June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 San Antonio, Tejas Beatriz Llamas, August 5, 1938 – May 15, 2023 La s Te s o r o s d e Sa n Anto n i o La Paloma del Norte
La Voz de Esperanza June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 Editor: Gloria A. Ramírez Design: Elizandro Carrington Cover photo: Gloria A. Ramirez Contributors Antonio C. Cabral, Susan Morales Guerra, Kayla Miranda, Uel Trejo-Rivera [San Antonio Report] La Voz Mail Collective ...is sheltering at home due to COVID-19 but will return when it is safe. Extra funds are being raised to pay for the folding of La Voz. Esperanza Director Graciela I. Sánchez Esperanza Staff Angel Cantú, Sherry Campos, Elizandro Carrington, Kayla Miranda, René Saenz, Imane Saliba, Susana Segura, Rosa Vega Conjunto de Nepantleras —Esperanza Board of Directors— Richard Aguilar, Norma Cantú, Brent Floyd, Rachel Jennings, Amy Kastely, Jan Olsen, Ana Lucía Ramírez, Gloria A. Ramírez, Rudy Rosales, 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 • www.esperanzacenter.org Inquiries/Articles can be sent to: [email protected] 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 Letters with intent to slander individuals or groups will not be published. With the recent passing of Beatriz Llamas, La Paloma del Norte, I read about folks like Matéo Camargo and his wife, Velia Camargo who brought a young Beatriz to perform for radio. I was fortunate enough to have lived in San Antonio to hear KCOR programming and knew how popular talk show host, Mateo Camargo, and his wife were in the Spanish speaking community of San Antonio. Beatriz’s biographies also mentioned the many record labels she sang for like DLB Records with Salome Gutiérrez in San Antonio, BEGO Records in McAllen, Tear Drop and more. I read about the various performers that Beatriz’s life intersected with and influenced her. Personalities like Cornelio Reyna who persuaded her to resume singing after the tragic death of her husband and his brothers in a hotel fire in Chicago. I was fortunate enough to hear Cornelio Reyna sing at one of the early conjunto festivals of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. All of these names and lives are important and have a story to tell. No obituary or tribute can uncover the many stories contained within one life. It was so important for the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center to have brought the cuartet of elder women: Rita Vidaurri [La Calandria], Janet Cortez [La Perla Tapatia], Beatriz Llamas [La Paloma del Norte] and Blanca Rodríguez [Blanca Rosa] together to sing. Each of the Tesoros were legendary singers in their time during the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s and they did much to preserve the rich cultural history of San Antonio, the state of Texas and beyond. Beatriz secured her place in history as the first Latina to sing at Madison Square Garden. Among the stories she told was one of stopping in Lubbock with a touring group that could not find a hotel to stay in and, so, spent the night in a park. In the morning, to add insult to injury, they were not allowed to have breakfast in any restaurant. Why? No Mexicans Allowed! Beatriz recounted: “En esos tiempos había mucha discriminación, igual que ahora pero me parece en esos tiempos era peor. Pues la sorpresa fue que no nos dejaron quedar en ningún hotel a pesar de que el señor que nos llevaba—el trai dinero—pero no nos dejaron quedar en ningún hotel porque éramos mexicanos. Entonces tuvimos que dormir en el parque de allí de Lubbock. Entonces ahí no termina la historia. Fuimos almorzar otro día al restaurant y decía que no servía a mexicanos. We don’t serve for Mexicans. Fue otra decepción y otra cachetada que nos dieron porque no íbamos a pedir dado.” With the passing of each artist, performer or singer in San Antonio—another bit of our cultural history disappears, or not. It is up to us to keep the memories of our cultural workers and Buena gente alive because their life stories are part of our history. In November, La Voz de Esperanza offers readers an opportunity to remember those that have passed with Literary Ofrendas in the form of stories, poems, memories or visual tributes. I urge you to write your stories and send them in to [email protected] and add to our wealth of cultural treasures. —Gloria A. Ramirez, editor La Voz de Esperanza LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 2 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. 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 Las Tesoros de San Antonio: (left to right) Blanca Rodríguez [Blanca Rosa], Beatriz Llamas [La Paloma del Norte], Janet Cortez [La Perla Tapatía] & Rita Vidaurri [La Calandria].
Beatriz Llamas “La Paloma del Norte” August 5, 1938 — May 15, 2023 Beatriz Llamas, La Paloma del Norte, who was part of the Esperanza’s Las Tesoros de San Antonio, was born in Aguascalientes, México. When she was 11, she moved with her mother and sister to Edinburg, TX to join their father. When he became ill, Beatriz and her mom began to clean houses and would sing along with the radio as they cleaned. Her mother had been a singer known as La Varita de Nardo but was forced to quit singing by her husband. She taught Beatriz to sing showing her mannerisms in front of a mirror and encouraged her to enter local talent contests. In 1951, when the Llamas family moved to the Westside of San Antonio Beatriz entered her first talent contest sponsored by H&H Coffee at the San Fernando School auditorium. Although she did not win first place, Rita Vidaurri offered Beatriz the opportunity to sing on radio. When she entered her second contest at a KCOR radio talent contest at the Alameda Theater, Matéo Camargo, the show’s host and his wife, Velia, wound up offering Beatríz a spot in their radio show and in live performances. When KCOR moved from S. Flores to Durango St., Beatriz shared the stage with the brothers of Trio Los Osos: Alfonso, Alberto and Arturo López with whom she fell in love with and married in 1964. The Trio later became Mariachi Chapúltepec who played at Mi Tierra and Mario’s Restaurant and who toured with many famous singers including Antonio Aguilar. A tragic fire in Chicago claimed the lives of the three brothers in 1970, a story told in “Vuela Paloma del Norte,” also known as “El Corrido de Mariachi Chapultepec,” by Gumersindo Antúnez. Her husband’s death devasted Beatríz who stopped singing to dedicate time to her children. The public and fellow musicians, however, would not let her go, so she began to slowly tour again. A superstar outside of Texas, Beatriz’s image graced magazine covers in Oklahoma, Illinois, and California throughout the 1970’s. In 1990, the Texas Music Museum honored Beatríz Llamas, Lydia Mendoza and Rita Vidaurri with an exhibit at the Texas State Capital Rotunda. In 1995, she was inducted into the Tejano Music Hall of Fame, followed by induction into the Tejano Conjunto Hall of Fame early in 1999. In recent years in spite of a stroke, Beatriz performed as part of Las Tesoros de San Antonio a fierce quartet of vintage performers: Rita Vidaurri [La Calandria}, Janet Cortez [Perla Tapatia], Beatriz Llamas [La Paloma del Norte] and Blanca Rodriguez [Blanca Rosa]. Las Tesoros became an instant hit and became part of the select group of Texas Commission on the Arts Texas Touring Roster. After the passing of Janet Cortez and Rita Vidaurri, Beatriz and Blanquita continued singing as Las Tesoros and in 2019 were honored as National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellows. Beatriz’s fiery determination and passion for singing will always be remembered and her voice will live on in the archives of conjunto and ranchera music. Condolences to Beatriz’s familia and many friends en el mundo de música. Su voz vive y su espiritu se nos quedará en la memoria. Beatriz Llamas, La Paloma del Norte, siempre presente! LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 3 Autograph card used by Beatrice as a Tesoro de San Antonio. Blanca Rodríguez (Blanca Rosa) and Beatriz Llamas (La Paloma del Norte) pose with their NEA Heritage Fellows medals that they received in Washington D.C. in 2019. Beatrice Llamas, La Paloma del Norte recorded many LPs & 45s on various labels, many of them based in Texas.
