Bernice A. King
Dr. Bernice A. King is a global thought leader, strategist, and advocate for peace, serving as CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), which was founded by her mother as a memorial to her father’s legacy. In this role, Dr. King continues to advance her parents' commitment to nonviolent social change through policy, advocacy, research, and education. She has rebranded the Kingian philosophy of nonviolence as Nonviolence365™? (NV365), aiming to integrate these principles across various sectors of society.
At The King Center, Dr. King leads initiatives thateducate youthand adults globally on nonviolent principles and strategies, inspired by her parents. Under her leadership, the Centre has reached over 500,000 people through programmes such as the Beloved Community Leadership Academy, Students with King, NV365Education & Training, and The Beloved Community Talks, which focuses on addressing challenging racial and social justice issues. Dr. King also developed an NV365 certification programme, training individuals to teach the NV365 curriculum.
Dr. King earned her Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Emory University, following a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Spelman College. She has held various leadership roles, including serving as a law clerk for Judge Glenda Hatchett and as an Assistant Pastor at Greater Rising Star Baptist Church in Atlanta. In 2007, she founded the Be A King Scholarship at Spelman College in honour of her mother. Dr. King also played a key role in the 2013 “Let Freedom Ring” event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Additionally, she met Pope Francis in a private audience in 2018 and has influenced keyracial equityandsocial justice initiatives, including the passage of Georgia’s Hate Crime legislation.
Dr. King’s work has earned her numerous recognitions, including two Phoenix Awards—one from The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in 2020 and another from the City of Atlanta in 2023. In 2021, she received the Atlanta Business Chronicle Lifetime Achievement Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She also holds several honorary doctorates, including those from Wesley College, Clinton College, Spelman College, and Grinnell College. Dr. King is also an accomplished author, with works such as Hard Questions, Heart Answers and a children’s book, It Starts with Me, which supports The King Center’s Be Love movement.
She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, a registered mediator, and an active participant in organisations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Rotary Club of Atlanta, the International Women’s Forum, and the National Council of Negro Women. Dr. King also serves on the boards of The King Center and The National Black Bank Foundation and holds leadership roles with Ready Life and Redemption Holdings, focusing on minority-focused financial solutions.
Dr. King remains dedicated to preserving her parents’ legacy and inspiring new generations to embracenonviolent social changethrough education, leadership, and the continued development of the Beloved Community.
