| Hi Friend, We’re excited to share MDC’s 2025 State of the South report with you! This year’s report, “Realizing Meaning, Dignity, and Community in the South,” is a community-driven reflection on the challenges and opportunities shaping our region’s future. Through convenings in cities across the South, we’ve heard powerful stories of resilience, creativity, and commitment to equity. This report amplifies those voices and offers a roadmap for a more inclusive and just South. Art plays a central role in this year’s report, with work from Southern artists helping to tell the story of our region’s struggles, hopes, and future possibilities. We invite you to read the full report here. Join the conversation using #StateoftheSouth, and be part of shaping the future we all deserve. |
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| Hi there, We’re excited to share MDC’s 2025 State of the South report with you! This year’s report, “Realizing Meaning, Dignity, and Community in the South,” is a community-driven reflection on the challenges and opportunities shaping our region’s future. Through convenings in cities across the South, we’ve heard powerful stories of resilience, creativity, and commitment to equity. This report amplifies those voices and offers a roadmap for a more inclusive and just South. Art plays a central role in this year’s report, with work from Southern artists helping to tell the story of our region’s struggles, hopes, and future possibilities. We invite you to read the full report here. Join the conversation using #StateoftheSouth, and be part of shaping the future we all deserve. |
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| | Partner & Project Highlights |
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| Partner & Project Highlights |
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|  | Rural Prosperity and Investment MDC Rural Forward is truly grateful to have celebrated this special milestone with more than 125 attendees representing 34 counties in North Carolina and four states in the South. Thank you to our event sponsors, MDC staff and board, partners, and friends. We also sincerely appreciate the awe-inspiring speakers who shared their wisdom, time, and energy to make the celebration memorable. We’d like to extend a shoutout to the vendors—the venue, caterers, decorators, videographer, photographer, and remarkable live entertainment from Kimberly Michelle Music—for their touches of excellence. Please enjoy the video compilation of the anniversary event at the link below. Watch Video → |
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|  | Race Matters Institute In February we launched the #EquityInAction series authored by Race Matters Institute Director, Kamilah Pickett. This month, we shared the stories of Black southern artists, activists and advocates whose work is directly connected to MDC’s four focus areas: Educational Equity, Economic Security and Mobility, Rural Prosperity and Investment, and Equity-Centered Leadership and Philanthropy. Please click on the links below to read on about our featured Southern leaders: Fannie Lou Hamer and O.W. Hurley. Read More: Fannie Lou Hamer → Read More: O.W. Hurley → |
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|  | Economic Security and Mobility Direct File is now available in North Carolina! Did you know that North Carolinians have a new, easy, online tax filing service this year? And even better - it’s free to use! Direct File is a new service that lets eligible taxpayers file their federal and state taxes directly with the government, from the convenience of their mobile device or personal computer. It’s available in English and Spanish and is designed to be simple, secure, and always free. Direct File is transforming how people file their taxes! Read More → |
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| Rural Prosperity and Investment MDC Rural Forward is truly grateful to have celebrated this special milestone with more than 125 attendees representing 34 counties in North Carolina and four states in the South. Thank you to our event sponsors, MDC staff and board, partners, and friends. We also sincerely appreciate the awe-inspiring speakers who shared their wisdom, time, and energy to make the celebration memorable. Please enjoy the video compilation of the anniversary event at the link below. Watch Video → |
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| Race Matters Institute In February we launched the #EquityInAction series authored by Race Matters Institute Director, Kamilah Pickett. This month, we shared the stories of Black southern artists, activists and advocates whose work is directly connected to MDC’s four focus areas: Educational Equity, Economic Security and Mobility, Rural Prosperity and Investment, and Equity-Centered Leadership and Philanthropy. Please click on the links to read on about our featured Southern leaders: Fannie Lou Hamer and O.W. Hurley. |
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| Economic Security and Mobility Direct File is now available in North Carolina! Did you know that North Carolinians have a new, easy, online tax filing service this year? And even better - it’s free to use! Direct File is a new service that lets eligible taxpayers file their federal and state taxes directly with the government, from the convenience of their mobile device or personal computer. It’s available in English and Spanish and is designed to be simple, secure, and always free. Direct File is transforming how people file their taxes! Learn More → |
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| | |  | Townhall on Hurricane Helene Recovery The NC Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network (NCIDR), facilitated by MDC, joined the NC Budget & Tax Center to host a telephone townhall on Helene Recovery. From MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment Program Director, Andy Shoenig: "Volunteerism, charity, philanthropy, and individual preparedness have a meaningful role to play in responding to disasters. But we cannot rely on these alone. It is the public sector and public policies who are charged with ensuring that everyone and every community recovers." Learn more and view the event transcript at the link below. Read More → |
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 | Understanding Student Loans Webinar Are you ready to take control of your student loans? Join MDC and the Student Borrower Protection Center on March 3rd at 5:30 pm (EST) for an informative webinar on student loan repayment, management, and discharge opportunities for 2025. Learn More and Register → |
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| | | | | | Join us for a Report Release Celebration! Please join us Friday, March 7 at 5:30pm in Durham for an evening of arts, food, and conversation to celebrate the release of MDC’s 2025 State of the South Report! We’ll hear from the State of the South team about the process of developing the report, spend time connecting with friends old and new, and celebrate the work of the local artists. Learn More and Register → |
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 | ICYMI: Video from State of the South Report Livestream! To mark the launch of the 2025 State of the South Report, MDC hosted a conversation with local artists Johnny Lee Chapman III and Antonio Alanis about their experiences with State of the South and about the importance of art in shaping a South where all people thrive. The event was live streamed on MDC's social media channels. Click the link below to watch the video. Watch Video → |
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| |  | MDC Inc
307 W Main St | Durham, North Carolina 27701
919-381-5802 | info@mdcinc.org |
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