Bringing Hollandale Back to Life Depends on Leadership— Contaveia “CJ” Johnson feels he has just what it takes. By Christina Knight

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​Contaveia “CJ” Johnson— a native of Hollandale, MS-- has said no more being an observer to the despaired reputation that has become of his beloved hometown. In 2017, Johnson embarked on a journey to run for the highest position in the town— the Mayor. Although he did not collect the votes needed to dominate, his determination to succeed did not fizzle there. CJ is back in the race, full-force for 2021’s election and he has some information he wants to share with the public in order to help them make an informed decision.
 
Check in Check Out Awareness believes you should “Feel what people are saying.” So, I hope these questions that I (Christina) have asked, will help you feel what Mr. Johnson is passionate about doing for you as a resident of Hollandale.
 

Interview with Mayor Elect, Contaveia Johnson
 
Me: Who is Contaveia a.k.a “CJ”? What is his area of expertise?
 
Contaveia: I am Contaveia Johnson. I’m a family man first. A friend. I’m very determined for any goal or cause that has an important message.
I went to school for elementary education because I felt like being a teacher, you would be able to help the kids. Help with the turn around. Because all I heard, growing up, was how much the kids have a downfall or disadvantage. But no one was talking about how to remedy the situations or provide solutions to help them. So that was my goal as a teacher.
My current career journey, embraces my managerial side. I have managed three multi-million-dollar companies.
 
Me: Tell me about where you grew up and what your family life was like.
 
Contaveia: I grew up here in Hollandale, Mississippi. I was born October 6, 1983. I remember a lot from the early 90’s and the early 2000’ to now. When I was growing up, Hollandale had game rooms, several places where kids went to head start, after school programs and we actually came together and looked after kids as a group. The old saying is it takes a village to raise a child; Hollandale really was a village when I was growing up. And we got away from that. That’s one of the things I hate that we have done and I would like to change that.
 
Me: What are some good things you remember about Hollandale in your childhood?
 
Contaveia: The fondest things I remember about growing up in Hollandale, is it being a close-knit town where everyone knows everyone. It was hard to get into trouble because if everyone knew you, it was always someone there to see you and get you back in line. That’s one thing we’re missing. We’re missing that small-town bond that we used to have. I don’t know anyone who has sat at someone’s table to eat growing up and still had any major worries.
 
Me: Yes, togetherness makes it easy.
 
Contaveia: Right. You know, it was just that small town bond we had, was just something that a small town has. Genuine love and friendship.
 
Me: What led you to the interest in the local government?
 
Contaveia: Just seeing the way this town has gone to the wayside, not progressing… it is hurtful. I know many people who come back to town and they love the town, but they feel it is nothing to do here. So that is one of my reason for getting into this race for Mayor.
 
Me: When did you notice the downward changes in the town?
 
Contaveia: I would say around the year 2000. As I began to explore other places, seeing more of the world… I could see a shift in Hollandale. The other places were progressing, while Hollandale was actually regressing.
It was kind of strange to see the place you love, take a nosedive. So, with seeing that, I made up my mind, that I wanted to do something for my city. Because we were always told that we are the future and we had to bring our town, our people into the future. We have to put in the work for the place we love. That always stayed and resonated with me and now I am at a place in my life where I can be that change to make that change.
 
Me: What are some of the main problem areas in Hollandale?
 
Contaveia: Lack of togetherness and fellowship. Lack of effort. Establishments have left, so that has a poor economic impact. Which in turn leads to the run-down quality of our streets, street lights, homes and so much more. And the people aren’t being heard.
 
Me: In your own words, what does it mean to be Mayor?
 
Contaveia: To me, the title of mayor means the person in charge of the city. They are in charge of the cities well-being and growth. Someone you can come talk to at any time, so with it being a small town, the mayor is someone we should all know.
 
Me: I agree. We should be comfortable reaching out to the Mayor. We shouldn’t be afraid to voice our opinions to someone who is supposed to be for all of us. We shouldn’t be worried that our concerns would be ignored.
 
Contaveia: Exactly, everyone should be able to talk to them comfortably no matter what. The citizens should be able to voice their concerns about the city, where it is going and where they think it should go.
 
Me: I know you have run before in 2017… so can you tell me what has been the toughest part of the journey?
 
Contaveia: This time around it is not so nerve-wrecking because I actually know what to expect on this mayoral race. But it is always something new, every time you do something. It is still a learning process no matter what. I am just staying focused on the citizens and trying to answer any questions they may have, because we are in this together.
 
 
Me: Right. It takes everyone working together no matter the title. There is power in numbers.
Do you think the current leaders have been effective?
 
Contaveia: No, I don’t think leadership has done everything they could possibly have done.
 
Me: Have any been receptive to your thoughts and views?
 
Contaveia: I have spoken to several Aldermen individually to express that I am willing to help them in any way I can. But that is all it was; just a conversation.

Me: I feel that actions speak louder than words and in due time we will see who supports your initiatives and care enough to cast that vote. It is going to take progressive thinking to help new practices and people to be put into positions to create the change we want to see.

