Hattie Thomas Whitehead will lead conversations on her book “Giving Voice to Linnentown” the next two weekends as part of the 19 Days of Juneteenth observations. June 8 at 2 p.m., she’ll speak at the Athens Regional Library auditorium and on June 18 she’ll speak at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of Cedar Shoals High School. She set a goal to distribute 500 books across the community to sites including several schools, the Athens Chamber of Commerce, East Athens Development Center, the library and others. Oconee Street UMC supported the purchase of many of the books through a Reparation Action Committee fundraiser by member Ryan Dobrin as well as donations from the Racial Justice Task Force budget and the Missions Committee’s Special Fund.

Hattie’s book and leadership in the Linnentown Project helped bring about the Athens-Clarke County government resolution for recognition and redress which spearheaded creation of the Athens Justice and Memory Project. She has recently been recognized with a Community Service Award and with the Historic Athens Publication Award.