Congratulations to Doctor Catherine Meeks, Executive Director of The Center for Racial Healing, for receiving the Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award and Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

This award comes as part of her lifelong commitment to fighting for equal rights among all races, genders, and physical abilities.

“I am so grateful for this amazing affirmation of the work that I’ve just had my head down in the trenches, trying to do for over 50 years,” Meeks said.

Dr. Meeks served at Wesleyan College as the Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Socio-Cultural Studies for nine years until retirement in 2008. She was founding director of the Lane Center for Community Engagement and Service at Wesleyan and director of Aunt Maggie's Kitchen Table, a family resource center located in a public housing facility.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University and PhD from Emory University. Meeks is also the author of six books and one inspirational CD and is the editor of the bestselling book, Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America and co-author of Passionate for Justice: Ida B Wells as Prophet for Our Times.  

Meeks will receive the presidential award at a ceremony this Friday, August 26 at The Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the ceremony starts at 5 p.m. Registration is not required. A special reception will follow the ceremony from 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. at the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing, located at 807 Atlanta Student Movement Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30314. On Saturday August 27, Dr. Meeks will preach for Imagine Church at The Center for Racial Healing.