Hugh Holston is a Fayetteville, NC native who received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He represents the community of Greensboro, NC (also known as the "Gate City"). He has been affiliated with the city since 1984, as he is an at-large member of the Greensboro City Council and CEO of the Greensboro Housing Coalition.
Historically, there have only been four African Americans to be elected onto the Greensboro City Council as an at-large member, including Holston.
Holston is proud of Greensboro's diversity, which he says is the best thing about the community. The varying life perspectives that Greensboro residents bring to the table help the community flourish with new ideas and problem-solving techniques.
Greensboro is nearly half White and half Black/African American, and also boasts a large immigrant community. Over 112 languages are spoken in the city, and Holston describes the community as "welcoming".
Fun activities can be found all over Greensboro, Holston says. From Barber Park to the Hayes-Taylor YMCA. Recently, a brand new TopGolf has been built near Guilford College. Holston thinks TopGolf is great place for non-golfers to try their hand at the sport and simply have fun. The Greensboro Science Center offers entertainment as well, as it has an aquarium, a zoo, ropes course and more.
Holston acknowledges that greensboro has a housing problem. Not only is there does the supply of housing unable to meet the demand, but the quality of available housing continues to be an issue as well.
I have a friend who is a senior this year, a (North Carolina A&T) student, who actually had to move back to Fayetteville because she couldn't find adequate housing in Greensboro." Holston shared.
While considering the future of Greensboro and what is most needed for the community's progression, since there isn't just one specific thing that needs to be addressed. The community's economy and job availability need improvement, he stated. Through making this change Holston believes it will be more common for outsiders to visit Greensboro for school and end up staying there for life.
"We can't start by simply saying, 'I want a grocery store', you could have a grocery store with no people and no income. Then the grocery store's not gonna last." said Holston when commenting on how to advance the economy of Greensboro.
As he works with his fellow residents to move his community forward, Holston looks forward to more diversity, more work and systematic changes in Greensboro.