By Imgard Rop

The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center is pleased to announce its 30th annual Mercado de Paz/Peace Market! The Mercado provides an alternative to black Friday  by hosting local and visiting artisans and merchants, offering shoppers handcrafted gifts centered around themes of peace, social justice, cultural diversity and ecological concerns. This year the Peace Market will be held beginning Friday, November 29th through Sunday, December 1st, the three-day Mercado will be open from 10am to 6pm on Friday and Saturday and 12pm to 6pm on Sunday at the
Esperanza Peace and Justice Center at 922 San Pedro Ave. San Antonio, TX 78212.

The International Peace Market / Mercado de Paz celebrates 30 years of combining the arts with economic empowerment, international and cultural exchange, and social consciousness. The Mercado is not only a place to buy quality goods, but a space to come together as a community, as global citizens and conscientious consumers, supporting talented artists and creating a family-friendly environment while honoring the world-wide tradition of open-air markets.

The products at the Peace Market are unique, hand crafted artesania coming from diverse cultures, as artists from around the globe are invited annually to present and sell their community’s wares. This year, nearly 100 vendors will offer their wares and the opportunity to support individual artists and their communities.

What sets us apart from other holiday markets is the mixture of local artists and international artisans. In addition to a wide variety of artesania, delicious refreshments will be available and Esperanza will be holding an hourly raffle for
beautiful goods donated by the artists. Not to mention musical and other performances by local artists! Over 7,000 shoppers came together just last year to make a difference—come share the experience this November at the 30th
annual Mercado de Paz. Admission is free!

speranza was founded in 1987 by a group made up of mostly Chicana activists seeking to bring together diverse movements for peace and justice in San Antonio and around the world. In the early years, the Esperanza was engaged in caravans to Central America, demonstrations against the KKK, mural projects that engaged children as artists, and the first art exhibit in Texas to focus on the Queer community and the AIDS crisis. Esperanza continues to be a politically progressive, outspoken, and unwavering force for justice in San Antonio and beyond.

For the last 30 years, the Esperanza has become a unique institution, having galvanized a multiracial, multicultural and bilingual cultural arts/social change community headed by Latinas, the majority of whom are lesbians. Esperanza is mujeres, Latinas, African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, and Whites. Esperanza is queer and straight. Esperanza is the economically disadvantaged trabajando junto con la gente de clase media. Esperanza is feminist, politically progressive, and outspoken. Esperanza is strong and overworked because we are people struggling to find new voices, new forms and new solutions to the problems oppressed people are facing.

Esperanza has also built a year-round calendar of arts and cultural programs intended to bring together diverse communities, bring a new political consciousness to community gatherings, and build solidarity among diverse groups and causes. Esperanza’s cultural programming continues to thrive, serving over 70,000 people each year through direct participation in arts and cultural events, including exhibitions, workshops, concerts, theater performances, film screenings, and more.

Phone: 210-228-0201

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Esperanza Center
922 San Pedro Avenue
Rinconcito de Esperanza
816 S. Colorado St
MujerArtes Studio
816 S. Colorado St.
Lerma’s (coming soon)
1602 N Zarzamora St