Media Appearances:
News/TV/Podcasts/Radio
THE APPEAL: "SAN ANTONIO BULLDOZED A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT. THEN THE WINTER STORMS STARTED"
Denise Hernandez, a local advocate for the unhoused who is also an event services coordinator for City Councilmember Roberto Treviño, told The Appeal that she and other advocates had been trying for months to connect people in the city’s homeless encampments with services or housing. She also said that even during this week San Antonio cops have insisted on running background checks on unhoused residents attempting to shelter during the freeze and that local mutual aid organizations, rather than city officials, have done the bulk of protecting people forced to sleep on the streets.
“Where are those folks gonna go?” Hernandez said, referring to those who lived under the overpass downtown. “If they had stayed there, it would have been much easier for outreach this week. We could just get a bus and take them where they need to go to stay warm.
Denise Hernandez, a local advocate for the unhoused who is also an event services coordinator for City Councilmember Roberto Treviño, told The Appeal that she and other advocates had been trying for months to connect people in the city’s homeless encampments with services or housing. She also said that even during this week San Antonio cops have insisted on running background checks on unhoused residents attempting to shelter during the freeze and that local mutual aid organizations, rather than city officials, have done the bulk of protecting people forced to sleep on the streets.
“Where are those folks gonna go?” Hernandez said, referring to those who lived under the overpass downtown. “If they had stayed there, it would have been much easier for outreach this week. We could just get a bus and take them where they need to go to stay warm.
Salud America:
"Denise Hernández: Finding Herself by Unlearning Implicit Bias and Embracing Her Chicana Heritage"
“My center of my work is always about making sure San Antonians have a seat at the table in our decision-making processes. I feel like San Antonio has historically been manipulated to fit an idea of certain kind of folks who are in power and want to keep it that way. But we can have that seat at the table. We can create a whole new table that influences change,” Hernández said.
"Denise Hernández: Finding Herself by Unlearning Implicit Bias and Embracing Her Chicana Heritage"
“My center of my work is always about making sure San Antonians have a seat at the table in our decision-making processes. I feel like San Antonio has historically been manipulated to fit an idea of certain kind of folks who are in power and want to keep it that way. But we can have that seat at the table. We can create a whole new table that influences change,” Hernández said.
"Local Activist Denise Hernandez Launches New Community Speaker Series in San Antonio"
Fifth-generation San Antonian, activist and founder of Maestranza Denise M. Hernández is launching the new lecture series SAbiduría at the end of the month. Drawn from the Spanish word for "wisdom," the talks will take place quarterly and will feature everyday stories from local community members.
Fifth-generation San Antonian, activist and founder of Maestranza Denise M. Hernández is launching the new lecture series SAbiduría at the end of the month. Drawn from the Spanish word for "wisdom," the talks will take place quarterly and will feature everyday stories from local community members.
Interview with The Rivard Report: Love It Or Hate It, What Is Fiesta, Anyway?
Hernández believes certain aspects of the celebration today, such as cultural appropriation of Latino culture in the form of clothing, music, décor, and food, and exclusive clubs that appoint mostly wealthy, white people as “Fiesta royalty,” make participating in Fiesta as a Latina controversial. But educating herself on local history as it relates to Fiesta is empowerment since she can work toward “reclaiming” her culture throughout the festivities, and encourages others to do the same.
“I’m not trying to say, ‘Screw Fiesta, don’t go,'” she told the Rivard Report. “But for me, it’s important to know the base history of it.”
Related:
Texas Public Radio - Fiesta: Why Some San Antonians Are Conflicted About Citywide Celebration
Hernández believes certain aspects of the celebration today, such as cultural appropriation of Latino culture in the form of clothing, music, décor, and food, and exclusive clubs that appoint mostly wealthy, white people as “Fiesta royalty,” make participating in Fiesta as a Latina controversial. But educating herself on local history as it relates to Fiesta is empowerment since she can work toward “reclaiming” her culture throughout the festivities, and encourages others to do the same.
“I’m not trying to say, ‘Screw Fiesta, don’t go,'” she told the Rivard Report. “But for me, it’s important to know the base history of it.”
Related:
Texas Public Radio - Fiesta: Why Some San Antonians Are Conflicted About Citywide Celebration
Groups Plan Peaceful Protest to 'Dump Trump'
A group of local activists and concerned community members gathered at the Southwest Workers Union on Thursday to plan a peaceful protest for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s visit to San Antonio next week.
Trump’s campaign and fundraising stops across the country have been known to attract heated opposition, some have even turned violent. But the goal of the San Antonio protest, coordinated by the Southwest Workers Union and Maestranza – a local education, activism, and outreach group – is to ensure that the voices against Trump and his presidential bid are heard in a peaceful, non-threatening way.
