Graciela Sanchez

Graciela Sanchez (born April 24, 1960) is an American community organizer and social justice activist based out of San Antonio, Texas. She is the founder and executive director of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, known for being a long-time organizer in the queer community.

Early life and education

Sanchez was born April 24, 1960 in San Antonio, Texas. While in junior high school, Sanchez joined with her classmates to organize a protest over the quality of the cafeteria food. She cites their successful results in collectively organizing as teaching her the value of advocating for a cause. Sanchez also was influenced by her parents' involvement in the Chicano Movement of the late 1960s. While at school, Sanchez recounts finding inspiration in the feminist anthology This Bridge Called My Back: Writings By Radical Women of Color.

Career and activism

Sanchez started her career working for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Interested in how America's policies at the time impacted people throughout the world, Sanchez made a documentary called Testimonios de Nicaragua on the Sandinista revolution. The center was established to advocate for LGBTQ rights, basic civil rights, and economic justice. The center also works to preserve historic buildings in San Antonio’s West Side. In founding the center, Sanchez aimed to create a new organization that was more broadly focused than other civic organizations in San Antonio at the time. Sanchez became director of Esperanza in 1988.