Our Story
Hope Survives was established to meet a critical gap in recovery support for brain injury survivors and their families - offering accessible, community-based programming rooted in lived experience and professional expertise.
The organization was founded by Cristabelle Braden, a nationally recognized brain injury survivor and advocate, whose decade of peer support and awareness work laid the foundation for a broader mission. As the nonprofit was formally established, Jasmine Balignasay-Chavez became Co-Founder, bringing deep operational leadership to build the systems, infrastructure, and strategy needed for long-term impact.
Cristabelle leads the organization’s vision, outreach, and program development as Executive Director. Jasmine, a former healthcare and technology leader with experience at Amazon and the American Hospital Association, serves as Managing Director - overseeing operations, partnerships, and growth. Both leaders are brain injury survivors, ensuring Hope Survives remains responsive, mission-driven, and community-centered.
Together they have built a high-integrity, high-impact nonprofit capable of scaling services while maintaining relational support. Under their leadership, Hope Survives 501(c)(3) has launched multiple support programs and established global reach in its first year of operation.
Our Roots
Hope Survives began as a simple idea: a social media page launched in 2012 by TBI survivor Cristabelle Braden to bring hope to brain injury survivors and their families. What started as a small corner of the internet to share encouragement and resources has grown into a thriving movement, reaching thousands of survivors and caregivers around the world.
Cristabelle’s candid video blogs, heartfelt original music, and gift for building connections helped transform Hope Survives into a vibrant online community. As her message of hope spread, so did the opportunities to make a larger impact. She began traveling across the country, speaking and singing at conferences, support groups, and rehabilitation centers, advocating for brain injury awareness and creating deeper connections within the community.
Today, Hope Survives has evolved into a nonprofit organization with a mission to instill hope, provide resources, pursue wellness, and foster a compassionate community. We are dedicated to ensuring that every survivor and family member feels seen, supported, and never alone.
With programs like support groups, workshops, podcasts, and retreats, Hope Survives builds on its roots while creating new opportunities for healing and empowerment. This is a movement of hope born from resilience, compassion, and the belief that together, we can build a brighter future for survivors everywhere.
Our Logo
Every great brand has a story, and behind the Hope Survives logo is the thoughtful design of Stacia Gehman.