Joseph H. Holland is an attorney, entrepreneur, writer and ordained minister with decades of experience serving the community.
Holland has run his law practice and built commercial enterprises to expand employment in his home base of Harlem. He was instrumental in establishing an American Express Travel Office, a Ben & Jerry’s, a Body Shop, and Harkhomes, a homeless shelter. Holland led the trailblazing development of two Harlem mixed-use real estate projects – Fifth on the Park and 380 Lenox. He is co-founder and co-chair of the Beth-Hark Counseling Center, and serves as an elder of Harlem’s Bethel Gospel Assembly.
Holland has served in government as well, starting with Director the NY State Senate Committee on Housing and Community Development. He subsequently served as NY State Housing Commissioner where he orchestrated the planning and funding of affordable housing across the state.
Holland has written two professionally NYC-produced stage plays, several screenplays/teleplays as well as six non-fiction books.
A graduate of Cornell University, where he earned a B.A. and M.A. and was an All-American and Academic All-American football player, Holland has served as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees since 1988. He holds his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School.
His business and social service accomplishments have earned him awards and honors. In a White House ceremony, President Bill Clinton recognized Holland for his community-building initiatives. He received an honorary degree from CUNY Law School, was recognized for his career accomplishments by the Ivy Football Association and by the City of Yonkers, which proclaimed June 7th as “”Joseph Holland Day””.
Holland and his wife Jacquie have a blended family of six children, all of whom are young adults. The couple loves to travel together, near and far.


