Joy Hollingsworth on We Live In Color: A Central District Leader's Path to City Hall
Photos by Jordan Somers
In the most recent episode of We Live in Color, host Deaunte Damper was joined by Seattle's District 3 City Council Member Joy Hollingsworth to discuss her journey from growing up in Seattle to becoming the prominent figure she is in the city's political landscape, as well as the challenges she's faced along the way.
Hollingsworth, a fourth-generation Seattleite, was born and raised in the city's historic Central District, growing up on 23rd Avenue. Reflecting on the neighborhood she grew up in, she shared, "Everybody grew up together, and then it came back, and then you saw how different the city had changed," Hollingsworth said. "People became unaffordable. The Central District started to be gentrified. Capitol Hill started changing. It's only echo of what it used to be for, you know, the gay community. It's a lot different. It was hard to see our city change how it has been. But there are some upsides to it."
Still, Hollingsworth acknowledged that opportunities come with these changes, especially as Seattle continues to attract innovative, talented individuals every day.
"There's a lot of wealth in our city, there's a lot of culture, there's a lot of community in our city," Hollingsworth said. "Any time I talk to someone, they go, Joy, we just want Seattle feel like home. There's that opportunity to show people that have just moved here, who may not be from here, to show them like, Yo, this is what home is for us in Seattle, and let's have them conform to that."
Damper and Hollingsworth also discussed the experience of being part of both the LGBTQ and Black communities, and the complexities of navigating these intersecting identities.
'In the Black community, you have to choose your Blackness over your gayness. When you're in the gay community, you have to choose your gayness over your Blackness," Hollingsworth said. "And I don't think that should be right? It shouldn't be. It should be able to be Blacknessk and forth. But you know, I think you know, I understand obviously where the hesitancy comes. People justBlacknessow. And so that's a lot of things I had to, you know, navigate as a child, as a kid, with my family."
Hollingsworth, who came out after college, emphasized that her family's acceptance played a significant role in her journey. This acceptance also fueled her commitment to advocating for the community through her work. Reflecting on her decision to run for city council, she explained that it stemmed from a deep desire to address critical issues such as affordability, public safety, and investment in youth.
"I think we are at a really pivotal time in our city, where affordability is an issue, public safety is an issue, reprioritizing our kids, our youth, making sure we're putting the focus on them," Hollingsworth explained. "Seattle, I felt needed a historical perspective on that, to be able to talk about, hey, this is what worked when I was a kid, how to be able to also go out to the community that had never had access to City Hall, which is very important because a lot of people don't, and so I think this was the right time for me to run. And I'm just grateful that the voters of District Three chose me to represent them."
Running for public office was not without its challenges. Hollingsworth candidly discussed the racism, homophobia, and misogyny she encountered during her campaign.
"One of the things that I learned about running, especially in Seattle, is that you can be progressive and racist. You also can be a centrist in race. I experienced racism from all types of, whatever the spectrum people wanted to, you know, they categorize folks," Hollingsworth said. "I think the other thing that I experienced was people wanted to put me in a box because you are this and that and this; you should be on this side. Or because you're this, this, and this, you should be on that side. That was challenging enough."
When discussing her experience navigating a political campaign, Hollingsworth referenced the resilience she developed while attending high school.
"Here's the difference. I navigated a predominantly white institution at Seattle Prep for my high school careers for four years as a 15-year-old," Hollingsworth reflected. 'That was hard, right, navigating that, and I've been knew I was gay. I knew something was different about me, but like in high school, that was a trying time for me to navigate and know how to do that. So running the election was no different about what I had experienced at going at, you know, a high school that lot of people didn't look like me."
Regarding her time as a councilwoman, Hollingsworth cited some of her biggest wins, including establishing communication with community groups.
"For the first 100 days in my office, I'd say the win for us that I feel like transparent and accessible, those two things, and also having reconnected with communities that have never had access to City Hall," she said.
Hollingsworth acknowledged the challenges, particularly the issue of public safety for youth amid a surge in gun violence in the city.
"I think one of the biggest ones that we're experiencing with our public safety [is] keeping our kids safe. I take that to heart significantly, just because I grew up coaching kids and understanding how important that is. Come from a household of educators," Hollingsworth said. "So understanding that for us to be safe in a city, our kids have to feel safe. They have to feel like they have a home, they have to feel like they have resources, and right now, we have just under-invested in them. One of our biggest challenges is reinvesting in our youth."
When reflecting on the influences that shaped her into the leader she is today, Hollingsworth paid homage to her mother for her WLIC tribute.
"One person that I'm so grateful for is my mother. My mom is my number one fan, my biggest supporter since day one," Hollingsworth said of her tribute. "She has really helped me live in color for myself, who I am to be a strong Black woman, and also had taught me about knowing my history really potential greatness, and I could not be more grateful knowing her story and for her, the impact that she's had on my life."
Looking ahead, Hollingsworth said she is determined to continue advocating for Seattle's communities, with city residents able to reach her office through D3help@seattle.gov or Joy.hollingsworth@seattle.gov.
"Give something going on in your neighborhood. You want me to show up to something. You need me to speak to something, you need me to advocate for something, whatever it is, I'm there for you all," Hollingsworth said. "I'm accessible, transparent, and I am so honored to be able to serve you."
Tune in to We Live In Color with Deaunte every Thursday on all Converge Media platforms for more engaging conversations with guests like Hollingsworth to hear more about advocacy, inclusivity, and living life in color!
