Esperanza Peace & Justice Center

The Esperanza is a nonprofit cultural institution that puts on interesting and entertaining events. I’ve attended their annual Peace Market, Noches Azul, and Day of the Dead. They are also politically involved in issues that affect the community. The events are well-​attended by people from diverse backgrounds and the volunteers are really friendly and eager to help you. They’re also LGBT-​friendly. I always have a great experience and right now I’m happy to have purchased unique cultural and hand-​made gifts for those on my Christmas list from Peace Market vendors.

Such a positive place!
The Esperanza Center fights for women’s and immigrants’ rights. They do this through community outreach, and organizing!
They coordinate plays, concerts, art showings, community sales and other kinds of educational and entertaining events.
This place is large, two stories. Make sure you check out the food sales on the second floor. All of the food is made by the community.
They help out with a variety of publications to learn about the events going on, and exhibit the community’s poetry and arts.
I really appreciate that this place stands up for the little people, giving a voice to the voiceless.
Please support these guys.
They have an annual Black Friday crafts sale that’s always fun. It’s free to go to, but parking can be a bit of a nightmare.
But they also have regular, ongoing events to learn about the plight of the downtrodden and what you can do to make this city a better place to live.

What a place! Parking is crazy. But they host a lot of events, meetings, and do a lot of good work for the community.
As I gotten more involved with people working to make San Antonio a better place, I find that I keep coming back here for meetings for different organizations, art shows, and things like that.
Get involved with your community, chances are you’ll find yourself here too!

Esperanza Peace and Justice Center has been the champion of the disenfranchised, marginalized and the voice for the voiceless for years. Operating on a shoestring budget, donations and prayers, it has been able to remain open through turbulent as well as triumphant times. And our city is all the better for it being open.
But now to my review.
I went to the Peace Market, that happens here on every Black Friday. On this afternoon the Esperanza becomes a place for lovers of all sorts of art: folk, immense paintings, t-​shirts, literature. A great deal of the pieces here are rare and are one of a kind. You have vendors from Mexico who sell elaborate huipiles. A loom whirls spinning fabrics into magic. South American booths sell Peruvian hats, in time for our brisk winter. Cubano Hip Hop act Las Crudas always sells here and are a hit here with their merchandise that challenges our notions of femininity and women’s place in the world.
Be prepared it is overwhelming. A statue of a saint looms over you making you think you need to go back to church. A co-​op of college students hustling so you can buy their killer paintings of Hendrix and Morrison. The action is up and downstairs, bustling with art lovers hoping to purchase that one of a kind art piece. What’s cool is that for every purchase you make they give you a receipt and you are eligible to win raffle prizes, jaw dropping art and other works. Above all I like this market because it is a fair trade expo. In another words the artist sells you their works at a fair price and the artist does not get screwed. Believe me in the realm of art it is a sad truth but 99% of the artists gets screwed!

Oh, there are a couple of things I must impress upon you. When you are searching for a parking spot, park in the SAC area. If you park elsewhere like Bill Miller’s your vehicle will surely be towed. This event gets crazy crowded so go early. In addition may I suggest you start inside the event and then make your way out as it is elbow to elbow by 11 AM.
When the Peace Market happens next year please go with your baby or tu amigos or solita! It merges communities at the local and global area with art as the common link. I promise not to spill my tasty Mexican Hot Chocolate on you as I fumble through the crowd to search for art like you as well…

Arte es Vida. This is what you get here. A voice for the community. Esperanza Peace & Justice Center provides that. I like the atmosphere. It feels Good. With programs presented being resonable, donations making it fair to all. The food they have during the programs is also delicioius.