By Susan Morales Guerra I met Ángel because he fell in love with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Rolando Briseño, also an artist. At first, he lived with Rolando in NYC, he worked side by side with Rolando, he married him and created a permanent home together when they moved to San Antonio in 1995. Here, Ángel brought his Puerto Rican soul and over the years, organically “sculpted” a home with Rolando, where they shared a family of beloved dogs, gardens, their art studios, old world Mexican / Latin music, chismes, Mexican and Chicano art, collections of natural artifacts, books, the sounds and scents of cheerful cocktails, laughter, serious political conversations, spontaneous intellectual explorations amid colorful fruits and vegetables. He welcomed us Chicano, and all friends, made dinners for us and used time to know us individually, even portraited some of us, he welcomed us into his heart. Corazon. Cariñoso. Rolando asked if I would write a tribute to Ángel and I was honored and of course wanted to do so. He was my friend, married to one of my best friends, and I was grieving without my San Antonio community around me. I began browsing through web pages of all his artwork, the self-portraits; to “see” what he expressed there. As I browsed, I heard his voice, the tenor tones of vanilla and cinnamon, sometimes deep and heavy, tuned with elation, excitement, engagement, anger, frustration. His voice I heard speaking through the layers of his painted emotion and experienced knowing which I discovered in his work. Sabiduría. Voz. I looked into his eyes as he painted them in his self-portraits. His sacred soul emerged, as if saying, “….there is more to say, take me along, I still want to do more, my hands and mind do not want to rest...” Destiny gave him sixty-seven years on earth. Tristeza. Gratitud. To be in the room with Ángel was a visceral experience for me, an acute awareness of breath and blood flow. I sometimes felt shy, as he seemed to see my vulnerabilities, my insecurities. I felt shy because he also saw my potentials, and he gave me his admiration, support and encouragement through playful dares, friendly nudging. “You are an artist, Susan!” I was nervous by his saying that, that perhaps he believed in something in me I could not live up to. Even on the dance floor, my clumsy feet, he said--- “Ven! Oh, I know you’ve got this in you. Un poco mas suave”. With his face full of pleasure and enjoyment, he taught me the Danzón and his way to Salsa. Subtle, sensuous and soulful, movement from within instead of flailing limbs and broad steps. Elegante, reminiscent of part of how he lived his life and painted. Sensualidad. Sensibilidad. To look at his paintings and artwork, to peer into his self-portraits, is a dive into lessons from history, cultural history, art history. It is to sense oneself both alone and within the whole of humanity. Our frailties, our beauty, our sensitivity, our wisdom are there. “Now you see me”. Frailties which are self-imposed, superimposed and as consequence of how our individual psyche responds to the socialpolitical positioning Latinos are born into. I see these in how he paints the textures of skin, the shape of lips and mouth, the color of muscle. And the eyes; there are looks of confusion, anger, perplexity, confrontation, tenderness, and boldness. The selfportraits, as he had pointed out in interviews, reflect a spectrum of personal and public experience of what Ángel perceived as colonial, Latino life. Ángel Rodríguez-Díaz, 1955-2023 The Man and Friend who was also an Artist. LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 4 Photo: printed in Glasstire 2005. Ángel & Rolando, Photo Credit: Steve Bennet SA Express-News
Into the many images he has painted, I am moved by the juxtapositions of the world upon our hearts, the hearts of our people Solidaridad. What a gift Ángel he has given us. The holistic imaginative and intellectual work which Ángel has given the world through his creativity has come at a cost, has cost him pain and energy each time he delved into the work of imagination, painting, creating, and meeting the historical and psychological ghosts which many of us never have wanted to move towards. Coraje. Espíritu. Ángel dared to move towards humanity’s collective experiences of both oppression and creativity onto the canvas and into his design of his public art. He did this through complex compositions which give homage to laborers, to women who live and identify courageously and shamelessly in spite of the burden of misogyny, to the gay communities who know the scars of a life underground due to fear and hateful judgements. He exposed some of our crosses, so that life can learn to be lived with heads up, healed hearts and conscious, informed minds. Pasión. Conciencia. Thank you, Ángel, the man and friend who was also an artist. Now that he has passed, I could only peer into his paintings online, though many I have seen “live”, to close in on his expression, breathe in what I perceived. This has only been worth a fragment of what it meant to know Angel as my friend; alive, vital, witty, bright; through our experiences together at the times we had together. Amor. Amistad. Ángel Rodríguez-Díaz. Presente! Qué descanses en Paz. C/S BIO: Susan Morales Guerra is a writer, facilitator and consultant; Oslo, Norway / San Antonio, Texas. Co-founder Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • Photo Ángel Rodriguez-Diaz. Detail from untitled self-portrait 2017. 5 Ángel Rodríguez-Diaz. Angel The Butterfly, 2004 Goddess Triptych Series: Yamaya, collection of the artist. Con Todo Mi Corazón), 1997, collection of Dr. Raphael and Sandra Guerra End of the Journey, July 1996, collection of Dr. Raphael and Sandra Guerra Photo: printed in Glasstire 2005.
