Meet Vance Garcia

Vance Garcia is a 34-year-old traumatic brain injury survivor from Oxnard, CA. After spending most of his young-adult life pursuing a career as a successful DJ/music producer in the Southern California nightclub/music industry, he was involved in a car accident at the age of 23, resulting in a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, and stroke, changing his life forever. Although such a life-changing accident like this would usually stop one's plans in life, he used this event as motivation to leave this irresponsible party lifestyle behind and continue pursuing his dreams and goals in life, despite his obstacles and challenges as a disabled young man. After being discharged from several hospitals and rehabilitation programs throughout California, he decided to use this second chance at life to pursue his college degree and eventually return to DJing as a hobby. 10 years after his accident, he graduated with honors with his bachelor's degree in Communication Studies and is currently working with The Brain Injury Center of Ventura County in the Outreach and Care Coordination team while pursuing his master's degree in Communication Studies so that he can become a Community College teacher, where he can share his story to new generations of students and make a positive impact on their lives.

Vance continues to use his brain injury not as an excuse to give up on his dreams and goals, but instead as motivation to thrive. He enjoys seeking public speaking engagements, where he can continue to share his story with anyone who may benefit from hearing about how he has overcome life's obstacles to achieve his dreams and goals. He is also forever grateful for joining the BIC support groups and social activities, where he has been inspired and supported by fellow survivors, who have offered guidance and motivated him to continue pushing through his recovery, pursuing his goals, and finding ways to be happy, despite his challenges and obstacles as a brain injury survivor.

His motto is that "You can always find a way to achieve your goals and overcome your obstacles, no matter how difficult they may seem. Going through hard times and challenges is a lot like trying to climb mountains. It may sometimes seem hard and impossible to climb over those sharp ridges and steep slopes. But if you stay persistent and dedicated and fight your way to the top, pretty soon you'll be on top of Mount Everest with the world at your feet and your dreams blowing through your hair." This message has kept him motivated throughout his recovery journey, and he wishes to share it with the world, positively impacting everyone he interacts with.

Meet Kristen Linton

Kristen Linton, MSW, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Health Science at California State University Channel Islands and has served as a Board Member of the Brain Injury Center of Ventura County since 2015. Dr. Linton provides program evaluation for Brain Injury Center of Ventura County programs. She also conducts and publishes research in collaboration with Brain Injury Center and Ventura County Medical Center to provide new, evidence-based interventions for brain injury survivors, such as virtual reality rehabilitation. When she is not doing research, teaching, running board meetings, or bugging her husband to help find donations for Evening of Magical Memories, Dr. Linton is a mom and wife who loves having adventures with her family. In her spare time, she jogs with their labrador retriever and trains in jiujitsu along with her family.