The King Center Welcomes Seven New Board Members to Honor the Legacy and Build for the Next Generation
Leaders across technology, business, finance, sports, and community join The King Center ahead of Mrs. Coretta Scott King’s 100th birthday, bringing new expertise and perspectives to the work ahead.
ATLANTA, GA — The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) announced the appointment of seven new members to its Board of Trustees, bringing together leaders across technology, entrepreneurship, finance, real estate, sports and community as the organization looks ahead to its next chapter and prepares for a milestone year marking Mrs. Coretta Scott King’s 100th birthday in 2027.
New Leadership for a New Chapter
The new Board members are:
Peter Carter, President of Delta Air Lines, who brings extensive experience in global business strategy, government affairs, legal and regulatory leadership, and international partnerships, along with a distinguished record of service on corporate and civic boards.
Laurel Hord Hill, retired Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo’s Government Banking Group, who brings deep financial expertise, strategic counsel and a distinguished record of service on nonprofit and faith-based boards in Atlanta.
Morgan Shaw Parker, President and COO of the Atlanta Dream, who brings nearly three decades of experience in sports, marketing, community engagement and organizational growth, with a strong commitment to equity and social impact.
T. Dallas Smith, Founder and CEO of T. Dallas Smith & Company, who brings four decades of entrepreneurial success and commercial real estate leadership, along with extensive civic, educational and economic development board service.
Nick Stonestreet, CEO and CIO of Extraordinary Trust, who offers more than 30 years of expertise in wealth management, investment strategy, institutional governance and values-based stewardship.
Ryan Wilson, Co-Founder and CEO of The Gathering Spot, who has created platforms connecting people, ideas and opportunities while advancing entrepreneurship, civic engagement and community building.
Howard Wright, Vice President of Startup Ecosystem at NVIDIA, who brings more than 25 years of experience developing innovation ecosystems, advancing emerging technologies and building partnerships that foster entrepreneurship and growth.
Together, they bring experience, relationships and perspectives that will help The King Center honor and protect an extraordinary legacy while broadening its reach, strengthening its work, and building for the future.
Honoring the Legacy and Building for the Future
The King Center is entering a period of growth and evolution that will require fresh thinking, capabilities, and connections to ensure the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King continue to reach people, speak to the challenges they face, and inspire action.
The appointment of the seven new Board members comes as The King Center prepares for King100, a historic initiative marking the centennial celebrations of its founder, Mrs. Coretta Scott King in 2027 and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 2029. This milestone presents an opportunity to strengthen the institution, expand its national and global reach, and ensure the King legacy continues to educate, inspire, and empower future generations.
“The King Center is at an important moment in its history. We have an extraordinary legacy to honor and a responsibility to make sure its lessons continue to reach and serve future generations,” said Stacey D. Stewart, Chair, The King Center Board of Trustees. “These seven leaders bring different experiences, relationships, and perspectives to the table, but they share a commitment to leadership that serves others and makes a difference. They understand both the responsibility of what has been entrusted to The King Center and the opportunity in front of us. We are excited about what they will bring to the organization and what we can build together.”
Through its signature education and training initiative, Nonviolence365®, which is rooted in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s philosophy and methodology of nonviolence, The King Center equips individuals, organizations and institutions with the mindset, skills, and capabilities to address injustice, build trust, strengthen relationships, and create lasting positive change by leading with love, acting with courage, and working together for the common good.
Looking ahead, the Center is also exploring new approaches to expand its reach and deepen its impact through innovative educational approaches, storytelling, strategic partnerships, technology, and immersive experiences that make the teachings of Dr. and Mrs. King more relevant and useful in people’s everyday lives. The result is the creation of the Beloved Community — a world in which people have the capabilities to navigate differences without dehumanizing one another; solve problems collectively; and create conditions in which all people can thrive.
Carrying the Work Forward Together
Ahead of welcoming its new Board members, Dr. Bernice A. King and Martin Luther King III sat down together to reflect on the Center’s future, their parents’ legacy, and the responsibility of carrying the work forward.
“Our father gave the world teachings and a vision that continue to challenge and inspire us. Our mother built The King Center to make sure that work continued,” said Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center. “As we approach what would have been my mother’s 100th birthday, I believe one of the best ways to honor what our parents built is to continue building. That means reaching new generations and helping more people put the principles of love, dignity, courage, service, and nonviolence into practice in their everyday lives.”
“Our family will always have a responsibility to help steward this legacy, but the work was never meant to be ours alone,” added Martin Luther King III, member of The King Center Board of Trustees. “These new Board members bring fresh perspectives, deep expertise and relationships that can help The King Center reach more people, open new doors, and carry the work forward. We are excited about what we will build together.”
The King Center’s new Board members will work alongside Dr. Bernice A. King, Martin Luther King III, fellow trustees, and The King Center’s leadership team to help turn the organization’s vision for the future into action, asking big questions, identifying where The King Center can have the greatest impact, and bringing the right people, partners and resources to the table to move the work forward.
The work ahead is significant, and so is the opportunity: to ensure the lessons, leadership and tools that have helped change the world continue to help people change it for the better.
About The King Center
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King. The King Center is the official living memorial and programmatic nonprofit organization committed to educating the world on the life, legacy, and teachings of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center serves to inspire new generations to carry forward his unfinished work, strengthen causes and empower changemakers who are continuing his efforts today. The King Center’s premier educational initiative, Nonviolence365®, is based on Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy and methodology. His teachings engage participants from various sectors of society, including emerging and next-generation leaders, in modules and exercises that enhance communication, leadership, interpersonal, and conflict reconciliation skills, as well as empower individuals to address injustice.
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