Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Hasaan.
Hi Christina, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my life journey as a young women who became a mother at 16 year old in the 11th grade. Growing up in west philadelphia and moving to north philadelphia in 5th grade I had been through my fair share of pivoting by the time my son was born but nothing could have prepared me for parenthood. I graduated from Olney High School and went to Community College of Philadelphia. After one semester I stopped out due to being pregnant with my second child. I worked hard for 10 year before returning to college. During the pandemic I received my associates degree from The Community College of Philadelphia and then went on to get my Bachelors in sociology from Temple University.
My journey has always been rooted in community, advocacy, and a belief that the people closest to a problem should be part of creating the solution.
I didn’t begin my work with a specific title or career path in mind. I have been non-traditional from the start. I started by showing up in my community, volunteering, speaking up about issues that mattered, and helping wherever I could. Through those experiences, I became increasingly aware that many of the people most affected by policies and programs were often left out of the conversations that shaped them.
The very first time I realized that was when I became a high school student at one of the most under resourced school in the School District of Philadelphia. I joined a after school program called Youth United for Change. In this program I was able to understand the school system and how I could be a part of the changes that I wanted to see within my school community.
Years later as I became more involved in community engagement and advocacy efforts within the city, I had opportunities to participate in coalitions, served on speaker bureaus, contribute to webinars, and collaborate with organizations working to address basic needs and improve quality of life for underserved communities. These experiences helped me develop my voice as an advocate and reinforced my commitment to ensuring that lived experience is recognized as a form of expertise.
One area that became especially important to me was Social Justice Policy. During one amazing opportunity through interviews, research, and advocacy work, I focused on elevating the stories of individuals and families impacted by outdated SSI asset limits. I wanted policymakers and community leaders to understand the real-world consequences of these policies and the barriers they create for people striving for financial stability and independence.
Over the years, I have continued building my skills as a facilitator, public speaker, organizer, and community leader. I learned how to bring people together, create spaces for meaningful dialogue, and transform community knowledge into actionable solutions. What I discovered is that some of the most effective solutions emerge when residents are treated as partners rather than recipients.
That philosophy led me to building a plan to launch Holley for Humanity, an LLC this will allow me to expand and formalize the work I have been doing for years. Through Holley for Humanity, I hope to focus on community engagement, consulting, facilitation, public speaking, and helping organizations build stronger relationships with the communities they serve.
One project that reflects my approach involves working with residents in Allegany West, particularly longtime seniors, to capture their experiences, preserve community knowledge, and use that information to help shape housing and neighborhood solutions. Rather than assuming what people need, I believe in listening first and building solutions alongside the community.
Throughout my career, I have sought opportunities where advocacy, relationship building, community engagement, and leadership intersect. Whether I am conducting interviews, facilitating discussions, organizing events, speaking publicly, or developing programs, my goal remains the same: helping people feel heard and creating pathways for their experiences to influence meaningful change.
Balancing family, community leadership, and entrepreneurship has taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of continuous growth. These experiences have shaped not only the work I do but also the person I strive to be.
Today, I see myself as a connector, advocate, and community builder. My path may not have been traditional, but it has given me the opportunity to work alongside remarkable people, amplify important stories, and help communities identify and pursue solutions that reflect their own strengths and aspirations.
At the heart of my work and life is a simple belief: lasting change happens when people are listened to, valued, and empowered to help shape their own future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Like many people working in community advocacy and entrepreneurship, I’ve faced my share of obstacles along the way.
One of the biggest challenges has been balancing my commitment to serving others while also caring for my family, maintaining my own well-being, and building a sustainable career. Community work often comes with long hours, emotional investment, and limited resources. There were times when I was pouring so much into helping others that I have had to learn the importance of setting boundaries and taking care of myself as well.
Another challenge has been navigating spaces where lived experience is not always valued in the same way as formal credentials. As someone who came into this work through community involvement and advocacy, I sometimes had to work harder to prove that the knowledge gained from lived experience, relationship-building, and grassroots organizing is just as important as traditional expertise. Not only to other but sometime to myself. As I am often in frooms with people who have advanced degrees and I feel like sometimes the feeling of inequality creates self doubt. Over time, I learned to trust my voice and recognize the value that I bring to the table.
