The A.D. King Foundation Inc., a non-profit (IRS 501 (c) (3) status), is a non-violent conflict resolution entity formed to revolutionize the mindset, attitude, and behavior that promote violence and war with non-violent principles, methods, and direct actions. The mission is to promote youth empowerment, development, and non-violent social change strategies as a way of life throughout the world. The goal is to build a beloved community with "Social Justice and Entrepreneurship" as the center core. The objectives are to Expose, Enlighten, and Empower.
Rev. A.D. King believed that war is never the answer, and that non-violence will always overcome all means necessary. He believed that building bridges of mutual understanding, cooperation, goodwill, respect, and love for humanity across gender, race, religion, and culture would achieve peaceful coexistence and bring us closer to building a peaceful, loving, gracious, beloved community of humanity.
Rev. A.D. King never sought fame or popularity. Still, he was a true soldier of great transformation through nonviolent social change, committed to serving by leading the poor people’s campaign, and dedicated to the movement for equity, freedom, and justice for all. He paid dearly for preaching love as an instrument of change, not war.
Through establishing www.adkingfoundation.com, the foundation has promoted the teaching of Rev. A.D. King's nonviolence and conflict resolution methods worldwide. The foundation will become a resource for conflict resolution, building bridges of mutual understanding, and creating a beloved community in every culture across the globe.
To achieve these noble goals, the foundation established e-commerce and electronic communication as a global initiative through www.adkingfoundation.com. The AD King Foundation was established to raise funds to construct the AD King Memorial in Birmingham, Alabama, and Louisville, Kentucky. It will pay tribute to ML King, Sr (Daddy King), AD King, and all the unknown heroes and great women of the civil rights movement.
Business Formation
Dr. Naomi Ruth Barber King, widow of AD King, is committed to bringing to the limelight the contributions and legacy of her late husband, Dr. Rev. Alfred Daniel Williams King. In January 2007, Dr. Rev. Babs Olusegun Onabanjo, one of the idea's originators, was commissioned to develop and manage the project. The documentary “A D King: Brother To The Dreamer: Behold The Dream” was initiated in May 2007.
In January 2008, Naomi Ruth Barber King received the SCLC 2008 Rosa Parks Freedom Award. A.D. King Foundation Inc. was formed in May 2008.
Business Goals and Missions
A.D. King Foundation is a non-profit organization highlighting Rev. A.D. Williams King’s enormous contributions to civil rights and his extraordinary life of dedication, service, and unconditional support for his brother, the movement, America, and the world. Rev. A.D. Williams King was a renowned pastor, a philosopher, and a formidable and significant activist. The Foundation is intended to educate the public about the real history of the civil rights movement, the strategies employed, the timing, the circumstances, and the role of the legends of the movement. Rev. A. D. King was one of the prominent strategists of the movement in Atlanta, Birmingham, Selma, Louisville, and many other cities in which the movement was involved. Rev. A. D. King was the confidant and a blood brother to the dreamer Dr. Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King Jr. Rev. A.D. King never recovered from his brother’s loss. More importantly, the movement was a spiritual movement. To God be the glory.
A.D. KING FOUNDATION – YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
THROUGH POSITIVE MEDIA INTERNSHIPS
The A. D. King Foundation is committed to transforming the culture with positive media messages that equip our youth and young adults for success in the 21st century. Through our mentoring and internship relationships with our youth and young adult population, we teach them to create, own, produce, and market television pilots, positive imaging, positive music and lyrics, poetry, YouTube projects, Internet blogging, book publications, radio shows, Internet talk shows and reality shows, and other creative projects. Working with the finest professionals in the various industries outlined above, we provide attainable and sustainable tools for success for our youth and young adults. Entrepreneurship, good citizenship, global awareness, successful interaction with other cultures, positive purpose, and beneficial quality of life are major themes of this initiative.
Five Pillars of A. D. King Foundation
Expose. Enlighten. Empower:
The A.D. King Foundation Inc., a non-profit (IRS 501 (c) (3) status), is a non-violent conflict resolution entity formed to revolutionize the mindset, attitude, and behavior that promote violence and war with non-violent principles, methods, and direct actions. The mission is to promote youth empowerment, development, and non-violent social change strategies as a way of life throughout the world. The goal is to build a beloved community with "Social Justice and Entrepreneurship" as the core.
1. Youth Empowerment
The A. D. King Foundation is committed to transforming the culture with positive media messages that equip our youth and young adults for success in the 21st century. Entrepreneurship Tutoring, Mentoring
Coaching, Advising (A Paradigm Shift from Dependency to Self-Sufficiency). Exchange Program –State Dept
* Back-to-School Programs (in America and Nigeria). *Adopt A School Program, *Annual Youth Health Summit, *Civil Rights Tour Birmingham/Montgomery /Selma - Non-Violence Training Annual Youth Empowerment Gala & Awards: Collaboration with H.S. Colleges & Universities, Law Enforcement, and Community Policing
Voting Rights Registration & Civic Responsibility
We have hosted young adult professionals through the United States State Department Young Leaders of the Americas (YLAI) Fellowship program from the Caribbean and South America, Suriname, Colombia, Ecuador, and Antigua & Barbuda. Some of these relationships continue, leading to international exchanges and business opportunities.
