“America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future.”—Frederick Douglass, “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?”, 1852 Frederick Douglass’ haunting condemnation is a challenge to the South and the entire nation. In 1852, Douglass called on the country to acknowledge theContinue reading State of the South 2022-2023: True South
MDC is pleased to announce that we have received a gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to support our work to shape a south where all people thrive. We are thrilled and humbled to be among 465 organizations receiving over $3.8 billion. “For over 50 years, MDC has equipped Southerners with tools and strategies to advanceContinue reading MDC receives gift in recent round of giving from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
The impact of the Child Tax Credit Temporary changes to the Child Tax Credit in 2021 increased access to the benefit for low-income families during the pandemic. These changes expired in December 2021. In 2021 the Child Tax Credit was temporarily made fully refundable, enabling the lowest-income families to receive the full value of theContinue reading Emerging Trends: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Families and Children
ILOC (Investing in Leaders of Color) is here! MDC is excited to share with you a bit about this innovative new fellowship. Investing in Leaders of Color is a one-year, leadership, and capacity-building initiative to acknowledge and support the work of skilled leaders of color who serve communities of color throughout the Carolinas. The overallContinue reading ILOC Fellowship recruiting for first cohort of participants!
Photo credit: Riley Johnson, 5, front poses for a portrait with her mom Sasha Bonner in Charlotte, NC on Feb. 4, 2022. Riley had been dressing up as Black female figures for Black History Month. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Black folks have long memories. If ever there were a people who embodied “forgive but never forget,” it’sContinue reading This Black History Month let’s focus on Black futures
From MDC President, John Simpkins (featured in January issue of “Gravy” from the Southern Foodways Alliance). Illustration by Delphine Lee (“Gravy City”). A city boy found himself in the country. “We’d be walking on these dark country roads at night,” he said, “and all of a sudden this music would seem to come out ofContinue reading More Than Enough: The promise and challenge of today’s Southern cities
Earlier this year, MDC opened our staff retreat with “To Live in the Borderlands,” a poem by Gloria Anzaldua. The poet uses the border as a device to describe a world that exists at an intersection of race, gender, and culture. Her recipe for thriving in this intersectionality is to “live sin fronteras, be aContinue reading To be a crossroads…MDC in 2021
Chairman McGovern Announces Roundtable on Hunger in Rural America Twelfth in a series of events examining the steps Congress and the Biden administration can take to finally end food insecurity in this country WASHINGTON, DC — Rules Committee Chairman James P. McGovern (D-MA) today announced that the committee will be holding a roundtable examining hungerContinue reading MDC President John Simpkins participates in US House Committee Roundtable discussion on Rural Hunger
Dr. Jason Caldwell shared MDC’s Student Loan Debt Policy Agenda at The Collaborative NC annual conference as part of the Student Loan Roundtable panel. The burden of student loan debt looms large for policymakers and millions of Americans. Durham NC-based non-profit MDC has released a policy agenda for reducing student loan debt in North Carolina.Continue reading MDC releases Student Loan Policy Agenda
From left, Gov. William Winter, former MDC Program Director Shun Robertson, retired MDC President David Dodson, and MDC Autry Fellow Anna Shelton-Ormond at a 2015 showing of the documentary “The Toughest Job” about Gov. Winter at UNC-CH MDC mourns the loss of Mississippi Gov. William F. Winter, who passed away Friday (12/18/20) in Jackson, Miss.,Continue reading Remembering Miss. Gov. William Winter, MDC chair emeritus and an inspiration