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If you or someone you know is in need of help, Call or Text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
JACOB'S STORY
Jacob Gillespie was more than the loss that changed our lives. He was a son, a brother, a friend, a graduate, a hard worker, and a young man with a future still unfolding.
Jacob graduated from Oak Hill High School in 2014. He continued his education at Central Louisiana Technical Community College, graduating Cum Laude with a Technical Diploma in Manufacturing in 2016. He was building his life, finding his path, and creating a future.
When Jacob died tragically in 2019, the loss left a space that could never be filled. The people who loved him were left to navigate a future shaped by his absence.
WHY WE ARE HERE
Too many people are struggling in silence.
Jacob's Ladder was created to promote mental wellness, strengthen human connection, support suicide prevention, and create opportunities for people — especially young people — to know they matter and that they are not alone.
We believe hope is not always something that simply appears. Sometimes it is created through a conversation, a connection, an opportunity, a person who listens, or a community that chooses to care.
We are here to help create those moments of hope before someone feels they have nowhere to turn.
OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE
A legacy can continue to create hope.
Our vision is to grow Jacob's legacy into a lasting source of hope for individuals, families, and communities. We envision a future where people feel safe to speak openly about their struggles, where connection is stronger than isolation, and where communities are better equipped to support one another.
As we grow, we hope to build meaningful partnerships, expand opportunities for education and support, and develop initiatives that reach people before they reach a point of crisis.
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