10/19/2026
🌿 Celebrating an Extraordinary Woman! Congratulations, Karlyn Rapport! 🌿
Today, we are incredibly proud to celebrate Karlyn Rapport, recipient of the 2026 Evergreen Award!
Karlyn is one of the Women's Center's beloved Founding Mothers, but her legacy reaches far beyond our organization. For decades, she has been a remarkable force for good in our community, dedicating her life to lifting others up, advocating for those whose voices too often go unheard, and creating opportunities for women, children, and families.
In 1973, Karlyn helped lay the foundation for what would become the Women's Center. At a time when resources and protections for women experiencing violence were limited, she and a courageous group of women believed things could be different. And they did something about it.
Her commitment to making our community a better place didn't stop there. From helping establish Harbor House and expanding access to healthcare to serving in public office and championing women's rights, Karlyn has spent decades turning compassion into action.
What makes Karlyn so extraordinary isn't simply the number of organizations she's helped build or the leadership positions she's held. It's her unwavering belief that every person deserves dignity, opportunity, safety, and a voice.
Generations of women and families have benefited from her courage, determination, and generous spirit, many without ever knowing her name.
And perhaps one of Karlyn's greatest gifts to our community is the example she has set for generations to come. She has shown us what is possible when we have the courage to stand up for what we believe in, the compassion to care for others, and the determination to turn our hopes for a better world into action. Her example continues to inspire new generations of advocates, leaders, and changemakers to follow in her footsteps, carry her work forward, and create a better future for those who come after us.
Karlyn, you have helped shape the heart of our community. Your legacy lives in the lives you've touched, the doors you've opened, and the countless people who have found hope and opportunity because you cared enough to make a difference.
From all of us at the Women's Center, thank you for being a visionary, a trailblazer, a champion for others, and such an important part of our story.
We cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition. Congratulations, Karlyn! Your legacy will continue to inspire generations to come! đź’ś
