Karina Barillas, a native of Guatemala, won a Fulbright scholarship that led her to the University of Louisville, where she earned a BA and then a master’s degree in education with a concentration in counseling psychology. She began working on women’s issues as president of UofL’s International Students Organization in 2000. Karina spent eight years advocating for and supporting Latina survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at the Center for Women and Families. For three years, she was co-host of Kentucky’s first Spanish TV Show, “Amigos en Louisville,” an informational and educational program. In 2004, she was awarded the National Conference for Community and Justice’s Peace Maker Humanitarian Award, was featured as one of Louisville Magazine’s 12 “Women to Watch,” and was named “One of the 25 most influential Hispanics in Louisville” by the Spanish newspaper Hoy en Las Américas. She co-founded and works as executive director for La Casita Center, a nonprofit that enhances the well-being of Louisville’s Latino community through education, empowerment, advocacy and wellness.
Karina has won many accolades, including a Congressional Leadership Award on International Women’s Day, UofL’s Diversity Alumni Award, and a Community Foundation of Louisville “Forces of Good” honor. In 2022, Louisville’s mayor named Karina one of three recipients of the “Keeper of the Dream Freedom Award,” being the first Latina to receive such an honor. She is also the proud mother of Ali and Fatimah, and loves to dance salsa, sing, garden and cook with her loving husband Louis.