Radio Esperanza’s Moving Ahead! In the age of digital media, it’s easy to overlook the timeless impact of radio, a medium that continues to connect and inspire communities worldwide. San Antonio, Texas, is no exception, with Radio Esperanza being a shining example of the transformative potential of community radio. Radio Esperanza is a low-power FM station now heard on 96.5 FM within a three-to-five-mile radius of the Esperanza Center which celebrated a soft opening launch on May 15, 2018. It is currently working to increase its capacity and service to the people of San Antonio, One of its most recent endeavors is the Radio Esperanza Training Project, which started last February and has successfully imparted essential radio and writing skills to nine enthusiastic participants, including community members and various staff of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. This initiative culminated in a captivating platica and community forum, where panelists explored the power of community radio in San Antonio’s past, present, and future. The. Panel was moderated by veteran public radio journalist Maria Martin, and included Esperanza Director Graciela Sanchez, documentary filmmaker Laura Varela, artist and art professor Mark Menjivar, and media scholar and Latino community veteran Julio Cesar Guerrero. Radio Esperanza Training Project: A Beacon of Opportunity The Radio Esperanza Training Project emerged as a beacon of opportunity for individuals seeking to acquire hands-on experience in radio broadcasting and writing. Over several weeks, these nine participants honed their skills under the guidance of seasoned public radio professional Maria Martin who shared her knowledge and expertise. The project aimed to empower participants to become the next generation of community radio broadcasters, ready to serve the people of San Antonio with passion, authenticity, and empathy. The project’s curriculum—which will continue with future training sessions— covers an extensive range of topics, from the fundamentals of radio production to the art of storytelling. Participants learned how to develop engaging content, conduct interviews, manage the technical aspects of broadcasting, and maintain a strong connection with their audience. Throughout the course, they also had the chance to collaborate and learn from one another, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual growth. The Power of Community Radio: A Platica on San Antonio’s Media Landscape The Radio Esperanza Training Project’s culmination in a community forum, or platica, on the power of community radio highlighted the significance of the medium in San Antonio’s evolving media landscape. This engaging event brought together panelists with diverse backgrounds and expertise, to discuss the potential of community radio for San Antonio. The panel discussion explored how this unique medium can empower citizens, promote local culture, and address pressing social issues. The platica delved into the historical roots of community radio, highlighting how it has long served as a platform for diverse voices and perspectives. Panelists shared stories of community radio stations that have championed social justice, raised awareness of local issues, and celebrated cultural heritage. By offering a space for open dialogue, these stations have fostered a sense of unity and belonging. Looking towards the future, the panelists discussed the untapped potential of community radio in San Antonio. They emphasized the importance of creating and maintaining an inclusive platform that reflects the city’s evolving demographics and encourages civic engagement. The panelists also explored how emerging technologies could amplify the reach and impact of community radio, making it more accessible to a broader audience. The Role of Radio Esperanza Radio Esperanza is poised to play a vital role in promoting the power of community radio in San Antonio. Through initiatives like the Radio Esperanza Training Project, they have invested in nurturing the next generation of broadcasters, who will continue to drive the medium’s growth and evolution. As the project’s participants and others join them in future training sessions, they carry with them the skills, passion, and determination to make a lasting impact on their community. To find out more about future training sessions, or to volunteer, contact the Esperanza Center. The Radio Esperanza Training Project and the subsequent platica on the power of community radio have demonstrated the ongoing relevance and potential of this medium in San Antonio. As the city’s media landscape continues to evolve, Radio Esperanza is moving ahead, looking to provide an essential platform for diverse voices, civic engagement, and cultural celebration. With a new generation of skilled and passionate broadcasters at the helm, the future of community radio in San Antonio looks brighter than ever. LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 6 Panelists: Below, Maria Martin & Julio Guerrero. Above, Graciela Sánchez, Laura Varela & Mark Menjivar. Community members attended the event at the Esperanza.
By Kayla Miranda The definition of hope is to cherish a desire with anticipation. Hope is not based on fact or science, but on a feeling of trust that good will always conquer evil, that justice will prevail and that we too can be the heroes of our own stories. In the tale of Pandora, hope was a single blessing left to the human race to ease their suffering from the despair unwittingly unleashed by Pandora. Hope inspires. Hope gives way to courage. Which births strength. Hope is not the absence of despair, much like courage is not the absence of fear, but both are finding the strength to act in spite of it. Becoming an organizer was not a conscious choice I made. I didn’t dream of leading my community head first into battle, I had no aspirations of glory. I was just a mom, a friend, a neighbor, a fellow human trying to make the lives of those around me better. The question that I had to ask myself is, if not me then who? Who could tell my story better than myself? In that decision, I was put on a path that I could have never imagined. There are highs and lows, ups and downs. For the most part, it’s everything in between. While we are still so far from the ultimate goal, we have come a long way in just a few years. As it goes in every story, there are always the moments when you find yourself falling into despair. When despite your best efforts, there are oppositional forces rallying against you. Sometimes this comes in the form of tyranny, other times in the hateful words slung at you by misinformed bigots. In times of despair, it is only hope that keeps us alive. It is when the light of hope is flickering out that we must feed it with gratitude. Reignite the flames to drive out the dark and muster our courage to fight again. Truth is a funny word. When we think of truth, we define it as what is real, what is absolute. What is fact. But someTodos Somos Esperanza We Are All Esperanza thing that I have learned in my 40 years on this planet, truth is a matter of perspective. My truth today, may not be my truth tomorrow. As we are living, breathing organisms that adapt, expand, grow and learn. The more information available, the many ways our truth can change. So what does that mean for us? For me, it means being open to the idea that I don’t have all the answers. That I must take stalk of myself often, ask myself if my current beliefs and ideals are my truth, or if I need to be open to evolve. It is a philosophy that I believe everyone should take. How would the world be if we all really took a hard and honest look in the mirror often? Truth and hope are the reasons I went to our state capitol. A week later, it is what took me to the Florida