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Executive Team
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility
value others above yourselves.
-Philippians 2:3
Jasmine Griffis
Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director
Jasmine brings more than two decades of experience in social services and nonprofit
leadership, coupled with a Doctorate in Human Services specializing in leadership and
organizational management. Her journey began in kinship care, placed with her maternal great
aunt alongside a few siblings, after being separated from her mother.
As a young girl, Jasmine and her siblings were introduced, at different points, to the Pasadena
Youth Christian Center (PYCC), where Brother Edward Bryant guided children and youth toward
Christ through fun, fellowship, and discipleship. PYCC became the place where Jasmine’s early
walk with Christ took root, instilling a foundation of faith that grew into a lifelong calling.
These lived experiences, paired with seasons of housing insecurity and separation from her
mother, gave Jasmine a deep, personal understanding of resilience, faith, and the power of
community. Today, she channels that lived experience into leadership, ensuring HOPE
Gatekeepers is not only a faith-rooted ministry but also a strategic, evidence-driven
organization.
As CSO, Jasmine leads organizational strategy, program growth, and community partnerships,
ensuring every initiative reflects the heart of Christ while delivering measurable outcomes. She
is deeply committed to ensuring that no young adult feels unseen or unsupported, and that
every individual has the opportunity to build a life rooted in healing, empowerment, and hope.
Misty is the visionary behind HOPE Gatekeepers, bringing both lived experience and an unshakable passion for service. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, is recognized as a California Wellness Coach II through the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, and is a Certified Crisis Specialist and Suicide Prevention Instructor.
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As a young adult wife and mother, Misty faced unimaginable loss when her husband died by suicide. Transitioning into life as a single mother raising her daughter, Angel, she encountered the healing presence of God, who carried her through her grief and placed a divine calling on her life. Out of this heartbreak came the foundation of HOPE Gatekeepers, a ministry and movement dedicated to standing in the gap for those facing despair.
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Today, Misty oversees donor and public relations, guiding the organization with authenticity, empathy, and a steadfast belief that every young adult deserves the chance to heal, grow, and thrive. Her testimony of resilience and faith shapes the DNA of HOPE Gatekeepers and inspires the transformational work being carried out across communities.
Misty Mota
Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director
Junior Board Leadership
As Junior Board Co-Chairs, these young leaders spearhead the Junior Board and provide direct oversight of our two uniquely youth-driven councils: the Young Adult Leadership Council (YALC) and the Youth Advisory Council (YAC).
In this role, they will:
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Provide youth governance and mentorship, ensuring that the voices of emerging leaders are represented at every level.
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Serve as liaisons to the Board of Directors, bridging perspectives between youth and senior leadership.
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Collaborate in strategic brainstorming for outreach initiatives and annual events, while also taking part in these impactful platforms.
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Partner with our Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors to lead recruitment efforts for YALC and YAC peer and alumni members.
Through their leadership, the Junior Board Co-Chairs will help cultivate the next generation of changemakers, advancing Hope Gatekeepers’ mission to empower youth with vision, voice, and purpose.
​​Angel, the beloved daughter of Jason and Misty, has spent the last five years pouring herself wholeheartedly into the mission of Hope Gatekeepers. Her commitment has been more than symbolic—she has supported the organization financially, spiritually, emotionally, and physically, ensuring that the vision of bringing hope to broken communities continues to grow.
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Today, Angel has stepped boldly into the role of Executive Youth Leader, a position that reflects both her passion and her calling. In this role, she is dedicated to empowering the next generation by offering what so many young people desperately need: practical training, a listening ear, vital resources, and—perhaps most importantly—her own testimony of hope. Her story serves as a reminder that even through adversity, resilience and faith can light the way forward.
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As she leads, Angel models what it means to rise above challenges and walk with others on their journey toward healing and purpose. With compassion as her foundation and vision as her guide, she continues the legacy of her family—lifting others up, sparking transformation, and building a community rooted in hope and possibility.
Angel Martinez
Junior Board Co-Chair
Keira Rivera
Junior Board Co-Chair
Keira has been a committed volunteer with Hope Gatekeepers since its earliest days, faithfully serving in every way she can. From setting up events and coaching young people to contributing innovative ideas that strengthen the team, Keira’s presence reflects both dedication and a genuine passion for ending the stigma surrounding mental health.
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Her journey is deeply personal—having faced her own mental health challenges, Keira discovered that dance became more than just movement; it became a powerful outlet for releasing anxiety and expressing hope. Through her testimony and creative expression, she longs to inspire her generation to embrace healing, break free from silence, and live with bold purpose.
Keira embodies the mission of Hope Gatekeepers: transforming pain into possibility and empowering others to rise above despair with courage and resilience.