Joseph H. Holland facts for kids

Joseph H. Holland is an American businessman, lawyer, and public servant. He has worked in many different fields. Joseph Holland was chosen by Governor George Pataki to lead the New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal. He held this important job from 1995 to 1996. Holland has also run for top political jobs in New York, like Attorney General and Governor.

Early Life and School Days

Joseph Holland grew up in a big family. He was one of ten children. His father was Jerome H. Holland. His dad was an important person too. He served as the United States Ambassador to Sweden for President Richard Nixon.

Joseph Holland went to Cornell University. He earned two degrees there. He was also a football player for the Cornell Big Red football team. He was very good at his studies. He became part of the Academic Hall of Fame. He was also president of the Quill and Dagger Society. After Cornell, Holland went to Harvard Law School. He finished law school in 1983.

Public Service and Political Career

Joseph Holland is a member of the Republican Party. He helped George Pataki win the election for Governor in 1994. After Pataki became Governor, he asked Holland to lead the New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal. This department helps people find homes and improves communities.

Holland worked in this role from 1995 until October 1996. He decided to leave his job to focus on personal business matters. Governor Pataki's office said they were sad to see him go. They also said that Holland had done a great job for the state.

Holland has also run for other political offices. He ran for the New York State Senate. He also tried to become Attorney General of New York in 1994. Later, in 2018, Holland announced he would run for Governor of New York. He later changed his mind. Instead, he decided to run for Attorney General again.

Work Outside of Politics

In 1982, Joseph Holland moved to Harlem in New York City. He did many things to help his community. He opened a law office. He also started a shelter for people without homes. It was in a church basement. He also created a program to help people with addiction.

Holland also started some businesses. He opened the first Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop in Harlem. He also opened a soul food restaurant. He hired people from his homeless shelter to work at these places. In the mid-1980s, Holland worked in Albany. He was a lawyer for the New York State Senate Housing Committee.

After his time as Commissioner, Holland worked as a partner at a law firm. Later, he started his own real estate company called Uptown Partners. This company focused on building homes in Harlem. He wanted to help churches and non-profit groups. He also wanted to encourage successful African-Americans to invest in their neighborhoods.

Joseph Holland is also an author. He wrote a book about his life called From Harlem With Love: An Ivy Leaguer’s Inner-City Odyssey. He has also written two plays. One play, Cast Me Down, was performed Off-Broadway. His other play, Homegrown, was shown at the National Black Theatre in Harlem. He also wrote a self-help book called The Touchstone Tools: Building Your Way To An Inspired Life.

Holland is also an ordained minister.

Personal Life

Joseph Holland married Alisa White in 1995. She was a reporter for American Journal. They have three children together. He has since remarried.