state capitol. For the past several years, I have been fighting. I’ve been at war. Not in the physical sense. But in the realm of thought. In the world of politics and public opinion. It is not an easy place to be. We live in a very strange world. Things like honor, integrity, humility, respect, and charity are twisted. Greed, vanity and pride rule the masses. Sometimes I think that maybe I was simply born in the wrong time, that I truly belong in another century. But then I realize I would have been labeled a witch, heretic or some other ridiculous thing because let’s face it, I’m way too independent and loud mouthed to ever have survived. When I take it a step further, what I really see is that I am standing in my truth just as my opponents are standing in theirs. If you remember, truth is a matter of perspective. And perspective is based on knowledge and experience. So I must hope that when given the knowledge and perspective of others, people would be open to “walking a mile” in someone’s shoes. That does not mean that you don’t have a mind of your own. When you take a few minutes to see how something feels, put that preverbal feather on your personal scales of justice, does it feel right? Does it resonate? When you stand in a position of LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 7 Lisa Vogt( Escuelita),Crystal Valdez (Escuelita), Kayla Miranda (Esperanza/Homes For All South/Right to the City) and Gabby Garcia (Homes for All South/Right to the city) outside the committee meeting room
them, but the large ones who only know greed. Unfortunately for renters, too many individuals assume that owning property makes your word more valuable and relevant than if you don’t. Like somehow when you sign that deed, you become an expert in housing and an honorable person all in one. The evidence is in the same bills popping up in many other states, backed by the same investors we have in Texas. I signed up before 8:30am, the bill was pushed to the very end, a tactic often used in public meetings when large numbers sign up to speak. Most people are not able to wait around the whole day and end up leaving, but my group chose to stay, even though we all had other plans that we had to rearrange, for me, my son’s birthday. Finally at 4:45pm, I got my 3 minutes. As did my companions. It’s strange, no small landlords came to speak, only the Texas Apartment Association whose office is directly across the street. Point of interest, many owners of rental properties don’t actually live in the districts and voting precincts their rental property is located in, many times not even the same state, but TAA lobbies for them locally, essentially giving them 2 votes, one in the area they live, another wherever they have rental property, it’s actually one of their arguments for the bill, claiming landlords shouldn’t have a patchwork of legal procedures, so they do understand they are allowing people from other voting precincts to dictate ours as well. The bill did not leave the committee that day. A small win. Short lived, as its companion Senate bill passed through senate and now sits with the same committee. The following week I had a very similar experience. It was like Deja Vu, the bill in the Florida house committee was also pushed to the very end. Again, I waited around with my group to speak but this time things went very differently. Their committee was twice the size, two rows of representatives. The chair of the committee was extremely rude, often smirking, laughing and belittling his co-committee members. I can’t think of a time I’ve seen an adult roll their eyes so many times in a matter of hours. Many of the members were on their phones, or talking to staff members or stepping out often. There was a general lack of respect or taking their jobs seriously. Someone should remind them they’re being video recorded. Once the bill was power, whether it be a community leader or an elected official, you have a duty and obligation to think of the group, not just yourself. Is this decision for the good of all, or just your own? If you are not capable of thinking in those terms, you have no right to stand in a position of power. On April 3, my son’s birthday, I spent the day at our capitol building, waiting to testify on HB 2035-relating to local governments authority to regulate evictions. I am opposed to this bill. This bill is what is called preemption. Preemption is a legal doctrine that allows a higher level of government to limit or even. eliminate the power of a lower level of government to regulate a specific issue. That would mean that all of the work we have done locally in the past 5 years would be eliminated. All of the debates, all of the public input sessions. Even our votes would be voided by the state government. Texas is very large. Along the coast, they deal with hurricanes. Northern Texas deals with tornadoes. West Texas has its desert climate. Large cities deal with some issues that small towns could never dream of. It is impossible to regulate everything from a state level when the majority of representatives are from smaller, rural areas and have no idea what large cities face. Last summer, I spent several weeks on the SAPMC Committee, as vice chair. (San Antonio Property Maintenance Code) The purpose is to adapt the International Codes to be useful for our local issues, as what we face in San Antonio is not what Houston faces, just as what Dallas deals with is different from Abilene. There are reasons this isn’t done solely on a State level. Evictions should be the same. While San Antonio had one of the largest local funds available in the state to help with rental assistance, many of the small cities and counties did not have this option during the pandemic. San Antonio brought everyone together, renters and landlords, community and business. No one got 100% of what they wanted but we all agreed. We voted. We passed policy. This bill not only threatens that balance, but also makes it impossible for us to have a say in the future. But that’s the point isn’t it? To silence the collective power of the people. Not the small landlords that big business constantly try to latch on to, spreading misinformation and fear to drive LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 8 A coalition of Housing Justice groups from all over Florida
finally called, I had assumed it would be reset, as the building was closing, but instead I was shocked. They extended the meeting by 10 minutes 3 times, rushing individuals citing only 1 minute to speak, mind you they had just spent hours debating the safety of semi trucks on public roads, but did not have time to listen to the large group that had driven and flown in from hundreds of miles away. There were groups from several major cities in Florida, 2 charter buses had driven up each side of the Florida coast picking up people along the way. I didn’t get a solid count but it was massive. Not including those of us who flew in from other states. Not everyone signed up to speak, but by the time the chair called the meeting and denied any more comments, only 3 of our speakers had the chance to speak and more than 40 were denied outright. It was announced that if we wished to speak to the members, we could contact their offices and a vote was called. That is when a healthy dose of peaceful civil disobedience came into play. We chanted this is what democracy looks like a few times before several sergeants started clearing the room. One of the members from Miami is an elderly African American woman who needed a walker. She was pushed and shoved out of the room forcefully while members of her group tried to reach her in order to hand her the walker. We all stood in the hallway listening to the ongoing meeting while the chair said, “ Your socialist activity does you