Oleta Kirk Abrams

When her 15-year-old foster daughter was raped, Oleta Kirk Abrams was appalled by the treatment her daughter received from both her school and the hospital. Outraged by the injustice and the profound lack of resources and systemic support, Abrams decided to found the first rape crisis center in the country in Oakland. She established a lasting relationship with the Oakland Police Department to increase women’s safety, and ensured that the center not only provide support to women and their families, but also raise awareness about the realities of sexual assault. Her organi-zation, Bay Area Women Against Rape http://www.bawar.org/, has since served as an international model for centers across the globe.