“I’ve heard people say they want to come cumbia, they want to bring piñatas, make signs, yell, dance, sing, all kinds of things,” said Denise Hernandez, Maestranza founder. “It’s mostly going to be a celebration of community to show what San Antonio is about, who we are, and why we won’t stand for hate rhetoric here.”
More related articles:
'Dump Trump' Protestors Make Their Point Peacefully
Photo Gallery: 'No Hate In SA' at Milam Park Rally
A group of local activists and concerned community members gathered at the Southwest Workers Union on Thursday to plan a peaceful protest for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s visit to San Antonio next week.
Trump’s campaign and fundraising stops across the country have been known to attract heated opposition, some have even turned violent. But the goal of the San Antonio protest, coordinated by the Southwest Workers Union and Maestranza – a local education, activism, and outreach group – is to ensure that the voices against Trump and his presidential bid are heard in a peaceful, non-threatening way.
“I’ve heard people say they want to come cumbia, they want to bring piñatas, make signs, yell, dance, sing, all kinds of things,” said Denise Hernandez, Maestranza founder. “It’s mostly going to be a celebration of community to show what San Antonio is about, who we are, and why we won’t stand for hate rhetoric here.”
More related articles:
'Dump Trump' Protestors Make Their Point Peacefully
Photo Gallery: 'No Hate In SA' at Milam Park Rally
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Public Radio International:
San Antonio women wonder where to go from here, with Donald Trump as president Sidenote: this interview was so special because it happened, by chance, at my old middle school! And many people have been brought together by this election. I talked to three millennial activists — including Denise Hernandez — who worked together to urge African Americans, LGBTQIA people and Latinos to vote. Talking to them made me realize that this last year has been the testing ground for a new generation of leaders, burnished by the division of the past few months and now, resolutely ready to forge ahead and find ways to protect people from Trump’s policies. “The work we’re doing is getting places and we are being heard. It’s not that we’re being heard because they want to listen to us. It’s because we’re forcing ourselves in the conversation,” Hernandez says. “And we’re saying ‘you’re going to listen to us because this is our country.’ I feel really powerfully about that and I’ve been trying to get other millennials to feel the same way. And I think in some small capacity in San Antonio, I have.” What happened last night does make her cry. But at the same time, she’s planning. And in the next five years, Hernandez wants to take a first step — onto the San Antonio city council. "Otherhood" Podcast Interview - Trump Wins: Before and After, at the Alamo My interview begins at 11:38, and again at 23:12 Warning: I cry a lot in this podcast! |
Texas Public Radio - The Source: Hate Crime Statistics Reveal Ongoing Struggle With Bias
Related:
TEDxSan Antonio
Related:
TEDxSan Antonio
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New Leaders Council Grooms Future Officeholders
The New Leaders Council (NLC) is a national nonprofit founded eight years ago in San Francisco. Now the group that is “dedicated to educating a new generation of leaders and to providing those leaders with the tools they need to succeed,” has found its way to San Antonio. NCL-SA completed its second annual Institute here in May. There are NLC chapters in at least 48 cities across the country, including Dallas, Houston, and Austin. The San Antonio chapter debuted in 2016, graduating its first group of 13 NLC Fellows last year. Related: Graduating from NLC, What NLC Means To Me |
Interview with San Antonio Current: "Where Do We Go From Here? On Transparency, Diversity, and Inclusion"
Denise Hernandez, a TEDxSan Antonio speaker on systemic oppression, ethnic studies and authentic San Antonio, says the cover, the panel, the Perennial all reflect a focus on San Antonio culture but not necessarily San Antonians.
"I don't want to see us become Austin in that regard. A lot of people don't even know they're caught in a situation where they're oppressed and that's a bigger issue," Hernandez said. "I think we have to understand ourselves first. Once people get that idea, we're just trying to get them to understand we're here, we matter, our voices matter. It's a matter of we want the same opportunities and access to things and treatment."
Denise Hernandez, a TEDxSan Antonio speaker on systemic oppression, ethnic studies and authentic San Antonio, says the cover, the panel, the Perennial all reflect a focus on San Antonio culture but not necessarily San Antonians.
"I don't want to see us become Austin in that regard. A lot of people don't even know they're caught in a situation where they're oppressed and that's a bigger issue," Hernandez said. "I think we have to understand ourselves first. Once people get that idea, we're just trying to get them to understand we're here, we matter, our voices matter. It's a matter of we want the same opportunities and access to things and treatment."
Interview: Mayoral, Council Candidates Appeal to Millennial Crowd
Denise Hernandez, a local Millennial activist, said that she will be looking at each mayoral candidate’s voting history regarding local policies, among other things, to help shape her decision.
“I’m trying to be as open-minded as I can be and trying to see what each person brings to the table,” she said. “I’m going to see who can bring something authentic to San Antonio and see if they really care about our issues” and not their own self interests.
