Professional Experience:

Cyndie Braden brings over 20 years of experience in education, specializing in teaching, curriculum development, and family-based training and coaching. With a Master of Science degree, she has dedicated her career to empowering others through innovative learning strategies. Her expertise in creating impactful educational programs is complemented by her passion for advocacy and community engagement.

Cyndie’s educational experience extends far beyond the traditional classroom setting. Throughout her career, she has successfully managed large day camps, led Sunday school programs, and contributed to church education initiatives. She approaches every situation with creativity, and her diverse teaching portfolio even includes art instruction. As a curriculum developer, Cyndie has demonstrated her ability to create engaging and effective educational materials across various contexts. Her professional toolkit is further enhanced by a Life Coaching certification, as she has a heart to support families and individuals navigating trauma with empathy and grace. Guided by her strong faith, Cyndie approaches her work with a deep sense of purpose, offering hope and practical guidance to those in need. She is also a compelling speaker, and has presented at brain injury conferences, offering a much-needed caregiver and family perspective. This multi-faceted background has shaped her into a versatile educator, speaker, and advocate for brain injury.

Relationship with Brain Injury:

Cyndie’s journey with brain injury began when her daughter sustained a traumatic brain injury, propelling her into a world of research, resource discovery, and hands-on support for survivors and their families. Her philosophy of family-focused support and coaching began long before her personal connection to brain injury, and evolved as she transitioned into this new journey brought on by Cristabelle’s traumatic brain injury. She has used her experiences to listen, advise, and support families navigating the challenges of brain injury, offering guidance and hope to those in need. Cyndie has also shared her story and insights at brain injury conferences and events, working to raise awareness and foster connection within the community.

Passion for the Mission of Hope Survives:

As a founding Board Member of Hope Survives, Cyndie is committed to ensuring that no family faces the challenges of brain injury alone. She has been on the journey with Hope After Head Injury from the early beginnings in 2012, working alongside her daughter Cristabelle to provide a compassionate ear and actionable support to survivors and their loved ones. In addition to her lived experience with brain injury, Cyndie’s unique combination of educational expertise, artistic talent, and compassionate coaching makes her a valuable asset to the Hope Survives board. Her multifaceted skill set and unwavering commitment to helping others align perfectly with the organization's mission to support and empower those affected by brain injuries.

“Brain Injuries can happen to anyone at any time and will continue to affect our society.  Universally, no one is prepared and no one has a plan ready to implement. My family lived this unexpected event and felt very ill-equipped at every turn on this journey.  We learned as we went along, trying new things each day - but at the time, there were not resources available for what we really needed.  This is why we are so passionate about providing support, resources, ideas and encouragement to others. By doing so, I feel that healing for the survivor and the family will happen more swiftly and easily.  Living with brain injury affecting any aspect of your world is tough enough, and going alone feels devastating - but with strategies available, hope becomes a reality.”