🎉 Michelle Brown Reynolds Named 2025 Bunkie Citizen of the Year! 🏆

Michelle Brown Reynolds, Executive Director of Move Bunkie Forward, was named the 2025 Bunkie Citizen of the Year during the annual Bunkie Rotary Club party, an event attended by family, friends, and community members.

The honor came as a surprise to Reynolds, who said she was unaware the recognition was coming and deeply grateful to have her family present for the moment.

Reynolds expressed heartfelt appreciation for the award, noting the long list of past honorees and the many individuals in the community who work tirelessly to serve Bunkie. She said the recognition left her “overwhelmed in the best way” and emphasized her gratitude to God for guiding her work and service. Reynolds referenced Proverbs 3:3–4, sharing that the scripture had been placed on her heart earlier in the week:

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."

The Bunkie Rotary Club formally announced Reynolds as the 2025 recipient, citing her leadership of the Move Bunkie Forward program, which sponsors exercise and nutrition classes for both youth and adults, along with community improvement initiatives and tutoring programs for local students.

Under her direction, the organization has played a key role in promoting wellness, education, and positive community engagement in Bunkie.

Over the past three years, Reynolds has written and secured approximately $850,000 in grant funding, with awards funded by The Rapides Foundation and the Central Louisiana Community Foundation, among others. Additional grants have been approved and are awaiting funding, further supporting community development projects in the area.

In addition to her nonprofit work, Reynolds is a small business owner, operating an upscale resale clothing boutique on Main Street in Bunkie. She is a graduate of LSUA, married, and the mother of three children.

Rotary members and attendees praised Reynolds for her dedication, leadership, and commitment to improving quality of life in Bunkie.

The Citizen of the Year award recognizes individuals whose service and impact leave a lasting mark on the community, and many in attendance said Reynolds embodies that spirit through both her professional efforts and personal example.