no good” or something similar, he must have failed U.S. History because how does he think the country was formed to begin with? While another committee member said,” Well I think it’s only fair to allow the landlords to speak.” Yet another says,” I own 2 rental properties myself, we are mostly just small landlords”. I was absolutely disgusted. This committee was so biased it’s unreal. They denied the public the opportunity to speak, which is against F.S.286.0114, Section 286.0114(2): “Members of the public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on a proposition before a board or commission.”enacted in 2013. I didn’t think it could get any worse. So of course, it did. While each end of the long hallway filled with police for us, one of very few women on this committee, let alone a woman of color, was so completely disrespected. It wasn’t the first time that day, I can only assume it’s a regular occurrence in this “good ol boys” club. She attempted to speak and was shut down immediately. But this time, she demanded as is her right as an elected official and member of that committee to be heard. And she was amazing. We all cheered her on from the hallway, loud enough that the committee heard too. The smile on her face was brilliant. They passed the bill on to the house. But as we loaded onto the elevators I could see Hope still lives in Florida. It was pure bliss for me to return to my beloved westside. While I really enjoy traveling to other cities and states to expand my knowledge base and work with our sisters and brothers in our quest for justice, nothing beats home. I will continue to fight for my family, my community, my city and what I believe to be right. There is so much work to be done, led by truth, instilled with hope, I believe that we can succeed. You may ask yourself now, how can you get involved? There are several ways, but here are a few organizations that can point you in the right direction. Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, San Antonio. Coalition for Tenant Justice Inc, San Antonio. Prospermos Juntos, San Antonio. Texas Housers, Texas(several local offices). Homes for All South (southern region). S.M.A.S.H. Miami. Miami Workers Center. Florida Housing Justice League. Right to the City (National). BIO: Kayla Miranda, a housing justice advocate organizing in the Westside of San Antonio, resides at the Alazan/Apache Courts with her familly. LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 9 Waiting inside to speak The three women are from Prosperemos Juntos (the Methodist/Esperanza Grant for housing on the westside) The Business & Industry Committee
El ministro de propaganda nazi, George Goebbels, dijo que si repites una mentira con frecuencia, se convierte en verdad. Varios congresistas estadounidenses están implementando esta teoría al repetir mentiras sobre el presidente de México, Manuel López Obrador, y la propagación de drogas en los EE. UU. (Ninguno habla sobre los cárteles de la droga de los EE. UU. que almacenan, empacan y distribuyen cocaína y fentanilo a todas las ciudades de los EE. UU.). Para su crédito, el presidente Biden y su administración se han mantenido por encima de esa maliciosa campaña de engaño. La derecha estadounidense en general y el Partido Republicano en particular esperan que su campaña de desinformación convenza al público estadounidense de apoyar su propuesta de enviar tropas estadounidenses o utilizar drones armados para atacar a los carteles en territorio mexicano. Su verdadero objetivo es desestabilizar México, desacreditar las reformas anticorrupción de Obrador y preparar a los votantes mexicanos para una campaña publicitaria masiva financiada por Estados Unidos para apoyar a un candidato específico en las elecciones de 2024. En otras palabras, la extrema derecha estadounidense quiere un candidato leal a los intereses corporativos estadounidenses y que revierta todas las reformas progresistas implementadas por la Administración de Obrador desde 2018. Estos son los hechos: Desde que comenzó su mandato el 1 de diciembre de 2018, el presidente Obrador ha enviado infantes de marina a controlar los puertos de entrada, incluidos los principales puertos marítimos como Manzanillo y Lázaro Cárdenas. Lo hizo al descubrir que todos esos puertos estaban bajo el control de bandas violentas y lo habían estado durante la presidencia de Felipe Calderón y otros presidentes anteriores. Esos presidentes fueron elegidos a través de un fraude electoral ya documentado y, mientras estuvieron en el cargo, vendieron muchos de los recursos naturales de México, incluidas minas, transporte, gas y petróleo, sistemas telefónicos, etc. a compradores extranjeros. La mayoría de los miles de millones de dólares pagados por esos intereses terminaron en los bolsillos de esos presidentes. Esa verdad ha sido comprobada repetidamente a través de los años. Sin embargo, los representantes estadounidenses Dan Crenshaw (R. Texas) y Michael Waltz (R. FL) dijeron pública y desvergonzadamente que permitir que el presidente López Obrador continúe reformando el sistema electoral en México desharía los “buenos” sistemas de gobierno establecidos por esos presidentes corruptos. Solo un ejemplo concreto: El representante Crenshaw ha dicho a varios medios estadounidenses que Estados Unidos debe enviar tropas para “destruir los cárteles” como si México fuera una especie de colonia estadounidense. También ha enviado un mensaje televisado a los cárteles prometiendo que “…vamos por ustedes, sus mansiones y su dinero…”. Además ha defendido a presidentes anteriores, particularmente a Felipe Calderón, por, según Crenshaw, realizar un guerra contra los cárteles y ser un presidente honesto. Las acciones corruptas bien documentadas de Felipe Calderón son demasiado largas para enumerarlas aquí, pero un ejemplo de las mentiras de Crenshaw que La Doctrina del Destino Manifiesto continúa viva contra México EDITOR’S NOTE: The May 2023 issue of La Voz de Esperanza [esperanzacenter.org} included an article, Manifest Destiny Alive: Mexico Under Threat Again by Antonio Cabral. Since then, Antonio has published the article in Spanish that appears in this edition of La Voz with an update. Troops on the U.S./Mexico border Those who read last month’s version of this article in English should know that the situation on the border has gotten worse: Biden sending 1,500 U.S. soldiers to the border is a very troublesome step on his part but one that will please the Right Wingers in Congress who are clamoring for U.S. interference. Biden is following the steps of President James K. Polk who in 1846 sent troops to the border partially to pacify those in Congress who were demanding action because Anglo settlers (invaders) were “in danger.” The fact was that the U.S. had annexed Texas by force and Mexico refused to give it up. Unfortunately, some Mexicans fell into the trap and killed some U.S. soldiers during a confrontation and Polk used that tragedy as an excuse to declare war against Mexico that same year. That 1846- 1848 war was a bloody war for both sides. So, now we’ll have Biden’s troops at the border. Imagine if one of the human traffickers who keep ferrying migrants across the river decides to shoot one or more of those soldiers. Or, if the U.S. and Mexico’s Right Wingers hire some nut to do the shooting and provoke Biden to invade. That’s how dangerous and fragile the situation will become. —Antonio Cabral por Antonio C. Cabral* (for LA EDUCACIÓN) LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 10 El presidente López Obrador afirmó durante una de sus conferencias de prensa diarias, “… no serán solo nuestros marinos y soldados los que defenderán a nuestro país. Será todo el pueblo de México el que no permitirá que un solo soldado extranjero ponga un pie en nuestro territorio…”.
