The Founder · Austin, Texas
Jese Webb.
Ordained minister · Founder of STEPS
Jese Webb is an ordained minister and the founder of STEPS. His work is rooted in his own experience — surviving Hurricane Katrina, growing up without much, and knowing what it feels like to need guidance and not know where to find it.
Helping runs in the family
Something he learned from his mother.
Where it comes from
He’s been where the people he serves are.
Every fact below comes from Jese’s own account of his life.
A Hurricane Katrina survivor
His work is rooted in his own experience — surviving Hurricane Katrina shaped how he shows up for people.
Grew up without much
He knows what it is to have little, and what it takes to build stability from the ground up.
Needed guidance once
He knows what it feels like to need guidance and not know where to find it — so he makes sure no one has to find it alone.
The road to STEPS
He was doing the work long before there was an organization.
Registered 501(c)(3) · established in Austin, 2016
01
Mentoring and housing young men
Before STEPS existed as a formal organization, Jese was already doing the work: mentoring and housing young men in New Orleans.
02
Judges saw the impact
Local judges who saw the impact of that work encouraged him to get licensed so he could receive formal funding and grow it.
03
Completed the required training
He completed the training required to be licensed — the step that turned informal help into an organization.
04
STEPS established in Austin, 2016
He legally established STEPS in Austin in 2016, as a registered 501(c)(3).
In his words
I operate as a true servant from the heart.
— Jese Webb, founder of STEPS
Helping people runs in his family — it’s something he learned from his mother. And he hopes STEPS attracts volunteers who trust the vision and the process of community work.
What he’s looking for
- Volunteers who trust the vision.
- People who trust the process of community work.
- Neighbors willing to walk alongside neighbors.
Meet Jese
Jese on camera.
Captured at a STEPS celebration — Jese honored for the work, and the community that stands behind it. Run time is just under three minutes.
Trust the vision? Join in.
Give your time, or give today — there’s a place for you here.