survivor advocate trainer consultant
Toni McNeil's's story is one of extraordinary resilience and transformation. As a survivor of homelessness, domestic violence, poverty, and generational abuse, she has faced and overcome some of life's most harrowing challenges.
Toni's profound personal experiences have transformed her into a powerful leader within Black and Brown communities throughout the California Central Valley. She specializes in motivational speaking, group facilitation, leadership development training, and political strategy. With more than 25 years of dedicated experience, she has become a beacon of hope and change, tirelessly working to uplift the formerly incarcerated, the homeless, and communities devastated by over-policing, gun violence, and mass incarceration.
Her Journey
1997
2003-08
2010
2012
RUNNING
At age 25 she fled a volatile and abusive marriage with her four children by her side, living unsheltered for several years before finding stable housing and employment.
HEALING
To break the generational cycles of abuse and poverty, Toni embarked on a journey of self-healing, self-discovery, and self-advocacy. It was during this time that she became intentional about identifying a positive path forward for her family.
TRANSFORMING
She broke free of the oppressive constraints of government systems such as welfare and housing assistance through years of arduous, intentional hard word and education.
EMERGING
It wasn't long before she began to hone her skills as a motivational speaker and group facilitator. Soon after she was officially ordained as an elder.
1985
SEEKING
To avoid the violence and neglect of home, Toni ran away at the age of 16 and began her lived experience in poverty, domestic violence, crime, and systemic oppression at a young age.
2018
ORGANIZING
Toni's career continued to bloom as she partnered with faith leaders, public officials, and community advocates to create pathways for healing and professional development for the formerly incarcerated and system-impacted individuals.
2023
BECOMING
After years serving as a community organizer, tearing down barriers within marginalized neighborhoods and uplifting system impacted individuals through advocacy work, leadership training and access to educational resources, Toni launched her nonprofit organization, Concrete Development Inc. ("CDI").
Toni's profound personal experiences have shaped her into a powerful leader within communities throughout the California Central Valley.
Her unwavering commitment to creating pathways for healing and professional development has empowered countless individuals to reclaim their lives and achieve their fullest potential. Toni McNeil's unique ability to connect with and inspire others makes her an invaluable asset for organizations seeking to foster genuine, impactful change. By partnering with Toni, you are not only supporting a leader with an unparalleled depth of experience and empathy but also investing in a brighter, more equitable tomorrow.
Testimonials
JPMorgan Chase Community Manager
Andrea Andrade
"I have always enjoyed working with Toni and she is a champion of change as a housing leader in the Central Valley. I was fortunate enough to tackle some of our most pressing housing issues and learn from her leadership. During my time partnering with her, we had the opportunity to sit on the Affordable and Workforce Housing Task Force together, advocating for housing with the Stockton Housing Justice Coalition, and teaching others to share their housing stories in front of state and local civic leadership. "
.webp)
Faith In The Valley Executive Director
Pastor Curtis L. Smith IV, M.A.
"Toni McNeil’s advocacy for the marginalized, overlooked, underserved has continued to fuel my faith for justice work. She is a force to be reckoned with if you are on the opposite side of justice. I have had the pleasure to supervise and co-create innovative ways to organize, mobilize and galvanize the community. Being on a team with her has been like playing on a championship team, I provide cover and she comes in and scores the points. I appreciate Toni’s willingness to learn about the issues and the intimacy she has with the impacted community. She is protective of the community, and she will interrupt political jargon and anti-Blackness rhetoric to ensure that no one is confused by what is really going on, (always breaking down the Blah-blah-blah). Her attention to details always gives you an informative perspective to make sound decisions. I really appreciate how she will only run as fast as the slowest member of the group. With Toni McNeil, no one is left behind. And when she leads a protest, march, or training, you can believe every word that comes out of her mouth! She has made it her duty to fight for freedom and her duty to win!"
Stockton Police Department Former Chief Police
Eric Jones
"Toni McNeil has been an amazing faith-based community partner in Stockton. She has helped the Stockton Police Department with Procedural Justice and Implicit Bias training and has been part of ongoing courageous conversations between community members and frontline police officers. She has also provided valuable insight into law enforcement policy and procedure changes. She is a trusted and respected community advocate by all."