Income and sustainability have also been ongoing challenges. Whether it’s launching a business, developing community projects, or advocating for issues that don’t always receive widespread attention, there is often uncertainty about resources and support. I’ve had to become creative, persistent, and willing to keep moving forward even when the path wasn’t clear.
I’ve also experienced disappointment when projects didn’t move as quickly as I hoped or when systems that needed change were slow to respond. Community change takes time, and I’ve learned that progress often happens in small steps rather than big breakthroughs.
Despite those challenges, each obstacle has taught me something valuable. They’ve strengthened my resilience, my ability to pivot, deepened my commitment to the work, and reminded me why I started in the first place. The struggles have shaped me into a stronger advocate, leader, and entrepreneur, and they continue to influence how I approach both my work and my relationships with others.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a community engagement consultant, coordinator, facilitator, advocate, and entrepreneur-ish women who specializes in helping organizations build authentic relationships with the communities they serve. I work to create spaces where residents, stakeholders, and decision-makers can come together to share experiences, identify challenges, and develop solutions that are rooted in the wisdom of the community itself.
Much of my work focuses on community engagement, story telling, public speaking, facilitation, advocacy, program development, and elevating the voices of people whose perspectives are often overlooked. I am particularly passionate about issues related to economic justice, housing, disability rights, family well-being, basic needs resources and strengthening neighborhoods.
I am probably best known for my ability to connect with people from all walks of life and create environments where they feel comfortable sharing their stories. Throughout my work, I have facilitated conversations, conducted community interviews, participated in advocacy campaigns, served on panels, and helped organizations better understand the lived experiences of the people they seek to support.
What I am most proud of is not any single project or title, but the trust that people have placed in me. Community members have invited me into their homes, shared deeply personal experiences, and trusted me to help amplify their voices. I consider that both an honor and a responsibility. I am also proud of building my passion into a LLC in the future and creating a platform that allows me to continue serving communities in meaningful ways.
What sets me apart is that I lead with both lived experience and professional expertise. I understand what it feels like to navigate systems that can seem overwhelming, and I bring that perspective into every room I enter. I don’t approach community engagement as a box to check or a requirement to fulfill. I approach it as an opportunity to build genuine relationships and ensure that people have a real input in decisions that affect their lives.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: communities already possess incredible knowledge, strengths, and solutions. My role is to help create the conditions where those strengths can be recognized, shared, and transformed into meaningful action.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is going camping with my Big Sister through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. At the time, it was much more than just a weekend trip—it was an experience that opened my eyes to a world I had never seen before.
Growing up, I had never been camping or hiking. Everything about the trip felt new and exciting. I remember being surrounded by trees, going swimming, building our own campsite, and feeling both nervous and determined as we started our hike. There were moments when I wanted to stop because the trail felt difficult, but my Big Sister encouraged me every step of the way. She reminded me that I was capable of more than I thought and celebrated every bit of progress I made.
What stands out most to me is reaching the top of the trail. I can still remember how proud I felt looking out at the view after working so hard to get there. In many ways, that hike became a metaphor for life. It taught me that challenges can feel overwhelming when you’re in the middle of them, but having someone who believes in you can make all the difference.
The camping trip also gave us the opportunity to spend uninterrupted time together. We talked about my hopes, dreams, and what I wanted for my future. As a young person, having an another adult who genuinely listened, encouraged me, and invested in my growth was incredibly meaningful. She helped me see possibilities for myself that I might not have recognized on my own.
More than twenty years later, our friendship remains one of the most important relationships in my life. She has been a constant source of support, encouragement, and perspective through different seasons of life. The lessons I learned from her—about perseverance, confidence, and the power of showing up for someone—continue to influence how I approach my work and relationships today.
When I think about that hike now, I realize that the most important thing I gained wasn’t the experience of camping or reaching the top of a trail. It was the understanding that having even one person who believes in you can change the trajectory of your life. That friendship grounded me then, continues to anchor me today, and inspires the way I show up for others in my own community.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @holleyforhumanity
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-hasaan/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/christinahasaan
