About

Rio Holaday (she/her) uses visuals to make you feel seen, heard, and grounded in our collective journey towards justice.

She has a public health background and became a visual practitioner in order to make information accessible, gatherings engaging, and the journey more joyful.

Rio is a Culture of Health Leader with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Fun facts

Favorite ice breaker question: How do mermaids reproduce? Discuss.

Second favorite icebreaker question: What are you afraid of? Yes, I've asked this at a networking event. And yes, I've watched everyone slowly back away towards the bar.

Most random job I've ever had: Buyer and seller of genetically modified mice. I called myself the Mouse Wrangler.

Meyers Briggs type: They say I’m an INFJ. I want to dig into all your emotional nooks and crannies one-on-one, and then take a nap and spend the rest of the day alone. I organize my grocery list by aisle category because obviously.

Best compliment received: Someone called me the Beyonce of advice giving!

What I'm afraid of: Not being seen.

Serious facts

A Culture of Health Leader. Culture of Health Leaders is a national leadership program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support leaders—from all sectors that have an influence on people’s health—to create collaborative solutions that address health inequities and move their communities and organizations toward a Culture of Health.

Last two jobs before jumping into freelance life: Director of HOPE Collaborative, a nonprofit advancing racial, social, and economic justice. Senior Policy Analyst at ChangeLab Solutions, a public health policy organization working with state and local governments on public health and urban planning policy.

Fulbright Scholar. Researched economic migration in South Africa.

Graduated from: Wesleyan University with a BA in East Asian Studies, University of the Witwatersrand with an MA in Forced Migration, University of Pennsylvania with a Masters in Public Health.

Hair facts

It changes a lot.