Chicana feminism seeks to reinterpret the socio-historic experiences that have shaped Chicanas’ identities and contributed to the development of resistant spirits that fight against a history and culture of colonization, marginalization, silence, and oppression of Chicanas in the United States. To understand how social justice and empowerment for Chicana communities are pursued and earned within a space that recognizes the importance of these lived experiences, it is critical to examine these communities and feminists outside the academic realm. Through an interdisciplinary theoretical framework encompassing film, ethnic, gender, history, and cultural studies this paper examines the alliance between Chicana scholar-activist, Dr. Antonia Castañeda and The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center in San Antonio, TX. I believe that this partnership between Dr. Castañeda’s “ally” role and a non-governmental grassroot organization provides a unique example of the championing for the pursuit of social justice and the empowerment of Chicanas within their own communities.

1. Empowering Chicana Alliances:
Testimonios of Scholar-Activist Dr.
Antonia Castañeda and the
Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
Author: Giovanna Espinoza

2. Acknowledgements
• Advisors: Ms. Graciela Sanchez and Dr. Rosana Blanco-
Cano

3. Theoretical/Contextual Framework
Image 1: Skyline view of the City of San Antonio, TX

4. The Alliance: An Overview
Image 1: Dr. Antonia Castañeda with Lydia Mendoza, La Alondra de la
Frontera, and Esperanza Staff at a 2001 Tribute to Lydia Mendoza. Courtesy
of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center.

5. Methodology
• Internship
– Digital Archives
• Interviews

6. Empowerment of the Chicana Community
Image 1: Dr. Antonia Castañeda at Paseo
por el Westside tour (2013). Courtesy of
the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center.
Image 2: Dr. Antonia Castañeda
with Esperanza staff and community
members of the Westside Historic
Preservation Alliance organizing to
save Casa Maldonado (2010-11).
Courtesy of the Esperanza Peace
and Justice Center.

7. Questions?