A Conversation on Faith, Leadership and the Future of Healing in Austin

As the Austin HOPE Center prepares to open its doors to its first patient in September 2026, we sat down with Pastor and Stone Community Development Corporation (Stone CDC) CEO Contrell Jenkins to reflect on the journey behind this long-awaited community health hub. Rooted in faith and shaped by community voice, his leadership offers a powerful lens into what it means to build with Austin.

What early experiences shaped your calling to serve both the church and the Austin community?

“My calling was formed through legacy, service, and proximity,” he shared. Born into a church now celebrating 60 years and pastored by his father for 47 of those years, he learned early that ministry is about service, not position. From sweeping floors to playing the organ, those behind-the-scenes moments taught him that faith and community life are inseparable. “Serving Austin isn’t an assignment for me—it’s a responsibility to the neighborhood that raised me.”

How has your leadership philosophy influenced your approach to community development through Stone CDC?

“My leadership is rooted in service, collaboration, and sustainability,” he said. Rather than quick wins, Stone CDC focuses on long-term transformation, asking not just what can be built, but who it’s for and how it will improve lives for generations. “Leaders are stewards of vision, not owners of it.”

As both a pastor and CEO, how do you balance spiritual leadership with large-scale projects like the HOPE Center?

“I don’t balance the two—I let my calling order them,” he explained. Pastoral leadership shapes the why; executive leadership determines the how. Prayer and planning, faith and discipline, all work together to turn vision into reality. “I’m still caring for people—just through systems and spaces that can serve thousands.”

What pivotal moments moved the center from vision to reality?

A turning point came through tragedy. The loss of a camper to gun violence, coupled with young people seeking help for trauma and grief, revealed a hard truth. “Prayer alone was not enough,” he said. That realization clarified the need for a space where faith and professional mental health care could coexist.

How did community feedback shape the center?

Residents consistently asked for dignity, accessibility and care that felt welcoming and close to home. “That feedback reinforced our commitment to building a space rooted in trust,” he noted. “The HOPE Center isn’t being dropped into Austin—it’s being built with Austin.”

What does ‘hope’ mean to you, and how is it reflected here?

“Hope is anchored faith,” he said. “It’s the belief that healing is possible, and access can replace barriers. The center stands as a declaration that despair does not get the final word, and that help belongs in this community.”

As the center prepares to welcome its first patient in 2026, what excites you most?

“Access,” he answered simply. Children receiving high-quality care close to home, families getting support before crisis, and young people being seen and helped. “That’s transformative.”

When people walk into the center for the first time, what do you hope they experience?

“I want them to feel seen, safe, and valued,” he said. “Hope—not as a slogan, but as an experience.”

As this conversation makes clear, the center is not just a building, but the result of decades of service, deep listening and a shared belief that healing belongs in the community. Together, we are bringing Healing, Opportunity, Partnerships and Equity to Austin and creating a welcoming space where youth and families can seek clinical care and access community-based services. Every insight Pastor Jenkins shared points back to that commitment to build with intention, center people, and refuse to let despair have the final word. Soon, that vision becomes tangible. This fall, the center will welcome its first patient, opening its doors as a living expression of the hope described throughout this journey.

Read more about the Austin HOPE Center here.