Join the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center as it hosts a plática about the Museo del Westside and its inaugural online exhibit “Women and Activism in the Westside.” The exhibit tells a more inclusive story of women who marched, boycotted and rallied for social change. Women, who organized church tamaladas, circulated petitions and spoke out at city council meetings. Women who led school PTAs and shared their homes with families displaced by flooded neighborhoods. Women who celebrated their identity and culture and challenged male dominated industries. Politicians, neighborhood activists, educators, labor leaders, journalists, ranchera singers and carpa performers. Women who intentionally worked toward the change they wished to see. Women who acted on what they believe. Women who are remembered by their daughters and granddaughters, who are vital members of la comunidad del Westside. You can see the exhibit here: https://www.museodelwestside.org/women-activism
Speakers include co-curators Donna Guerra and Laura Hernández-Ehrisman, who will give a brief guided tour of highlights from the virtual exhibit, and then will facilitate a conversation with four distinguished guests:
• Community activist María Berriozábal, who was the first Latina to serve on the San Antonio city council and who is profiled in the exhibit along with her abuela, community and church activist Sebastiana Ramírez Rodríguez: https://www.museodelwestside.org/women-activism/maria-berriozabal
https://www.museodelwestside.org/women-activism/sebastiana-rodriguez • Writer, performance artist and professor Dr. Carmen Tafolla, who has written over thirty books and was named State Poet Laureate of Texas, who is also profiled in the exhibit; https://www.museodelwestside.org/women-activism/carmen-tafolla • Archeologist Dr. Mary Jo Galindo, owner of Galindo Environmental Consulting, LLC based in Austin, Texas, who shared the story of her abuela, radio announcer and civil rights activist María Rebecca Latigo de Hernández.
https://www.museodelwestside.org/women-activism/maria-latigo-de-hernandez • Community activist Ramón Vasquez, Executive Director of the American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions and a member of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, who shares his memories of his abuela, labor activist Olivia Sánchez Zamarripa.
https://www.museodelwestside.org/women-activism/olivia-sanchez-zamarripa
About the Co-Curators:
Laura Hernández-Ehrisman is a cultural historian who lives in Austin, with a PhD in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She was an Associate Professor at St. Edward’s University for twelve years, and has written extensively on San Antonio’s history. Her book Inventing the Fiesta City: Heritage and Carnival in San Antonio was published by the University of New Mexico Press in 2008, and released as a paperback in 2016. She is currently working on a manuscript on the social history of Latinx workers at Kelly Air Force Base.
Donna Guerra is a certified archivist with over 20 years experience as a professional and consulting archivist, working with university, government and private archival repositories. She is also an experienced cultural heritage researcher, a member of the Westside Preservation Alliance, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Museo del Westside.
We invite you to join our conversation. The Museo del Westside, a project of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, is dedicated to preserving and presenting the unique history, heritage, culture, pride, work ethic, and diverse experiences of la gente del Westside. We hope to increase understanding and appreciation of the neighborhood and its people in order to create a more vibrant future for our community.
The Museo is currently in development at the historic Ruben’s Ice House, located at the Rinconcito de Esperanza at 816 S Colorado Street, in the heart of San Antonio’s Westside. As a community participatory museum, we invite the community to join in developing the museum’s exhibits and programs.
For more information, please contact: Laura Hernández-Ehrisman at 512-699-9035 or Graciela I. Sánchez at 210-621-8148