In Loving Memory of Andrew Johnson:

Our hearts are heavy with the loss of Andrew Johnson, a pillar of hope and inspiration within the California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) Project Rebound, his family, and all who knew him. Andrew's sudden departure has left us with profound sadness and a deep commitment to honoring his memory in a manner that reflects the love and care he exhibited daily.

About Andrew

Andrew's journey was a remarkable story of transformation and resilience. Having started his higher education journey while incarcerated, he emerged as an advocate for change, dedicating himself to helping others. After Andrew was liberated, he decided to join Project Rebound, a program dedicated to helping people with justice system involvement as they pursue a university education. While at Project Rebound, Andrew was able to build community, and others were instantly drawn to him through his infectious laugh, smile, and charisma. Andrew was able to use his lived experience to make a difference.

If you know Andrew, you know that he loved talking to people. He loved to share his story of his struggles and overcame and always encouraged people, no matter who they were, to pursue their passions. Andrew was passionate about helping others. He was so excited to follow in his brother Ben's footsteps and become a social worker. As someone who experienced a lot of trauma in his own life, he understood its impact on individuals, families, and communities. He wanted to use his lived experience to help others through difficult times. This passion was especially true of young people affected by the justice system. Every semester, Andrew would volunteer his time to meet weekly with incarcerated youth entangled in the same system and lifestyle he grew up in. He firmly believed in the people's capacity to change, and he wanted to share the lessons he learned while going through the justice system so that these young people didn't have to go through what he did to learn these lessons.

Andrew was undoubtedly an advocate but a fantastic friend, boyfriend, brother, scholar, and son. Those who know Andrew know that when Andrew Loved, he loved deeply, wholly and entirely. While Andrew loved helping people, he also loved spending time with his family and his live-in girlfriend Sofia, going to the desert, riding dirt bikes and quads, listening to music, and, most of all, laughing. He was a jokester, and even more so, he was a comedian; if you spent time with Andrew, you could not help but smile.

His Legacy and Love

Beyond his commitment to social change, Andrew's love for his girlfriend, Sofia, was profound. They shared a life and home together. They were each other's best friends. They shared hopes and dreams and planned to support one another and build a future together. In the wake of Andrew's unexpected passing, we recognize Sofia's immediate needs, including funeral and living expenses during this challenging time.

Our Call to Action

Andrew spent 18 years of his life incarcerated; he was going to reach his two-year freedom day on April 28th. Despite being home for this short amount of time, he accomplished so much. He has touched countless lives and greatly impacted his community and everyone who knew him. To honor Andrew's memory and provide support to Sofia, we are launching this GoFundMe campaign. This fund will directly assist with the financial burdens brought on by Andrew's passing, ensuring Sofia can navigate this period without the added stress of financial insecurity. So she can plan the funeral with his family.

How You Can Help

Your generosity can make a significant difference in Sofia's life as she mourns Andrew's death. Every donation, no matter the size, will go directly to cover funeral expenses and support Sofia's living costs. Let us come together to offer tangible support in a time of immense grief, embodying the spirit of community and compassion that Andrew lived by.

Please consider making a contribution today to help us honor the memory of Andrew. Together, we can provide comfort and assistance to one of our own during this unimaginable loss.