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Empowering Positive Change: The King Center and Nonviolence 365

By Leslie Cramer

In 1968, Mrs. Coretta Scott King founded The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, a living memorial dedicated to preserving and advancing Dr. King’s legacy. For over 50 years, the center has served as a global destination, resource hub, and community institution, drawing nearly a million visitors annually to the National Historic Site in Atlanta, GA.

Beyond being a traditional memorial, The King Center aims to be an engaged educational and social change institution. The Board of Directors and fresh perspectives are driving this evolution, ensuring that Dr. King’s legacy remains not just a historical artifact but a catalyst for positive social impact.

Central to this transformation is the Nonviolence365® Masterclass Edition, a groundbreaking digital course. This 16-18 hour interactive learning experience delves into Dr. King’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning strategy, preparing individuals worldwide to embrace nonviolence as a lifestyle and a catalyst for social change.

The masterclass features world-class instructors and practitioners of nonviolence, including veterans of the Civil Rights Movement. Participants engage with Dr. King’s essential readings, speeches, and teachings, gaining a profound understanding of the principles that shaped his transformative approach.

For over five decades, the center has championed Dr. King’s philosophy and methodology, empowering individuals and organizations to drive transformational outcomes and reshape culture through the power of nonviolence.

The center’s plans for the future are ambitious, including a state-of-the-art renovation of the Atlanta campus, preservation and digitization of unique archives, and innovative digital strategies to reach a modern audience. The goal is to elevate The King Center to its full potential as a beacon of hope and progress in a world that still hungers for Dr. King’s voice and message.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change invites the support of those who are passionate about fostering positive change. By contributing to the center’s mission, you can play a pivotal role in preserving Dr. King’s legacy and ensuring that nonviolence remains a powerful force for social transformation.

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Janet LaBar

Executive Director​
jlabar@womensimpactfund.org

With more than 25 years of experience, Janet has a proven track record of leading organizations and teams in developing strategies that foster thriving communities. Her career is dedicated to the well-being of the places she serves, and the people and businesses within them, positioning her as a trusted sounding board, critical thinker, and purposeful protagonist across corporate, government, education, entrepreneurial, and civic spheres.
Janet joined Women’s Impact Fund in June 2025 to guide one of Charlotte’s most respected, women-led philanthropic organizations into its next phase of growth and impact. In partnership with the Women’s Impact Fund team, Board, Advisors, members, volunteers, and key community partners, she will continue strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.
Inspired by her family, teams who dare greatly, and people and communities striving to be their best selves, Janet’s impactful career includes leadership roles as President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, President and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, and Chief Performance Officer of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a first-generation Filipino American, her lived experience deeply informs her professional drive to create equitable economic growth and opportunity in the metro areas she’s served.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Janet and her husband James are proud parents to an older daughter, and a daughter and son who are twins.