The board of trustees and the staff of The Common Place (TCP) is pleased to welcome Rev. Christopher J. Holland II as our new executive director. Rev. Holland, a native of Philadelphia, joined The Common Place leadership team in 2018 as Convening Pastor and with him his gifts of strategic planning, pastoral care, community engagement, as well as his passion for family advocacy. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree in Computer Science from Drexel University. In 2003, Christopher co-founded Connexus Technology, an award-winning, cutting-edge technology consulting firm based in Philadelphia. Afterward, he pursued and earned his Master of Divinity degree from Palmer Theological Seminary.
For over 20 years, Christopher served in various ministerial capacities throughout the Philadelphia tri-state area, most notably as the pastor of New Spirit Community Church (PCUSA) in Southwest Philadelphia. Christopher has been a key driver of the unification of the New Spirit and Grace Christian Fellowship (UCC) churches to form Salt & LIght where he currently serves as the Executive Pastor.
Christopher is an accomplished entrepreneur and businessman in his own right, recognized for his acumen and as an innovative visionary. Some of the awards/recognitions he’s received include, but are not limited to Drexel University’s Top 40 under 40, Smart CEO Magazine’s Philadelphia Executive Management Award, The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s Innovative Business of The Year Award, and the Minority Business Leaders Award from The Philadelphia Business Journal. Christopher also received professional certifications as a Goldman Sachs’s 10,000 Small Business as well as Community Organizing and Congregational Development hosted by NEXT Church, Metro IAF, & Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary.
We are excited about what this new chapter of TCP’s future will bring. We look forward to Christopher’s vision and leadership as we continue to fulfill our mission to serve and uplift the children and families of Southwest Philadelphia.
