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Stories of Impact: Freedom Communities

by Barbara Holt

Freedom Communities is a nonprofit organization dedicated to disrupting the cycle of intergenerational poverty in the Freedom Drive Corridor of West Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 2018, their mission centers on “family-centered community transformation,” focusing on three key areas: family stability, affordable housing, and early education.

A cornerstone of their efforts is the Moms Moving Forward (MMF) program, a 12-month initiative designed to support single mothers and their children. This program provides holistic, wraparound solutions, equipping families with tools and resources to achieve upward mobility and sustained economic stability. Since its inception, it has impacted nearly 400 women and children, helping participants find stable housing, employment, and educational opportunities. 

Freedom Communities, a 2023 grant recipient of the Women’s Impact Fund, continues to make significant strides in its mission to support families in West Charlotte. Over the past year, graduates of the organization’s Moms Moving Forward (MMF) program have experienced an average income increase of 34%. Additionally, 95% of program graduates secured stable housing upon completion, compared to just 55% at the time of enrollment.

In partnership with True Homes, Freedom Communities broke ground on 52 affordable for-sale townhomes, prioritizing teachers and hometown heroes. The first home from this initiative was recently sold to a teacher at Harding High School. Meanwhile, the Freedom Business Collective has reached full occupancy, housing 15 tenants and six coworking members. The space now hosts monthly training sessions and networking events to support local entrepreneurs.

As Freedom Communities worked to assist MMF participants in securing affordable rental housing through its new Ready to Rent program, the organization identified poor or faulty credit history as a significant barrier—one even more prevalent than initially realized. With rental prices in Charlotte continuing to rise, many families are accumulating debt just to afford monthly rent. Even housing labeled as “affordable” in the city can cost approximately $1,800 per month for a three-bedroom unit, contributing to a surge in evictions and homelessness.

Without career advancement opportunities to increase their incomes, families often struggle to pay off debt, further impacting their credit scores and limiting their ability to secure stable housing. These financial challenges create instability, disrupting children’s education and making it difficult for parents—especially single mothers, who form the core of MMF participants—to maintain employment while also managing the high costs of childcare.

Recognizing the urgency of this issue, Freedom Communities engaged in discussions with City of Charlotte officials, leading to the launch of a request for proposals (RFP) to address eviction-related debt. The organization continues to provide credit repair assistance for both Ready to Rent and MMF clients. Additionally, Freedom Communities encourages other organizations in the housing sector to prioritize funding for debt relief programs, which play a critical role in improving credit scores and increasing access to stable housing.

To learn more about how you can support Freedom Communities, visit their website.

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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.