Jasmin García — A journey rooted in community, guided by hope 

When Jasmin García first stepped into her undergraduate classes, she carried a quiet dream: to serve Latin@ communities through research that honored their voices and experiences. She didn’t yet know where that path would begin, only that she felt called to it. 

As a sophomore searching for directions, Jasmin reached out to Dr. Macias with a simple question: “How can I start? “That message opened a door she never expected. Instead of pointing her to a textbook or a distant opportunity, Dr. Macias welcomed her into Esperanza United’s Research and Evaluation team, a space where community wisdom guides every step. 

From her very first project, Jasmin found herself surrounded by mentors who believed in her voice. They didn’t ask her to wait, observe, or stay on the sidelines. They invited her in. They trusted her. They taught her to listen deeply to honor stories ethically, and to approach research not as data collection but as relationship-building. 

Over the next four years, Jasmin grew not only as a researcher but as a leader shaped by the community. She learned to design codebooks, conduct in-depth interviews, and analyze transcripts with both rigor and compassion. She discovered her own interests, too, leading her first photovoice focus group for a moment that showed her how creativity and culture can coexist beautifully in research. 

All along the way, the team stood beside her. When graduate school applications approached, they reviewed her materials, strengthened her statement, and encouraged her through every step. The care she received wasn’t transactional; it was community in action. It was what happens when young Latin@ scholars is supported, affirmed, and given room to grow. 

Today, Jasmin is a first-year graduate student in the Applied Psychological Methods Program at Fordham University, her top choice. Her academic journey continues, but she carries with her the foundation she built here: wisdom rooted in community, skills shaped through collaboration, and hope nurtured by people who believed in her promise. 

Her story reminds us of what it means to Help Hope Grow. When Latin@ students are welcomed, mentored, and uplifted, hope doesn’t just appear — it expands. It becomes a possibility. It becomes the future. 

And Jasmin is already building that future, one research question at a time.