About
HOLLIES WINSTON
My history was shaped by America's struggles and her incredible opportunities. Both are a part of the complex American story.
My grandparents moved to Chicago from the Jim Crow South to escape the poverty and terror of the region. With a fierce work ethic, an entrepreneurial spirit and with faith, my grandparents gave my parents opportunities for success that were only a dream a generation before.
My parents continued to push our family forward; they moved to Minnesota and passed on their legacy of hard work and unshakable belief in family and God. They also passed down a mandate to give back and help others. It's a legacy that has shaped my life.
In 2000 I got my B.A in Political Science from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). I went on to earn a Masters in Business Administration in 2013 from the Carlson School of Management where I served as class president. After graduation, I worked at several Fortune 500 companies in management and project management roles before launching my own company, Guaranteed America. As CEO and owner, I work to support minority-owned businesses and other small businesses; we recently helped a client create a $17M fund for veteran-, BIPOC- and women-owned businesses. I also serve as chair of Couples Connecting Community, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating and strengthening healthy African American families.
Some of my volunteer work includes two terms of service on the Brooklyn Park Budget Advisory Committee (BAC), a commission tasked with “ensuring the long-term fiscal health of the City of Brooklyn Park by providing strategic direction to the City Council.” In this role, I spearheaded a crucial new program to bring accountability and consistency to department budget reporting. I also volunteer with Brooklyn Park youth to get them engaged and active in civic issues. I was appointed as a board member to the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage, which advises Gov. Tim Walz and the legislature on issues that affect the African Heritage community.
My amazing wife, Latrice Winston, and I have been together 18 years. We have three beautiful children: Tierney (17), Amir (16) and Brianna (6). I currently attend Seminary school at United Theological Seminary, and my greatest goal is to bring value-driven leadership to our systems of governance. I am passionate about creating coalitions to advance shared missions and move important conversations forward. Brooklyn Park deserves a leader who can leverage all of our strengths and all of our communities so we can create a thriving future together.
A Word from Latrice
Hollies and I met while both attending the University of Minnesota in 2002. I knew right away he was a family man with a strong sense of right and wrong, and he has never wavered in this. As the person who knows Hollies the best, I can say with certainty that I want him as my mayor, and that he approaches all that he does with integrity, compassion, patience, and broad-mindedness. His ability to survey and consider the facts, and make decisions from a place of wisdom—instead of a place of fear or reactivity—are all part of why I believe he is ready to govern and bring our city together.