Calderón luchó contra los cárteles quedó expuesta el 21 de febrero de 2023, cuando un jurado de la ciudad de Nueva York encontró a Genaro García Luna culpable de tráfico de drogas y de recibir sobornos de carteles de drogas. Fue acusado de recibir alrededor de $274 millones de dólares en sobornos de cárteles desde 2001 hasta 2012 cuando fue jefe de la Agencia Federal de Investigaciones, el equivalente al FBI, bajo el presidente Vicente Fox del partido PAN, otro presidente corrupto, y luego como secretario de seguridad pública bajo Felipe Calderón. Hasta la fecha, Felipe Calderón se ha negado a admitir saber algo sobre la colusión de García Luna con los cárteles de la droga sin embargo hoy es multimillonario viajando por el mundo. En sus ataques maliciosos contra las tan reformas en México, los congresistas derechistas como Crenshaw y otros siguen elogiando a Calderón y otros presidentes corruptos con acusaciones basadas solo en mentiras y/o ignorancia. Como explicó el novelista Robert Hanlon: “Nunca atribuyas a la malicia lo que puede explicarse por la estupidez”. La hipocresía de esos congresistas también ha contagiado al senador demócrata Bob Menéndez (D.NJ), presidente de la poderosa Comisión de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, quien dijo a los medios “…me estoy quedando sin paciencia…(con Obrador)…y amenazó que EE. UU. puede “…tener que intervenir…” Menéndez y Jason Smith (R-MO) se quejan de que Obrador no detiene la entrada de drogas a los EE. UU., que se niega a comprar más maíz de los EE. UU. y usan las recientes protestas contra Obrador para sugerir que “tenemos que hacer algo” para proteger a EEUU. Ademas, el congresista federal Chip Roy (R.-TX) introdujo una legislación que declara a los cárteles de México como terroristas, estableciendo así las bases necesarias para justificar la intervención armada de los EE. UU. en México. Le siguió el Senador Lindsey Graham (RSC) quien dijo que está “… preparado para introducir legislación para preparar el escenario…” para invadir México. Incluso el descreditado fiscal general bajo Donald Trump, William Barr, se metió en el acto diciendo a los medios: “Tenemos que tratar con este grupo (los narcos) como tratamos con ISIS…” ISIS es el grupo terrorista que EE. UU. usó como justificación para invadir y destruir Irak. Nota: ISIS todavía existe, pero las corporaciones petroleras estadounidenses ahora controlan los recursos petroleros de Irak. Otra razón por la que los votantes estadounidenses y el público en general deberían condenar todas esas alegaciones falsas y agitadoras: México ha arrestado en los últimos 4 años el mayor número de capos de la droga que cualquier presidente anterior. Por ejemplo, en 2022 el presidente Obrador envió a la Infantería de Marina a arrestar a Rafael Caro Quintero, el capo de la droga que era el fugitivo más buscado por Estados Unidos acusado de haber matado a un agente de la DEA pero que había evadido la captura de todos los presidentes anteriores. Otro hecho histórico importante que todos esos congresistas hipócritas no mencionan es cómo sus predecesores políticos en el Partido Republicano ayudaron a crear esos cárteles, un hecho que fue expuesto durante las audiencias de Irán-Contra. Oliver North y otros funcionarios de alto rango durante la administración de Ronald Reagan utilizaron a la CIA para usar secretamente millones de dólares obtenidos de la venta de drogas que inundaron los barrios empobrecidos de los EEUU principalmente en Los Angeles. Esos fondos fueron luego utilizados para armar a los Contras que combatian al gobierno Sandinista que Ronald Reagan quería derrocar. Iran ayudo’ a Reagan en todo ese proceso. (Lea toda la vergonzosa historia en los archivos de la Universidad George Washington en su página de internet nsarchive.gwu.edu). Ese escándalo político conocido como Irán-Contra de la década de 1980 se conoció en 1996 unicamente gracias al valiente periodista Gary Webb que siguió investigando y escribiendo sobre él incluso después de recibir anónimamente amenazas de muerte. En 2004 fue encontrado muerto en su domicilio y el fallo fue que se disparó el mismo dos veces en la cabeza con una pistola calibre .38. La queja que Obrador no quiere comprar maíz de EEUU es verdad. Sí’ emitió un mandato presidencial prohibiendo la importación de maíz de EE. UU. Sin embargo, explicó que ese maíz es tóxico porque es genéticamente modificado (OGM) y que ha dañado la salud de millones de consumidores mexicanos. Propuso financiamiento para pequeños agricultores mexicanos para aumentar su producción natural de maíz blanco que ha demostrado ser más Tropas en la Frontera—La Historia se Repite Las tropas federales enviadas a la frontera con México por el presidente Joe Biden llegaron el 10 de mayo de 2023. Este es un paso muy problemático de su parte que complacerá a los derechistas en el Congreso que claman por la injerencia de Estados Unidos en ese país. Biden está siguiendo los pasos del presidente James K. Polk, quien en 1846 envió tropas a la frontera en parte para pacificar a aquellos en el Congreso que exigían acción alegando que los colonos anglosajones (invasores en el territorio de Texas) estaban en peligro. Su verdadera motivación era que México se negaba a entregar Texas incluso después de que Estados Unidos lo anexó por la fuerza. Desafortunadamente, algunos mexicanos cayeron en la trampa y mataron a algunos soldados estadounidenses durante un enfrentamiento en la frontera y Polk usó esa tragedia como excusa para declarar la guerra a México. Esa guerra de 1846 a 1848 fue sangrienta para ambos bandos. Ahora tenemos las tropas de Biden en la frontera. Imagínese si uno de los traficantes de personas que siguen transportando migrantes a través del río decide dispararle a uno o más de esos soldados. O, si los derechistas de Estados Unidos y México o los supremacistas blancos contratan a algún loco para disparar y así provocar que Biden invada. Así de peligrosa y frágil se ha vuelto la situación. – Antonio Cabral LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 11 . . . el descreditado fiscal general bajo Donald Trump, William Barr, se metió en el acto diciendo a los medios: “Tenemos que tratar con este grupo (los narcos) como tratamos con ISIS…” ISIS es el grupo terrorista que EE. UU. usó como justificación para invadir y destruir Irak.