Denise Hernandez, a local Millennial activist, said that she will be looking at each mayoral candidate’s voting history regarding local policies, among other things, to help shape her decision.
“I’m trying to be as open-minded as I can be and trying to see what each person brings to the table,” she said. “I’m going to see who can bring something authentic to San Antonio and see if they really care about our issues” and not their own self interests.
Commentary: GETting Texas Millennials to Vote
Growing Empowered Together (GET) is a new grassroots nonprofit in San Antonio with the mission of inspiring progressive Texas Millennials, Americans born between 1982 and 2000, to vote and to volunteer in their communities.
Like most other nonprofits, GET was born out of a sense of urgent community need. Millennials represent about a third of the electorate, yet many young Texans do not vote. They could rival baby boomers as the most powerful voting block, yet less than 30% of registered Texas Millennials cast ballots in the 2012 presidential election, compared with the nearly 50% of Millennials nationwide. In the 2014 gubernatorial elections, less than 15% of eligible Millennials voted.
Growing Empowered Together (GET) is a new grassroots nonprofit in San Antonio with the mission of inspiring progressive Texas Millennials, Americans born between 1982 and 2000, to vote and to volunteer in their communities.
Like most other nonprofits, GET was born out of a sense of urgent community need. Millennials represent about a third of the electorate, yet many young Texans do not vote. They could rival baby boomers as the most powerful voting block, yet less than 30% of registered Texas Millennials cast ballots in the 2012 presidential election, compared with the nearly 50% of Millennials nationwide. In the 2014 gubernatorial elections, less than 15% of eligible Millennials voted.
Citizens Deliver Final Plea for Council To Reject Police Union Contract
Like Murphy, several other speakers pointed out that San Antonio’s numbers regarding the deaths of black people caused by police are higher than many would expect. Voting “yes” on the contract, they said, would only lead to more of these cases further down the line, and give the black community more of a reason to fear the San Antonio Police Department.
“This contract will protect these individuals and continue to eradicate the trust our citizens have in our law enforcement,” said local activist Denise Hernandez.
Related:
Photo Gallery: Ferguson Decision Stirs Local Protest
Like Murphy, several other speakers pointed out that San Antonio’s numbers regarding the deaths of black people caused by police are higher than many would expect. Voting “yes” on the contract, they said, would only lead to more of these cases further down the line, and give the black community more of a reason to fear the San Antonio Police Department.
“This contract will protect these individuals and continue to eradicate the trust our citizens have in our law enforcement,” said local activist Denise Hernandez.
Related:
Photo Gallery: Ferguson Decision Stirs Local Protest
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Interview: Patio Andaluz Reunion Sparks Sentimental Spirit of ‘Westside Sound’
Hernandez, born 76 years ago in the Alamo City, said that it wasn’t just a spot for the teens.
“We wouldn’t go on dates by ourselves, my momma would be there, and my sisters and little brother,” she said. “My brother would interrupt and say, ‘Come on let’s go, mom says it’s time to go home!’”
As we relaxed underneath the Selena shrine at Mi Tierra, Hernandez was joined by family yet again, her granddaughter Denise Hernandez.
“I wasn’t that into this scene, didn’t really know it existed until a friend took me to Trader’s Village and I saw Sunny Ozuna,” Denise confessed. “I started looking more into it, saw that people were so into him, like he was God.”
In a beautiful display of love and gratitude Denise, who attended the Patio Andaluz Reunion alongside “grandma,” addressed Carmen as she reflected on what the music meant to her.
“It’s cool how the music that you listened to has transcended and now I can enjoy,” Denise said. “It’s a point of cultural pride as well, to feel the connection from your world to mine, and dancing to it.”
Hernandez, born 76 years ago in the Alamo City, said that it wasn’t just a spot for the teens.
“We wouldn’t go on dates by ourselves, my momma would be there, and my sisters and little brother,” she said. “My brother would interrupt and say, ‘Come on let’s go, mom says it’s time to go home!’”
As we relaxed underneath the Selena shrine at Mi Tierra, Hernandez was joined by family yet again, her granddaughter Denise Hernandez.
“I wasn’t that into this scene, didn’t really know it existed until a friend took me to Trader’s Village and I saw Sunny Ozuna,” Denise confessed. “I started looking more into it, saw that people were so into him, like he was God.”
In a beautiful display of love and gratitude Denise, who attended the Patio Andaluz Reunion alongside “grandma,” addressed Carmen as she reflected on what the music meant to her.
“It’s cool how the music that you listened to has transcended and now I can enjoy,” Denise said. “It’s a point of cultural pride as well, to feel the connection from your world to mine, and dancing to it.”
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Speaking with my dear old friend from middle and high school, photographer Shayan Khezri, on his podcast about San Antonio, what I do, who I do it for! WARNING: Explicit Language |
