Regional Healing and Resilience Hub
We are proud to share that Centro por la Justicia will be renovating and expanding our Head Quarters to better serve our community and ensure that the movement for economic and environmental justice thrives regionally. Our HQ houses The Roots of Change Garden, Underground Library, The Movement Gallery, Youth Leadership Organization, Domestic Workers in Action, and Southwest Workers Union.
Phase 1: March 2021 and will have an estimated cost of 1.5 million
The existing building will expand by 40 feet to house a 25 person co-working space on the second floor
The first floor will feature a larger Movement Gallery
4 rental Comadre Economy units on E. Commerce.
The building will also be weatherized, include more windows, more restrooms, better lighting and overall meet the needs of our growing community
renovation of the Roots of Change Community Garden, to include 15 garden beds, a functional urban acequia system running off of rain water, and a 10 x 60ft green house for year around veggie growing. The goal is to grow veggies and offer educational spaces for food sovereignty
Phase 2: Economic Justice Center and Parking Structure
As our community met we found the need to provide multi-functional safe spaces for larger groups of people and workers. The idea for a dedicated center that advances financial autonomy is not new to SWU, as we prepare for the day that grants can no longer fulfill the needs of the organization. On a larger scale as we build leaders, its a workers dream to be financially stable and to have a space that hold their needs and values at the center.
The first of three floors will hold a bodega (our long-term solution to our seasonal Comadre Economies Pop Up Shop). In addition, the bodega will also hold a coffee shop/restaurant
10 – 15 rooms at affordable rent ranges for nonprofits and business who are aligned with the mission of the organization.
A community kitchen,
The second floor will house 6 studios and 8 hotel style bed rooms for the purpose of temporary housing
The third floor will feature the large gathering space that can seat 200 people seated.
The required 150 space parking structure allows for multiple forms of income to continue to fund the space, as well as hold the solar panels & batteries needed for a neighborhood solar hub. We are hoping to apply for a varience for parking, as it is our dream to advocate off fossil fuel dependence, and to direct much needed funding that would allow us to advance Phase 2 on a quicker timeline.
We estimate 3 million will be needed to complete P2 - a large % of the budget being directed toward the parking structure.
Phase 2 will also see the completion of the first solar micro grid in San Antonio.
Expected completion date for the full project is 2025, or dependent on fundraising availability.
How to Support:
Join us on September 2nd at 6:30 as we say good bye to the building as it currently exist.
Donate towards the project: https://swunion.networkforgood.com/ , tag it as "Building our Dream Center"
Uplift the project and identify where you see yourself in the center.
