email: sgabriel@ rapecrisis.com The Religious Society of Friends meets Sunday @10am @ The Friends Meeting House, 7052 N. Vandiver. | 210.945.8456. S.A. Gender Association meets 1st & 3rd Thursday, 6-9pm @ 611 E. Myrtle, Metropolitan Community Church. SA AIDS Fdn 818 E. Grayson St. offers free Syphilis & HIV testing | 210.225.4715 | www.txsaaf.org. SA Women Will March: www. sawomenwillmarch.org|(830) 488-7493 SGI-USA LGBT Buddhists meet 2nd Sat. at 10am @ 7142 San Pedro Ave., Ste 117 | 210.653.7755. Shambhala Buddhist Meditation Tues. 7pm & Sun. 9:30am 257 E. Hildebrand Ave. | 210.222.9303.
Thursday, May 4, 2017 To donate now, visit bit.ly/donatetoEsperanza or visit www.thebiggivesa.org on May 4th! 7-9 am Join us for a
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
3-5 pm Join us for a
SA’s LGBTQA Youth meets Tues., 6:30pm at Univ. Presby. Church, 300 Bushnell Ave. | www.fiesta-youth.org
@ the Esperanza, 922 San Pedro
Overeaters Anonymous meets MWF in Spanish & daily in English | www. oasanantonio.org | 210.492.5400.
Big Red & Barbacoa tacos
@ our West Side venue, 816 S. Colorado
Paleta Party
Call us at 210.228.0201. #BigGive2017
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Notas Y Más May 2017
Deaf Education in South Texas: Schools for Multilingual Area Needs presented by Dr. Catherine O’Brien of Gallaudet University takes place Monday, May 1st at Café College, 131 El Paso St. in San Antonio. A continental breakfast will be served at 8am with the workshop from 9am to 11:30am. Contact maricela.oliva@ utsa.edu) for info. • Also, on May 1st at Cafe College, Dr. David Pérez (Miami University) and Dr. Claudia García-Louis (UTSA) with Mr. Alex Araiza (Alamo Colleges) present Men of Color and College: Strategies for Supporting Success. A snack will be served at noon with the workshop from 1pm to 3:30pm. For Cafe College seesions register @ monday sessions.eventbrite.com Juan Felipe Herrera, the 21st Poet Laureate of the U.S.—the first Latino to hold the position—will give a free reading on May 4th at 7pm. The Gemini Ink Autograph Series event will be followed by a Q&A and book signing at the Guadalupe Theater, 723 S. Brazos St. Presented in partnership with ARTS SA and the Guadalupe. Contact Gemini Ink at 210-734-9673 or geminiink.org/
artists: Luis Valderas, Kim Bishop, and Felipe Reyes. Contact: artereyes@ copper.net or call 210.215.7746. Time Dollar Community Connections, 2806 W. Salinas St., is planning our Sixth Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 13th. Visit www.satimedollar.org Mexic-Arte Museum at 419 Congress Ave. in Austin, TX. invites community to a free Family Day activity inspired by world-renowned sculptor Sebastián on Sunday, May 14th from 1-4pm. Visitors will be guided through a paper-folding activity based on the artist’s impressive series of Transformables—part of Sebastián: The Geometry of Space and Time on exhibit through June 25. See: www. mexic-artemuseum.org/ A New Artisan Mercado will debut May 20th in downtown Austin on Congress Ave. and 5th St. from 10:30am4:30pm. It continues on 3rd Saturdays. See: www.facebook.com artisanmercadoonCongressand5th or contact Irma Orozco at 512.660.1845. Supported in
part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin. Make plans to go to the 36th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival sponsored by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center from May 24-28 at the Guadalupe Theater and Rosedale Park in San Antonio. See:www.guadalupeculturalarts.org/tejano-conjunto-festival. Latino Heritage is the theme for the 2017 Fall Semester (Sept.-Dec. 2017) ACHP-SI Cultural Heritage Fellowship, a joint experience with the Smithsonian Institution and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. As defined by UNESCO, intangible cultural heritage is more than monuments and collections of objects. It also includes traditions or living expression inherited from our ancestors and passed on to their descendents. Grants Deadline: July 15, @ 11:59pm EDT See: www. smithsonianofi.com/chp-fellowship/
19th Annual Allied Media Conference
June 15-18 @ Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
The conference brings together a vibrant and diverse community of people using media to incite change: and advance holistic solutions towards a more just and creative world.The Esperanza will be part of the Disrupting Mainstream History: Memory Keeping, Storytelling, and Community Archives Track. Check: www.alliedmedia.org/amc
Comidas Ancestrales/Ancestral Foods series
June 23-25, 2017
Luz Calvo & Catriona Rueda Esquibel,
authors of DECOLONIZE YOUR DIET: Plant-
based Mexican-American Recipes for Health and Healing will join us in pláticas, panels and
workshops and will be available to sign books! Call 210-228-0201 or check in with us on Facebook.com/EsperanzaPJC, esperanzacenter.org
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AANNA REYES GALLERY’s new location is at 114 Southbridge, Suite B off of San Pedro Ave. inside Loop 410. Their first opening will be on “First Friday” May 5th, 7-10pm, followed by “Second Saturday,” May 13th, with
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 • May 2017 Vol. 30 Issue 4
Out At The Movies Film Festival
#queergrito esperanza 3.0
Friday Films June & Times 2, 3 4 TBA @Esperanza 922 San Pedro • 210-228-0201
Noche Azul Saturday, May 20th
8pm • doors open at 7:30pm $7 mas o menos
A R T
E X H I B I T
Opening Reception, Saturday, June 10 • 6 PM—8 PM @ Esperanza 922. San Pedro • More Info TBA
Esperanza Peace & Justice Center
922 San Pedro San Antonio TX 78212 210.228.0201 • www.esperanzacenter.org
Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID San Antonio, TX Permit #332
Haven’t opened La Voz in a while? Prefer to read it online? Wrong address? TO CANCEL A SUBSCRIPTION EMAIL lavoz@esperanzacenter.org CALL: 210.228.0201
@ Esperanza, 922 San Pedro • 210-228-0201
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Aqui Estamos y No Nos Vamos
A plática about the Esperanza’s women of color art exhibit curated by Rebel Mariposa, currently on display Panelists will include artists and activists from the exhibit.
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Esperanza’s 30th Anniversary Plática Series
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In the Times of Protest
San Antonio Ordinances Restricting Public Demonstrations—a workshop
Friday May 12, 2017
6:30pm - 8:30pm @ Esperanza, 922 San Pedro Doors open at 6PM Free, donations appreciated Exhibit Closing Reception
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Sacred Sage by Elva Maria Salinas
10am to 1pm, free @Esperanza, 922 San Pedro
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SAVE THE DATE! • May
Saturday May 20, 2017
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