| Hi Friend, We're celebrating a decade of impact and innovation at Rural Forward’s 10th Anniversary event on Wednesday, February 12th, at the Rocky Mount Event Center! This is an opportunity to connect with fellow changemakers and community leaders working to advance equity and opportunity for rural North Carolina. Prepare to be inspired by an extraordinary lineup of featured speakers who are shaping the future of rural equity: - Dr. Laura Gerald, President of the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.
- John L. S. Simpkins, President and CEO of MDC.
- Maggie Sauer, Director of the Office of Rural Health at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
- Reuben Blackwell, President and CEO of Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. (OIC).
We’ll reflect on key milestones, spotlight the inspiring work of our partners, and share exciting plans for the future. Your support over the past decade has been invaluable, and we’re grateful to celebrate this journey with you. |
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| Hi there, We're celebrating a decade of impact and innovation at Rural Forward’s 10th Anniversary event on Wednesday, February 12th, at the Rocky Mount Event Center! This is an opportunity to connect with fellow changemakers and community leaders working to advance equity and opportunity for rural North Carolina. Prepare to be inspired by an extraordinary lineup of featured speakers who are shaping the future of rural equity: - Dr. Laura Gerald, President of the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.
- John L. S. Simpkins, President and CEO of MDC.
- Maggie Sauer, Director of the Office of Rural Health at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
- Reuben Blackwell, President and CEO of Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. (OIC).
We’ll reflect on key milestones, spotlight the inspiring work of our partners, and share exciting plans for the future. Your support over the past decade has been invaluable, and we’re grateful to celebrate this journey with you. |
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| | Partner & Project Highlights |
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| Partner & Project Highlights |
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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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|  | Race Matters Institute Race matters. Class matters. Geography matters. Gender identity and ability matter. Through whatever means we define these constructs, we can at least acknowledge that time has a way of altering how we feel about them. Imperialism creates and shifts borders; people are sorted into categories that reflect their proximity to power and privilege, and those become our identities – if not to ourselves then to others. History matters. Understanding how these constructs, particularly race and class, have been molded and contorted over time is critical in allowing us to make (at least some) sense of this moment. It feels like history is yelling at us, “I tried to tell you so!” For folks still trying to grapple with the enormity of all the disaster and devastation we’ve witnessed or experienced in the last few years, it’s often hard enough to put one foot in front of the other. We don’t all have the energy or inclination to wax poetic about things long past. But some of us do. And we should. Read More → |
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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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| Race Matters Institute Race matters. Class matters. Geography matters. Gender identity and ability matter. Through whatever means we define these constructs, we can at least acknowledge that time has a way of altering how we feel about them. Imperialism creates and shifts borders; people are sorted into categories that reflect their proximity to power and privilege, and those become our identities – if not to ourselves then to others. Learn More → |
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| | | | We Need to Support Childless Adults, Too MDC Senior Program Director, Jenna Bryant writes about confronting poverty in the South and closing the Medicare gap in NextCity.com, "The South’s economic vitality depends on the contributions of millions of nonelderly adults without children, who form a critical pillar of our workforce, communities and economy. This group shoulders immense responsibilities, from providing childcare for neighbors or relatives to supporting aging parents, all while filling indispensable roles in healthcare, education, technology and construction." Read More → |
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| Jimmy Carter and the making of a modern Southerner MDC President John Simpkins reflects on the passing of President Jimmy Carter in South Carolina's The Post and Courier. "The year begins with the end of a life well-lived. It is worth pausing to reflect in a slightly different way on the late President Jimmy Carter’s place in history and in our Southern present. The “Man from Plains” was the archetype of the modern Southerner. Like the South itself, Jimmy Carter was a bundle of contradictions. He knew how to grow peanuts and repair nuclear reactors." Read More → |
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| | | | | | Resources from State of the South Atlanta We are grateful to all our community partners and colleagues who offered their art, expertise, time, and insights to shape the thoughtful discussions we held over the three-day event. Please check out the resources below for further reading on some of the topics we discussed. Read More → |
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| ICYMI: Highlights from State of the South: Atlanta! Here's quick snapshot our latest State of the South convening in Atlanta! Stay tuned for more conversations, articles, and video content at www.stateofthesouth.org! Stay tuned for details on the State of the South report release in February. The report will reflect learnings, themes, and artwork from MDC’s State of the South partners in Durham, NC; Berea, KY; Birmingham, AL; Charleston, SC; and Atlanta, GA from 2022-2024. Watch Video → |
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| | Your investment drives MDC’s work. By investing in MDC, you make it possible for us to advance knowledge about what works to create and scale transformative solutions in education, employment, access to healthcare, and sustainable community development. |
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| |  | MDC Inc
307 W Main St | Durham, North Carolina 27701
919-381-5802 | info@mdcinc.org |
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