Linnea Ionno was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut. She received her bachelor’s degree from University of Connecticut, where she studied history, art history and women, gender and sexuality studies. Linnea moved to Athens to attend UGA’s Public Administration graduate program, becoming the first person in her family to receive a master’s degree. After graduating with her MPA, she started working at Project Safe as well as The Cottage Sexual Assault Center & Children’s Advocacy Center. In 2017, she began working full time at The Cottage first as the Adult Advocate before becoming the Director of the Sexual Assault Center. Since 2022, Linnea has been the Executive Director of The Cottage. She is also a member of the State Expert Committee for the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, where she serves on the Sexual Assault Subcommittee.
Linnea has been involved with the Classic City Roller Girls, Athens’ roller derby team, since 2018. Although she is not currently an active member due to her busy schedule, she still supports the league any chance she gets. She is also a certified personal trainer, and enjoys fitness and running, including participating in the AthHalf Half Marathon. Linnea lives in Athens with her cats, Miso and Ume.
What do you love most about the work you do?
What I love the most about this work is helping survivors and creating awareness of these issues that we don’t often talk about, but that a majority of people are impacted by. I think it’s ironic that we don’t talk more about [domestic and sexual violence] when so many people experience it. Helping to spread awareness and to create safe spaces for survivors to be able to come forward and get support is what I care about. Unfortunately, our society doesn’t always have a history of giving that support, but I think things are shifting in our culture now. I’m a survivor myself, which is a big part of why I wanted to get into working with other survivors directly. Helping others has also helped me through my own healing process.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do in and around Athens?
I like to run and walk around Athens. We have a really great community for that. I like to take advantage of the group runs they do at Athens Running Company and Fleet Feet. I also just like to get together with friends and enjoy the many great restaurants here in Athens. Some of my top spots are Cali ‘N Tito’s, Clocked and Siri Thai.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I’ll always want to continue to go back to Japan. It’s such a beautiful and amazing country. I’m part Japanese, so I’m a little biased in that respect. I still have a lot of extended family there, so I’d love to go back there and see them. I studied abroad there, which was really great getting immersed and learning more about that part of my culture. It’s such a beautiful country and there’s so much history there. There’s so much respect within the society there. People are really helpful and willing to work together, and it’s a really great environment to be in. And great food.
If you could see any musician, anywhere at any time, who would it be and where?
Ani DiFranco is one of my favorite artists. I did get to see her once, down in Macon. But I would love to see her again because I’ve always really enjoyed her music, her powerful lyrics, and the way she writes about important issues. I have three older sisters who all enjoy her, and helped introduce me to her, so there is kind of a nostalgia built into Ani DiFranco. I love the space she creates. I don’t have an ideal venue, really anywhere would be great.
If you could put any message on a billboard, what would it say?
Something simple like “You’re not alone.” I think it’s easy for us to feel like we’re alone in a lot of situations, and with survivorhood specifically, it’s good to get that message that reminds us that we’re not isolated. We’re connected to each other in many ways.
Do you have a favorite book, or one you often reference, re-read, or gift?
My favorite author is Ellen Hopkins. She’s a YA author, but even though I’m no longer a “YA” myself, I still love to read her books. I think the book that made her most well known was the book Crank. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but all her books touch on important issues. The way she uses poetry to tie it all together is really artful. You can even read the text in different ways on the page. It takes a lot of skill to be able to do that. And I actually got to meet her once and get my book signed at the Athens-Clarke County Library! I never imagined actually getting to meet her so I’m so appreciative to live in a community that creates opportunities like that.
Do you have a favorite movie?
My favorite movie has been the same since childhood: Miss Congeniality, with Sandra Bullock. It is such a great comedy. I remember when I was a kid, my family went to see it after a big birthday party and we were the only people in the theater. The memory of that day is a big part of why it’s my favorite I think. At some point in time I definitely knew every line of that movie.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Life is a journey. There will be many obstacles that you’ll have to overcome. But even when they feel like too much, or like they have the potential to break you, you will continue to grow and thrive regardless. Trust in the journey.
If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be, and where?
Audre Lorde. She is such an amazing writer, poet and activist. To be able to hear her story directly from her, and her perspective on things, would be really powerful.
What three words or phrases come to the mind when you think of the word home?
Family, support, and love.