seguro para el consumo humano. Los ambientalistas de EE. UU. han estado exigiendo durante muchos años cambios similares aquí en EE. UU., pero las corporaciones agrícolas políticamente poderosas como Monsanto lo han bloqueado. Ninguno de los congresistas mencionó este dato importante. Otro argumento de los congresistas republicanos es que muchos mexicanos se oponen a las reformas propuestas por Obrador y aprobadas por el congreso Mexicano. Citan como prueba, segun ellos, una protesta el pasado Noviembre 2022 en México contra las reformas del Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE). Argumentan que la reforma “destruirá” al INE para que Obrador pueda volver a postularse a la presidencia en 2024, cuando en realidad Obrador ha dicho reiteradamente que no se postulará y ha explicado constantemente que las reformas del INE sólo reducirán en 1.200 los 17.000 “asesores” del INE que reciben enormes salarios y también requerirá que el INE cuente todos los votos inmediatamente después de las elecciones y no tarde días alegando fallas informáticas que se han utilizado en el pasado para entregar la presidencia a Salinas de Gortari, a Calderón y otros presidentes corruptos. Según columnistas investigadores en Contra Línea, Sin Embargo y también recibos de pago presentados por la Administración Obrador, los organizadores de la protesta de noviembre son grupos de Derecha Mexicana que tienen un historial oscuro bien documentado de ser financiados por el Fondo Nacional para la Democracia (NED) de EEUU por sus siglas en inglés y la Agencia de los Estados Unidos para el Desarrollo Internacional (USAID). Estos son algunos de esos grupos que organizaron la protesta y los fondos que recibieron entre 2018 y 2019 por sus acciones contra las reformas: • Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción recibió $14 MM de pesos • México Unidos Contra la Delincuencia recibió más de $1 MM • Grupo Evalua recibió $2 MM (Nota: Tanto el NED como el USAID utilizan fondos de los contribuyentes que pagan enormes impuestos al gobierno federal). Todos estos hechos respaldan la opinión de 70% de los votantes Mexicanos que apoyan las reformas y ven que los oligarcas de la derecha mexicana, apoyados por los intereses corporativos estadounidenses, se han involucrado en una campaña mediática para desestabilizar la Administración de Obrador. y preparar la campaña de propaganda masiva para asegurar que ningún otro progresista sea elegido como presidente de México en 2024 ni nunca más y que las reformas económicas instituidas por la administración de Obrador sean revertidas a toda costo. Esa propaganda maliciosa y mentirosa contra el gobierno mexicano sera’ contraproducente tanto para el pueblo de ese país como para el pueblo estadounidense. Por eso es necesario que todo estadounidense de conciencia que quiere la paz mundial no puede permanecer callados. Es urgente exijir que el Congreso y los presidentes norteamericanos arreglen las serias crisis económicas y sociales que sufrimos aquí dentro de EEUU y que pongan fin al narcotráfico por cárteles estadounidenses que hasta hoy han sido intocables. Un buen comienzo hacia ese fin puede ser hablar y escribir la verdad sobre lo sucede de costa a costa en nuestras ciudades con enorme pobreza y que hoy sufren una ola de crímenes como nunca antes y balaceras callejeras y escuelas deficientes y explotación laboral. El pueblo aquí, como el pueblo en México, merecen mejor existencia. Confiemos que los que hoy continúan guiados por la doctrina del Destino Manifiesto y la teoría de Goebbels terminarán en el basurero de la historia. Iniciemos, por lo tanto, todos viviendo guiados con el consejo de Eric Blair (seudónimo de George Orwell): “En una época de engaño universal, decir la verdad es un acto revolucionario.” BIO: Antonio C. Cabral es un activista y escritor de varias décadas en San Antonio, Texas. Sus ensayos se publican en EEUU y en México. ¡Siempre Presente! Ramón Vásquez y Sánchez, 1940-2023 The Esperanza Peace & Justice Center board, staff and Buena Gente acknowledge the passing of Ramón Vásquez y Sánchez, cultural warrior extrordinaire, co-founder of our sister organization, Centro Cultural Aztlán where he served as Arts Program Director for 29 years. At Centro, Ramón helped establish their legacy programs that continue to this date including the Dia de los Muertos ofrendas that eventually inspired city-wide celebrations where initially none existed. Hundreds of young children as well as youth benefitted from Ramón’s easygoing pláticas at Centro where he initiated programs linking the Chicano community to the indigenous community of San Antonio. A lifelong social justice activist, Ramón came full circle speaking out as a Chicano activist and being an integral part of Raza Unida and the Chicano movement in the 70s then eventually becoming a respected elder of various indigenous tribes most notably the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation where his work as an archivist, genealogist and researcher helped establish San Antonio’s indigenous cultural roots along with its strong Mexican American heritage challenging the sacred myths of places like the Alamo. A native of San Antonio, Ramón was born in Laredito, in San Antonio’s Westside and grew up in the historic Alazán Courts graduating from Lanier High School. A respected artist, writer, publisher, poet and historian, Ramón’s contributions to San Antonio’s history and culture will long be remembered. Condolences to Ramón’s family, friends and fellow artists and activists. May he rest in power. LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 12 Photo Credit: Clemente Guzmán
Paseo Por El Westside 2023LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 13 Mil gracias to the buena gente, artists, musicians, performers staff & vendors who made the 2023 Paseo por el westside a success! We look forward to seeing you in 2024! Azul and her mother, Cuca, from Mexico, sing at Paseo. Kite building by Manuel Cruz Ramírez was one of many child centered activities at Paseo. Conjunto Heritage Taller featured performers of all ages Jessica Hawkins of Los Mentirosos, performs Rosalia Vargas demonstrates the art of piñata-making. Media journalist, María Martin, interviews Donna Guerra as she collects Westside stories.
