About Us

FOUNDING MEMBERS (pic)

The Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence, Inc. was founded by the late Dr. C.  DeLores Tucker and a group of local leaders in 1983, 17 years after the assassination of Dr. King. Waverly Easley,  then President of the Philadelphia Tribune and a stalwart supporter, was the first to respond. He provided the office  space and organizational support during the beginning years. Many of the early leaders had personally known Dr.  King and had been inspired by his works and messages. 

Dr. King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, knew that Philadelphia held a special place in her late husband’s heart and  thought it fitting to have a permanent organization dedicated to his ideals of peace and freedom in the City of  Brotherly Love. 

The Association is the only affiliate commissioned by Mrs. King and the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent  Social Change, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia. Philadelphia has and continues to enjoy a unique and historic role in the life  of Dr. King and his memory. The last office he opened before his assassination was opened here in an office given  to him by William Tucker, the husband of C. DeLores Tucker. The last fund-raising gala “Stars for Freedom” was  held at the Spectrum in 1967 and was chaired by C. DeLores Tucker. Every King Holiday commences with the  ringing of the Liberty Bell at 12:00 noon at Independence Hall. 

The King Association, located at 1809 Spring Garden Street, at that time, was founded to develop programs in the  Northeast region of the United States and to serve as a pioneering model for future programs in other parts of the  nation. Shortly after its establishment, Pennsylvania’s then Governor, Richard Thornburgh designated the  Association as the Commonwealth’s official resource center on civil rights and nonviolence.  

Since then, the Association has grown to produce an active, year-round schedule of programs and activities that  amplify the teachings and principles espoused by Dr. King. Through the myriad of activities, people of all ages learn  about the significance of Dr. King’s works and how to incorporate Kingian principles into their own lives to make a  positive difference. 

The Association works with area educators, corporations, business, social organizations, and religious and  community groups, as well as the general public. The Association seeks to develop and present related curricular,  extracurricular and informational programs and events within the general community and to develop leadership in  working toward the prevention of “nonviolent social change” in all walks of life. 

The Mission of the King AssociationThe Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence, Inc.’s mission is to preserve and advance the  work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through educating, interpreting, advocating, and promoting non-violent theory  and philosophy. Association’s Goals: To work with the educational system in developing curricular and extracurricular programs on the life, work and  philosophy of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. ∙ To provide special programs, conferences and seminars for corporate management and personnel on the  significance of the Kingian approach to orderly economic and social progress. ∙ To provide an arena for community members to discuss and develop solutions for social issues and conflict  resolutions. ∙ To encourage community, civic, ethnic, and religious groups to study the principles and application of Kingian  nonviolent strategies in resolving social tensions and conflicts. ∙ To serve as a preventive and interventive resource for social conflict.