 
Contaveia: Right. The thing is I don’t mind lending a helping hand. I don’t mind offering ideas. I don’t mind piggy-backing off of genuine ideas... because that is the whole point of me running for mayor. I see so many ideas and initiatives falling to the wayside and no one is being held accountable to pick up the pieces. So… I just say if I want something done, I have to do it myself.
 
Me: True. Now to understand you a little more, how would friends and acquaintances describe you? How would colleagues describe you?
 
Contaveia: Friends and colleagues would all say the same. I’m nice. I’ll do anything for anybody. I’ll help anyway I can. Because that is what has been instilled in me by being raised in this town that I was raised in called Hollandale.
We all help each other and we all love each other. But sometimes we forget that. And those values we were raised with, have taken me a long way. People I have met in many other places always say, “Somebody did good,” and I say it was my parents and Hollandale because that's all I know. That’s all we know.
 
Me: That says a lot. Values speak volumes. The things you can accomplish with solid values. What are you most proud of accomplishing?
 
Contaveia: The one thing I’m most proud of accomplishing is actually… running for Mayor. That is one of the things I always talked about. I said once I reached a certain age, I always told my mother, if I ever moved back to Hollandale I would run for mayor to try to make a change here. Because I have a lot of friends who visit from out of town and express that they love this place, but it’s nothing here to do. So that speaks volumes on Hollandale’s charm and genuine appeal.
 
Me: Who have been your strongest influences in life?
 
Contaveia: I credit my mother and I have… umpteen-millions of school teachers that I credit too. Just Hollandale. Anyone who grew up here understands, especially if they grew up here when I was coming up. Hollandale shaped and molded us.
 
Me: What message do you want to convey to the people? Children, adults and elderly?
 
Contaveia: For the children, I am going to pass on the same message that was given to us— Children, you are the future. Whatever you want to do, you can do. Whatever goals you set, you can accomplish. That is what was told to us and that is what I will pass on because I truly believe it. And I know for a fact. I am a walking testimony. I have done most of the things I have wanted to accomplish and I’ve reached a lot of my goals. My next goal is, becoming mayor to help my town turn around.
To the elder generations, I want to give them the confidence in us and ask them to give us the confidence to help make a change and do better. I would like them to trust in us to help with their needs and carry on the devoted family legacy with pride.
 
Me: That is nice. I think some of the elders do lack trust in our generations because of the immature things they see from some. They stick to what they know to avoid the detriment they think our generation would create, but that is not all of us. Some of us want to lead and be taken seriously to prove we are a capable of creating the future they said we could have. I get it.
 
Contaveia: Exactly. I was always told to be a leader and not a follower... by some of those very ones; to create my own path. The path I’m blazing was not laid by me. It was laid by someone else and I am grateful. But this path I am walking, knowing that someone did it before, gives me assurance as well as fulfillment to know I’m walking it is so much different.
I say that because it is harder since people look at me and say I am too young. They ask me what experience do I have. I have management experience, but I understand this is a new lane in some ways. I understand some things in life you don’t always have to have experience; just determination and passion. You have to maneuver through it to gain experience. A new mom or dad, is not experienced so they have to learn. Those with multiple children, every day you still learn because each child is different.
 
Me: That is true also. It is not always about the years of “experience” a person has that qualifies them, but more so about their intentions, ready and willingness to work towards betterment.
 
Contaveia: Correct. Me personally, I had the chance to become the youngest manager in Kroger history, but I turned it down because I felt I wasn’t ready. And my store manager told me then, “you’re ready. Sometimes you have the mindset where you believe you’re not ready because in your heart (doubt) you feel like you are not ready. Just believe in yourself and you can do it.”
 
Then three years later, I went to another company and I became the manager there within the first six-months. My next position was at Dollar General and I became the store manager within a year. Becoming Manager at Dollar General was also one of my biggest accomplishments. I took a company that was making roughly $1.3 Million a year to a company earning $2.5 Million in a years’ time. I am proud to say I accomplished a lot of goals working with Dollar General. I underestimated myself with a lot of things, but I overcame those doubtful thoughts through staying determined as well as persistent. Once my determination kicks in, I feel like there is nothing I can’t do
 
Me: Describe your vision for Hollandale’s future.
 
Contaveia: Being mayor is a part of that vision. I want to be at the forefront, bringing everyone together who has the same goal— bringing Hollandale back to life.
I don’t have to be mayor to do it, but I feel like the mayor should be the main person focused and attentive to what the people’s collective mission is…and this is my main focus now. I want to see Hollandale thriving again financially, I want the community to come together as one and I want the town to be plentiful in entertainment and advancements. I want everyone to be proud of Hollandale all around.
When I’m focused and headstrong about my duties, I know I cannot be stopped. So that is why I believe me being mayor is the best route for us, as a collective, to accomplish these goals that will help bring this town back to life.
 
Me: Well, I think that just about covers it. I thank you for allowing me to ask some of these questions for the people. They deserve to get to know you in depth. To know you is to understand you as well as your intentions. Your heart seems pure and the vision for the town sounds like so many of ours and what we want. I am excited to continue to hear your thoughts and see your actions. Good luck Mr. Contaveia “CJ” Johnson.
 
Contaveia: Thank you.
 
 

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Connect with him on
Facebook @  https://www.facebook.com/contaveia.johnson

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