At the heart of Hopeful Hearts Ministry is a woman who understands how deeply early experiences can shape how someone moves through life. Shannon McGraw Carr's work eventually led her to international speaking engagements, where she shared her story of overcoming to rebuilding and learning to thrive again.
With each event, something unexpected happened. Adults quietly approached her afterward and often said they saw themselves in her journey. She realized they were functioning day to day, yet not fully thriving. Shannon yearned for a space where adults could speak freely, be heard, and receive encouragement from someone who had walked a similar road.
In 2012, Shannon founded Hopeful Hearts Ministry, a nonprofit dedicated to the long-term healing of adult survivors of trauma. The ministry offers peer support in partnership with licensed therapeutic resources. The organization is a bridge for individuals who may feel hesitant, overwhelmed, or unsure of where to begin. Shannon and Tamara Lexow, the Executive Director, describe their hope to accompany others toward healing.
Hopeful Hearts has grown into a trusted support network. The ministry hosts free empowerment classes twice a month at the Kingwood Community Center. They offer book studies, faith-based gatherings, and peer support. Their video series, I Have a Voice, features stories of resilience that remind viewers that healing can happen at any stage of life.
Generous sponsors such as Spartan Roofing are helping provide new office space for the ministry. Therapists like Melina Wilcox and her team collaborate with the ministry to create accessible pathways to professional care when needed.
Hopeful Hearts also works to reduce stigma through small gatherings called Sip and Learns. These conversations help the community understand that trauma can affect anyone, and they often encourage guests to become volunteers, hosts, or donors.
The ministry marks each February with its signature Valentine Gala, which this year will be hosted at Walden on Lake Houston on February 13, with guest speaker Georgina Jennings. Georgina, with the ministry's support, has grown into an advocate in her community and now runs a nonprofit that supports women in recovery. Hopeful Hearts will also be featured at the KBW Business and Brunch on March 7. The ministry will host a one-day retreat locally on March 28, and another overnight retreat will be held in Colorado in September 2026.
Shannon and Tamara are developing a Survivor-to-Thriver program for individuals who have completed significant healing work and want to support others. Her big vision is to see chapters of Hopeful Hearts all across the country. Faith plays a central role in Shannon's life. She believes that tough seasons can lead to strength, and that anyone struggling is more than what they have carried. Healing is possible with the proper support.
“Many people have survived the trauma, but they are not thriving, and are still living beneath the weight of unspoken experiences.” Tamara Lexow - Executive Director
"Healing is lifelong, and we walk with people until they find the courage to overcome the silence, to a space where they can breathe and begin again." Shannon McGraw Carr - Founder