Joseph H. Holland

Joseph Holland (josephholland.com) is an author, attorney, speaker, entrepreneur, and ordained minister with outreach ministries to the homeless and other needy people. Mr. Holland has also served as a government official in legislative and executive capacities. Holland's writings include an inspirational self-help book "The Touchstone Tools: Building Your Way To An Inspired Life" (touchtonetools.com); his spiritual memoir - "From Harlem With Love: An Ivy Leaguer's Inner-City Odyssey"; his first stage play - "Cast Me Down", which enjoyed a Off-Broadway run; and his second stage play, "Homegrown," which experienced two extended runs at Harlem's landmark - The National Black Theatre. He has also created a motivational video series, "Holistic Hardware: Tools That Build Lives". Holland is also a graduate of Cornell University, where he earned a B.A. and M.A. and was an All-American football player. He holds his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School.Holland is an experienced public speaker, having travelled to more than a hundred middle and high school across the country offering motivational talks on success strategies for today's youth. He has developed and facilitated a motivational life skills program and workshop called Holistic Hardware, which has been used in church, social service, employment and prison re-entry programs across this country and internationally. Holland has used his entrepreneurial skills to build commercial enterprises and expand employment opportunities in Harlem. He was instrumental in establishing an American Express Travel Office, a Ben & Jerry's ice cream parlor, a Body Shop retail store, and Harkhomes, a homeless shelter whose residents found work in these businesses. Holland has received awards and honors for both his business and social service accomplishments. In 1993 President Bill Clinton recognized Mr. Holland in a White House ceremony for his community-building initiatives. In 1992 the United States Small Business Administration named him Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year for New York State. He was also recognized for his career accomplishments by the Ivy Football Association in January 2017 and by the City of Yonkers, New York, which proclaimed "Joseph Holland Day" on June 7, 2017.