Young Professionals Bootcamp – an annual international event in December focused on entrepreneurship and business development.
Health fairs – back-to-school events – U.S. and Nigeria
Youth empowerment is crucial for building a brighter future. These impactful activities include:
Mentoring: Guidance from experienced individuals, Back-to-school programs: Supporting education, long-term benefits, Coaching and skills training: Equipping youth with practical skills to enhance employability, Internship: Hands-on experience to prepare youth for the workforce. Sustainable Agricultural Entrepreneurship: Empowering women and youth in agriculture to foster economic growth and food security. These initiatives can help youth/women develop confidence, skills, and a sense of purpose.
2. Entrepreneurship / Mentorship
This initiative focuses on entrepreneurship, good citizenship, global awareness, successful interaction with other cultures, positive purpose, and beneficial quality of life.
Youth are encouraged to become entrepreneurs and embrace the spirit of entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial mindset, and culture. Create the mindset of self-sufficiency rather than dependency. Build your own wealth, not as a job seeker but as an employer of labor. With our sacrifice, courage, and determination, we shall overcome.
3. Annual Civil Rights Tour
Annual trip to re-enact the march from Selma to Montgomery that led to the Voting Rights Act of
1965. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a result of demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama:
Trip Goals: To Expose, Educate, and Empower students about the Civil Rights Movement
Trip Length: 2 Days and 1 Night
Date: The First Saturday and Sunday of March each year.
16th Street Baptist Church: tour and history of “the four little children” killed by the KKK
Birmingham Civil Rights Museums tour of Civil Rights, Kelly Ingram Park, Sixteenth Street
A.D King Statue/ other civic leaders: King Parsonage: 721 12th Street, Ensley: Tour of A.D. King’s Home
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice:
Physical Monument Tour of Lynching across the US
The Legacy Museum: Equal Justice Initiative: - Evolution of Slavery: - Legacy of Lynching
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church/MLK’s House
Alabama State University (breakfast): Alabama State University (National Center for the Study of Civil Rights)
Rosa Parks Museum: History of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Jimmy Lee Jackson Grave: Courthouse /Church James Orange Jail: Marion: Speaker: Mayor Albert Turner Jr.
Viola Luizzo Memorial: Memorial of a Civil Rights Activist killed while helping transport African Americans to register to vote:
Interpretive Center: Hayneville, Black Panther Origin
Arrive @ Brown Chapel Church Rally starting point:
Reenact the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge
4. Non-violence Training / Law Enforcement
Rev. A.D. King believed that war is never the answer and that non-violence will always overcome all means necessary. He believed that building bridges of mutual understanding, cooperation, goodwill, respect, and love for humanity across gender, race, religion, and culture would achieve peaceful coexistence and bring us closer to building a calm, loving, gracious, beloved community of humanity.
Through the establishment of www.adkingfoundation.org, the foundation can promote the teaching of Rev. A.D. King's methods of nonviolence and conflict resolution worldwide. The foundation is a resource for conflict resolution and provides a platform for peace dialogue, building bridges of mutual understanding, and creating a beloved community in every culture across the globe.
5. Voter Empowerment
Collaborative relationship with the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda. Hosting and sponsoring events to register people to vote, voter rights and responsibilities, and express the importance of voting and holding elected officials accountable. Collectively, we have registered thousands of voters. We also participate in organizing rides to the polls during elections.
MOTTO:
"A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," and building a beloved community is a glorious task that must be done.
Contributions:(Rev. A. D. Williams King)
Rev A. D. King (brother to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.) dedicated his life to building a beloved community. He was also committed to the ideals of non-violent social change and direct action to effect change.
Rev. A. D. King's house was bombed in Birmingham on May 11, 1963, as a result of his activism in Ensley and Birmingham, Alabama. Rev. A.D. King was one of the main strategists of the Selma demonstration. According to records of the SCLC archive at the King Center: " It is widely held that the Birmingham demonstrations led directly to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and that the Selma Campaign compelled the U.S. Congress to enact the Voting Rights Act of 1965". Rev. A.D. King led the Open Housing Campaign in Louisville, Kentucky, which became a national law- The Open Housing Act - 1968. He was a giant and an icon of the Civil Rights Movement in his own right.
About The Documentary: Rev. A.D. King: Brother To The Dreamer: " Behold The Dream". "The story is compelling, relevant, valuable, and practical. A legend of immense proportion as one of the greatest Civil Rights Activists of his time in his own right".
--- Late Rev. James Orange