Isabel Lara

The first time Teresa Coronado, a professor at the University of the Incarnate Word, met Isabel Lara, Isabel “came up to me asking to be connected with UIWtv,” the university’s student-run newscast, before she’d even taken the class. Isabel tells the rest in her video for SAMMinistries’ annual gala, part of the Journeys of Hope series.

When Isabel was eight, her family lost their apartment. With no family or support in San Antonio, they moved to a Salvation Army shelter. Later they qualified for SAMMinistries’ Family Housing program. When the video was made, she was in SAMMinistries’ Permanent Supportive Housing program, which has provided a lot, she says, including scholarships that helped pay part of her UIW tuition.

Journalism mattered to her, Isabel says, because she noticed she was good at it, and she was always curious “to know what was behind each person’s story.” Teresa says UIW’s mission means treating everybody with dignity and respect, “and I think Isabel really embodies our mission.” Joy Presley, GMSA executive producer at KSAT 12, calls Isabel “a true testament” to the opportunity she was given.

One speaker thinks the support she and her family got from SAMMinistries “really put her in the place to help her succeed.” Near the end, Isabel says people should really invest in SAMMinistries, because “they have done a lot for us.” We also photographed Isabel on the UIWtv set.