Dorothy Hollingsworth (1920-2022) was a civic leader and lifelong advocate for education, particularly for children of color, in Seattle. She was the first African American woman to manage a major city agency when she served as director of the Seattle School District Head Start Program from 1965-1969, and the first Black women to serve on a school board in Washington State when she was elected in Seattle in 1975.

After receiving a master's degree in social work from University of Washington in 1959, Hollingsworth worked as social worker in Seattle Public schools. In the early 1960s, Hollingsworth became involved with the local civil rights movement, joining Christian Friends for Racial Equality and later the Central Area Civil Rights Committee. After serving at Head Start, from 1969 to 1975 Hollingsworth worked for the Model Cities Program, overseeing dozens of projects in education, arts and culture, economic development, job training, health, welfare, and legal services. When the program ended in 1975, she became Director of Early Childhood Education for the City of Seattle, where she set up day care programs and facilities for children throughout the city. After serving on the local school board, Hollingsworth worked as Deputy Director for the Department of Human Resources for the City of Seattle. She then was elected to the State Board of Education as the representative from the 7th District, serving from 1984 until her retirement in 1993.

This photo shows Dorothy Hollingsworth in her office in August 1972, when she was the acting director of the Model Cities Child Care program.

Caption information sources: "Hollingsworth, Dorothy" by Mary T. Henry, HistoryLink.org Essay 291; "Dorothy Hollingsworth (1920- )" by Quinnita F. Cobbins-Modica, at https://www.blackpast.org/vignette_aahw/hollingsworth-dorothy-1920
Caption information source: "Child Care Meeting is Scheduled Today," Seattle Times, August 30, 1972, p. 56.