Historic Athens Announces Taneisha Brooks as Equitable Home Preservation Coordinator

Historic Athens is thrilled to announce the appointment of Taneisha Brooks as the organization's Equitable Home Preservation Coordinator. Taneisha brings extensive experience in non-profit administration and a strong reputation for community leadership. In her role, she will lead the Historic Athens Equitable Home Preservation Initiative, a new program designed to preserve historic and affordable housing, prevent community displacement, and protect the unique culture and character of local neighborhoods.

A native of East Athens and a K-12 graduate of CCSD schools, Taneisha graduated from Cedar Shoals High School. Recently, she spent four years working as a Neighborhood Leader for Family Connection-Communities In Schools of Athens (FC-CIS). 

In addition to her work as a Neighborhood Leader, Taneisha has dedicated the last eight years to serving various non-profit organizations, including Economic Justice Coalition, Chess and Community, and the Boys and Girls Club. Her extensive background demonstrates a deep understanding of community needs and a passion for fostering positive change.

Taneisha holds dual associate degrees in Business Administration and Accounting from Athens Technical College, showcasing her commitment to academic excellence. Additionally, her Grant Writing Certification from UNG underscores her expertise in grant-related activities, including writing, management, and administration. Taneisha's previous involvement in the Clarke County Vision Committee for two terms played a significant role in shaping the community's future.

With her experience as a licensed realtor, Taneisha brings a unique perspective to her new role as Equitable Home Preservation Coordinator. Her profound understanding of real estate, combined with her dedication to community engagement, positions her as a well-rounded advocate for ensuring housing equity in Athens.

As the Equitable Home Preservation Coordinator, Taneisha will oversee the daily operations of the Equitable Home Preservation (EHP) program, ensuring its effective administration and management. Taneisha will collaborate with homeowners, local officials, contractors, and volunteer groups to facilitate home repair projects and secure additional funding opportunities.

The Equitable Home Preservation Initiative is receiving more than $530,000 from the Athens-Clarke County Commission as part of the Athens Justice and Memory Project and an increased commitment to addressing the impacts of urban renewal. Historic Athens is launching this initiative alongside its longstanding Hands On Historic Athens (HOHA) program, founded in 1999 to assist low-income individuals with repairing and maintaining their historic homes. Currently, HOHA provides up to $5,000 in assistance per homeowner for projects ranging from minor repairs to significant issues, including collapsing floors, roof repairs, and sewage leaks. Through the Equitable Home Preservation program, Historic Athens will now be able to take on four additional projects a year for three years, with up to $25,000 per address. 

"We are very excited to welcome Taneisha Brooks as our Equitable Home Preservation Coordinator," said Tommy Valentine, Executive Director for Historic Athens. "Taneisha's administrative skill set, track record for empowering our community, and unique insights will make her an invaluable addition to our team. We’re very excited to see how she uses this role to make an impact on Historic Athens, local historic preservation, and improving the quality of life for people throughout our community."

Special Note: This appointment comes within a week of the announcement of Denise Sunta as the new Engagement Coordinator for Historic Athens. Sunta, also a K-12 CCSD graduate, was announced last Wednesday in a press release that can be found at https://mailchi.mp/historicathens/welcomedenise.

About Historic Athens: For over 55 years, Historic Athens has worked to celebrate and preserve the community heritage of Athens, Georgia. As a 501c3 education and advocacy group, Historic Athens uses community programming, educational initiatives, direct preservation action, and advocacy to develop community-wide understanding of the value of historic buildings, neighborhoods, and our shared community heritage. 

Contact information:
Tommy Valentine
Executive Director, Historic Athens
tommy@historicathens.com
(706) 389-0980

Taneisha Brooks
Equitable Home Preservation Coordinator
taneisha@historicathens.com
706-389-0083