General Topics

MDC ANNUAL REPORT 2008: As MDC marks its 40th year helping organizations and communities close the gaps that separate people from opportunity in the South, our Annual Report for 2008 describes a growing portfolio of work in education, job training, economic development, asset building and strategic philanthropy. We are leading a groundbreaking national community college initiative, creating career paths for Latino immigrants, helping working people create more than $21 million in wealth through the Earned Income Tax Credit, demonstrating the ways emergency preparedness can protect disadvantaged communities, and showing in our work and State of the South 2007 report how community philanthropy can refocus its work to address fundamental issues. "As the economies of the South, the nation, the world and the nonprofit universe have changed," writes James Joseph, our board chairman, "we are growing into a larger and deeper organization to keep pace."

THE CAROLINAS YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW: This work, commissioned by The Duke Endowment, examines life in North Carolina and South Carolina over the past 75 years with an eye toward understanding the challenges of the next century. MDC analyzed data on the two states' demography, quality of life, education, and economy. Prominent regional authors added short reflective pieces. Published in the fall of 1999 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Duke Endowment. Hard copies available from The Duke Endowment, phone 704-376-0291. Available online free. Cover pdf, Forematter pdf, Preface pdf, Chapter 1 pdf, Chapter 2 pdf, Chapter 3 pdf, Chapter 4 pdf, Appendix pdf

AMERICA'S SHAME, AMERICA'S HOPE: Twelve Million Youth at Risk:  A national examination of state responses to the problems of at-risk youth. Funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. September 1988. Free.

STRENGTHENING THE RURAL CAROLINAS: This paper provides the conceptual framework for the Program for the Rural Carolinas, a five-year $10.6 million rural development project in North Carolina and South Carolina funded by The Duke Endowment. The program's goal is to increase the capacity of a group of economically distressed communities in rural North Carolina and South Carolina to revitalize their communities, focusing on increasing employment and asset development opportunities. Funded by The Duke Endowment. June 2002. Pdf available online free.