AnDrea Neal, born and raised in Oakland, CA, was a remarkable individual who dedicated her life to supporting and uplifting others. We first met AnDrea in late 2019 at a coalition meeting for Mobility LABs (a then-new RCF initiative that fought poverty in Antioch’s Sycamore Drive Neighborhood). She often shared the story of showing up and wondering, “What am I doing here?” and how her lived experience could benefit others in the grand scheme of things. Her courage to find her place at that table led her to join the RCF staff and help guide the Mobility LABs project to be truly community-centered. She suggested coaching for Mobility LABs leaders, and strongly advocated for training coaches from the community. A year later, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by becoming a healing-centered coach through the Blooming Willow Conductor Community Coaching program.
Before her time with RCF, she worked with Alameda County for 12 years and overcame many life-challenging obstacles, which ignited her passion for assisting women and children who were less fortunate. Volunteering at various Sober Loving homes as a Substance Abuse Counselor and Mentor, AnDrea made a profound impact on many lives. In 2012, she relocated to Antioch and later became a Community Leader with the Safe Return Project in Richmond.
AnDrea was incredibly warm, welcoming, and giving. She fiercely believed in the visions and goals of everyone she coached and worked with. She was the visionary behind many of RCF’s Embodied Leadership Coaching programs and partnerships. AnDrea was the mastermind behind providing coaching for Mobility LABs leaders and requested facilitation training for herself and other leaders in Equity for Black Women & Girls, which later became the Facilitation Fellowship Program. She also created Healing Circles with Healthy Contra Costa, among many other initiatives.
Because of her great impact on our work and in honor of AnDrea Neal Holloway’s legacy, we have named our newest program the AnDrea Neal Coach Training Program. Her spirit and dedication will continue to inspire us and the communities she served so wisely and gracefully.
We will all miss her and the light she lovingly bestowed on us.
AnDrea Neal Holloway passed into God’s hands June 17, 2024. Our prayers go out to her husband, children, grandchildren, family and friends. We invite you to send messages and prayers to her family using this digital message board: AnDrea Neal Kudoboard