Gary Hollander Named One of HuffPost’s 50 Over 50
August 9, 2014
Gary Hollander with friend Bevan Baker, Milwaukee Commissioner of Health
Diverse & Resilient CEO Gary Hollander was named one of Huffington Post’s 2014 50 over 50 honorees in the category of Giving Back.
Gary Hollander spent three decades working as a public school teacher, school psychologist, and public health researcher. The turning point for him came in 2001 as he experienced the challenges of being a gay man at a time when the myriad health disparities facing LGBTQ people were becoming visible. He realized that health care and community structures “pathologized” LGBTQ people. He decided to work to change the social determinants that impact health -– not only for himself, but for all LGBTQ people. He formed Diverse & Resilient as his encore career when he was 54. For the past 12 years, Hollander has worked to address health disparities faced by LGBTQ people including HIV, alcohol and tobacco use, mental health, suicide, and intimate partner violence. His work reaches thousands of LGBTQ people each year and his organization is considered a statewide leader in the field. “Since I am a pretty motivated guy already, any job can give me the satisfaction of achieving short-term goals,” he said. “But only very specific work brings me the joy of making a real difference. I decided to go for joy.”