Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
Main Office and Performance Space
922 San Pedro Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78212
Entrance off Evergreen Street
Office Hours
Monday – Friday 10 am to 7 pm
Weekends by appointment
In the early 1990s, after being evicted from our first location because of sexism and homophobia, Esperanza’s board made the decision to purchase a building to give the Esperanza long-term security and a place to call home. Esperanza purchased this two-story, 10,000-sq-ft. building in 1993, entirely through individual donations and tireless grassroots fundraising efforts. Through the concerted effort of the community the building was paid off in only six years.
The Esperanza is located on San Pedro Avenue just north of downtown San Antonio, one block south of San Antonio College, the largest community college in South Texas. Originally built in 1910 as a Pierce-Arrow car dealership, the building is now the tangible culmination of years of hard work and dedication by diverse communities with a single vision – to create a space for local progressive artists, activists and other community members to call home.
Esperanza facilities are used for a wide variety of community, educational and cultural programming, including art shows, lectures, dances, fundraisers, technical skills workshops, organizational meetings, theater, forums and performances by dancers, singers, poets, performance artists and musicians.
The purchase and renovation of this building has been made possible because of the generous and overwhelming support from hundreds of donors. Support came from small business who have provided food for special events, elders who gave their last dollar, architectural and construction firms who donated their services, and the many volunteers who planned and implemented the Capital Campaign project. The funds were also raised by the supporters of our dances, dinners, auctions, major gifts drives, direct mail campaigns, and many other donations.
The Esperanza believes that in order to obtain full autonomy of our actions and decisions, we must own a space that only we can control. Please consider becoming a monthly donor to help us sustain our buildings and to help us continue our work. You can also visit Save Our Buildings Restoration Campaign to learn more.