Jacob’s Journey of Hope

Jacob Gutierrez had three goals when he first met SAMMinistries: graduate high school, go to college and study “my dream, which is culinary art.” He tells the rest himself in his Journeys of Hope video for the San Antonio nonprofit.

“When I lost my mom, it was just very emotional,” he says. After moving from one group home to another, he was nervous and scared by the time he was transferred to SAMMinistries’ Youth Rapid Re-Housing program.

He earned his high school diploma and went on to St. Philip’s College, where he was studying culinary arts when he told his story. His case manager, Dayon Jackson, who appears with him in the video, helped him a lot. She “really opened many doors,” he says, and showed him there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. He’s learned there is hope, and “that it’s okay to not be okay.”

There are times you want to give up, he says. His advice: “I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t give up.” Jacob also appears in SAMMinistries’ 2024 gala video, alongside Libby and Anju, and shorter cuts ran on the nonprofit’s social media.