By Uel Trejo-Rivera, San Antonio Report In April 2017, VIA Metropolitan Transit purchased the Scobey Storage Complex, located at 301 N. Medina St., for $5.2 million. Now, VIA and private developer DreamOn Group are planning a commercial and residential development that will center around Centro Plaza — and for which they will seek funding from the City of San Antonio and Bexar County. In order to ensure residents on the West Side have the resources they need to combat displacement and undemocratic development, VIA must build affordable units, repair sidewalks and streets near the Scobey Complex and make a conscious effort to ensure that the Scobey redevelopment gives back to current Westside residents. First and foremost, it is vital that VIA build units that are affordable to the neighborhood. The average household income in the 78207 zip code is around $26,000, with more than a third of its residents living in poverty. VIA’s proposal to build half of Scobey’s units at market rate directly puts half of these units out of reach for folks in the surrounding area. This is a textbook recipe for displacement. VIA’s senior vice president of development and planning, Kammy Horne, also sits on the city’s Housing Commission, which is charged with finding ways to increase deeper affordability in each project they discuss. Ensuring that affordable housing, either at 30% AMI or income-based, is included in VIA’s plan for the Scobey Complex is essential to protect low-income residents who have a right to stay in their neighborhood. In the six years since purchasing Scobey in 2017, VIA, as a public entity, has benefited from not having to pay property taxes. In one of the poorest zip codes in the country, this means a lack of economic development for the most vulnerable residents. For those six years, the near West Side has been deprived of property tax revenue that could’ve brought more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to an area that desperately needs it. VIA can start by repairing its own sidewalks and streets near the Scobey Complex. This is important in order to ensure that local tax dollars are reinvested back into the community by holding public entities accountable for maintaining their own land investments. The money saved from spending additional tax dollars can be reinvested into the pedestrian infrastructure in the 78207 zip code. If VIA wishes to seek public dollars from the City of San Antonio, they must pay 78207 residents first. VIA is a public entity that is funded by public tax dollars. It is unacceptable for a public entity to deprive property tax revenue from our most vulnerable residents. It is even more unacceptable to expect low-income residents to subsidize the gentrification of their neighborhood that would ultimately displace them. To truly economically empower the West Side, VIA must guarantee all nearby residents priority hiring at the new shops the Scobey building will host, and that those new jobs pay a livable wage of $17.50 an hour. Additionally, to truly encourage public transit usage, nearby residents deserve access to free bus passes. VIA is indebted to the West Side. It is vital that VIA provides deeper housing affordability, competitive wages, better pedestrian infrastructure and free bus passes to 78207 residents. We must stop recounting some distorted version of economic development and make public dollars work for the public good. BIO: Uel Trejo-Rivera is a housing advocate and active in community discussions relating to housing & the environment. She is policy director for San Antonio City Council’s District 1 and wrote this article for the San Antonio Report, April 27, 2023. Scobey Complex development must prioritize Westside residents LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 14 I would like to donate $________ each month by automatic bank withdrawal. Please contact me. For more information, call 210-228-0201. Make checks payable to: Esperanza Peace & Justice Center Mail to: 922 San Pedro, SA TX 78212. Donations to the Esperanza are tax deductible. Name ______________________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________Phone ____________________ City, State, Zip ____________________ Email_____________________________________________ I am donating ___ $1000 ___ $500 ___ $100 ___ $50 ___ $25 $_______ La Voz Subscription ___ $35 Individuals ___ $100 Institutions ___ Other $ ________ Send your tax-deductible donations to Esperanza today! I would like to send $________ each __ month __ quarter __ 6-mos., through the mail. VIA and private developer DreamOn Group are planning to redevelop the Scobey Storage Complex near Centro Plaza. Credit: Nick Wagner / San Antonio Report
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center announces Grupo Ánimo 2023 summer theater production for students between the ages of 13 and 18 years old. Students will learn basic history and practice of Teatro/Theatre, acting, teamwork, poetry, creative writing, movement and videography. Instructors include Nicolas Valdez, Clint Taylor and Sarah Tijerina. Offered at no cost to the students. Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St., San Antonio, TX 78207 June 5 to June 30, Mon– Fri • 1pm to 5pm Final performance Sat, July 1 at 7pm. The 2nd Annual Filipino Pacific Islander Festival happens at The Garden Ridge Civic Center on Saturday, June 3, between 12 and 9 p.m. and on Sunday between 12 and 7 p.m. It features performance, food, music, and vendors. Fun activities for all ages! bit.ly/filipino-pacific Candlelight Concerts brings Solero Flamenco to the Josephine Theatre located at 339 W. Josephine St. in San Antonio, TX on Friday, June 9 at 6:30pm. See: bit.ly/ notas-candlelight, for tickets. Gemini Ink offers summer writing courses: Writing About Trauma with Thomas McNeely on Jun 3 - Jun 24, Creative Writer’s Professional Toolkit with Lyzette Wanzer, Jun 6 - Jul 18 and How Writers Read with bestselling author Laura Castoro in June and July. For specifics and additional offerings check geminiink.org or https://geminiink.org/classes/ Green Spaces Alliance’s Picture Your World Nature Photo Exhibition continues at the Witte Museum thru August 2023. bit.ly/notas-green-space For cultural art events check websites, FB & other social media. Call 210-228-0201 for events at Esperanza or see: www.esperanzacenter.org. Send information for Notas Y Más or anuncios to [email protected] Notas Y Más June 2023 bit.ly/macri-film Eva Longoria Contact Jorge Piña, Theater Arts Director: [email protected] or check: bit.ly/grupo-animo Start your 2023 tax deductible gifts Give to the Esperanza in spirit of solidarity so we can continue to speak out, organize and fight for our communities for another 35 Years. Your support is needed NOW more than ever! Thank you for your gifts! Send donations to Esperanza Esperanza Peace & Justice Center 922 San Pedro Avenue San Antonio, TX 78212 To sign up as a monthly donor, Call 210.228.0201 or email: [email protected] Visit www.esperanzacenter.org/donate for online giving options. ¡Mil Gracias! LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • 15
Noche Azul de Esperanza Raíces Acústicas with Mark Waldrop June 10 @8PM & June 11 @3PM @ Esperanza, 922 San Pedro Haven’t opened La Voz in a while? Prefer to read it online? Wrong address? TO CANCEL A SUBSCRIPTIONEMAIL [email protected] CALL: 210.228.0201 Special Pride Month event! From the mind of Artistic Director & Choreographer, Giomara Bazaldúa Los Mentirosos Present: Kingceañera! Narrated by Gacho Marx, Quince DJ featuring Los Mentirosos Drag Kings & Zombie Bazaar Panza Fusion June 23rd @ 8pm Esperanza Peace & Justice Center Admission: $8 presale $12 at the door Los Mentirosos Drag Kings Zombie Bazaar Panza Fusion LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • June 2023 Vol. 36 Issue 5 • Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID San Antonio, TX Permit #332 ESPERANZA PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER 922 San Pedro San Antonio TX 78212 210.228.0201 • www.esperanzacenter.org