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Stories of Impact: Circle de Luz

By Circle de Luz

Circle de Luz is a Charlotte-based Latina-guided nonprofit organization established in 2008. Latina youth are offered crucial support through programming, mentoring, wraparound services, and scholarship funds to those going on to college or other post-secondary education options. The organization has around 60 alumnae who are now professionals in fields such as health, economics, education, and engineering.

Each year, Circle de Luz chooses a new class of 8 or more girls in seventh grade from Title 1 schools and mentors them and their family members through their graduation from high school. The organization currently serves four simultaneous cohorts of students and over 175 of their family members.

During these six years, the organization provides these girls and their families with over 70 program experiences. These programs incorporate three core themes – Academic Support and College Readiness, Personal Development, and Community Awareness and Engagement.

Their mission is to broaden the girls’ horizons to enable them to develop new goals and skills.  This results in increased self-confidence as they tackle new challenges.  As their confidence blossoms, it is easier for them to dream of a life filled with opportunities that once felt out of reach.

If you wish to support Circle de Luz, please consider becoming a Mija! The Mija circle of donors collectively empowers and makes post-secondary education dreams a reality for 8 Latina girls in our community through scholarships. Circle de Luz has funded 7 out of the 8 scholarships for their new cohort. Mija pledges can be broken down into recurring donations as low as $10-$15 a month. Mijas can be individuals, families, friend groups, businesses, Employee Resource Groups (ERG), book or academic clubs, or organizations from anywhere in the world. Please consider signing up and helping us share with others! All information about the donor program and its benefits is available here: https://circledeluz.org/become-a-mija

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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.