Black America and the Arts: The Impact of Black and African Americans on Visual Arts, Music, Cultural Movements, and More in Charlotte By Kristin Keen
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
How Charlotte is Celebrating MLK’s Legacy This Year By Kristin Keen As the Queen City gears up to celebrate the enduring legacy of the Rev.
Countdown to Giving Tuesday: November 28 By Aimee Greeter As the festive season draws near, many of us may find ourselves thinking of ways to
National Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating Culture and Impact in Charlotte By Kristin Keen (updated by Meaghan Dunham Arena, 2025) Every year from September 15 to
History in Action: Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ Community and Philanthropy in the Queen City By Kristin Keen The Queen City is known for its rich history, vibrant
Since 2015, Commonwealth Charlotte (CWC) has made its mission to help guide Charlotte’s economically vulnerable population with trauma-informed education, certified financial counseling, asset- and wealth-building
It’s Pride Month. LGBTQ Pride Month, typically observed in June, honors the Stonewall Uprising while recognizing and celebrating the impact of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
This year’s annual meeting took place on May 8, 2023, and the energy throughout the evening was palpable with almost 200 women gathered to celebrate
As the area’s leading nonprofit organization advocating for sustainable transportation and land use, Sustain Charlotte organizes and hosts events that inspire, educate, and connect people.
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.
