The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story. If your story is selected and published, you will receive a $250 stipend.
Growing up in the heart of San Antonio’s West Side made culture and familia deeply important to me. Families gathered every Sunday for barbacoa and Big Red soda, a tradition that seemed to bring everyone together.
I was born to a single mother and raised within a large Mexican family, but consistent traditions were not always part of our home. From a young age, I struggled to understand where I fit in this great big world, and at 14, I began using drugs to cope with the pain and tragedies I faced at home.
Even in the middle of what felt like a storm, culture always brought me back to what mattered most: la gente, “the people,” who create the vibrant tapestry that makes the West Side so unique.
As a Mexican American, I loved mariachi music, sombreros during Fiesta week, and the old-school stories shared by older generations.
At 38, after more than 20 years of living on the streets of San Antonio, I checked myself into The Center for Health Care Services (CHCS), located across the street from Haven for Hope, for heroin addiction.
As programs for men and women seeking a new way of life continued to grow on the West Side, I began to feel a renewed sense of pride in the community that had always been part of me.
That appointment became my saving grace. I was terrified at first, but I knew detoxification could change my life for the better. I completed a long-term treatment program, regained my life, and have not looked back since.
Eight months into my sobriety, I enrolled at San Antonio College to become a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC). Today, I help others regain their lives and find healing from cycles of pain that have affected families for generations. Haven for Hope and CHCS remain vital resources for people experiencing homelessness and those seeking mental health and substance use support.
While not every story reflects hope, I know these places bring light to people searching for healing and help others see the West Side for the beautiful landmarks and strength it holds.
The Veladora of Our Lady of Guadalupe wall art sits on the side of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, a powerful reminder of faith, culture, and identity. At Guadalupe and Brazos, murals honor the descendants and stories that make this land so inspiring. For me, the West Side is more than where I live; it is where I found recovery, purpose, and the strength to help others find their way forward.
I feel privileged to see how this work has touched members of the West Side community. Their stories remind me that recovery often begins with a single light of hope. Some have chosen sobriety and began building healthier lives for themselves and their families. Others have enrolled in college, regained custody of their children, or pursued careers as Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors.
That strength, hope, and determination are what I call West Side pride.
