The Joe Holland Story

Joe Holland is perhaps best known as the Harvard Law School graduate who has devoted most of his adult life to rehabilitating and creating economic opportunity for the homeless in New York’s Harlem community After finishing Law School, he turned down lucrative offers from law firms because he decided to live and work in Harlem.

Determined to make a difference in people’s lives, Joe began offering assistance to the community’s neediest people.

He co-founded the Beth-Hark Crisis Center to counsel substance abusers and the HARK Homes shelter for the homeless, where he developed what he calls the "holistic" approach to people in crisis. Joe’s holistic strategy evolved into the educational program called Holistic Hardware

Joe also opened businesses to employ the people he sought to help, including the first inner-city American Express Travel Office and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream franchise.

Joe has been recognized by two U.S. presidents, two New York governors, and a New York City mayor. He has also served as Housing Commissioner for New York State.

 Joe has been a partner in a major law firm, a motivational speaker and a playwright, with two of his plays having been professionally produced in New York City.

 Joe is married to the former Alisa White, a television journalist. They have three children, Shelby, Jason and Laura.

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