23 and MDC

We’re excited to share with you 23 ways MDC worked to shape a South where all people can thrive.

In 2023, MDC…

1. Convened 8 State of the South virtual and in-person events in 4 States including, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Alabama, providing space for critical conversations on Gentrification and Housing Displacement, Medicaid Expansion, the Inequitable burden of Student Debt, the Supreme Court’s decision on Affirmative Action and Rural Economic Development.
2. Graduated the first cohort of the Investing in Leaders of Color fellowship
3. Partnered with Oak Foundation to graduate the inaugural cohort of the Emerging Leaders Fellowship and hired ELF fellow, Rebecca Hall as a Program Coordinator for our State of the South
4. Selected Simon Palmore as the 2023-24 Autry Fellow and hired Marilyn Boutte, the 2022-2023 Autry Fellow, as a Program Coordinator for the ECLP team.
5. Brought on Race Matters Institute as a program of MDC
6. Launched the North Carolina Student Loan Debt Relief Coalition
7. Spoke up for Student Debt relief at the Federal level in support of loan options that will benefit low-income and rural borrowers.
8. Partnered with the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), the Administration of Children and Families (ACF) Region IV, and 4 Southern state agencies to address challenges in developing their human services workforce.
9. Launched two new initiatives to tackle early childcare inequities: Home-Based Child Care Community of Practice and North Carolina Leading From Home.
10. Entered the third year of learning and acting together to improve outcomes for vulnerable students at LENS-NC
11. Joined nearly 1,000 childcare advocates in urging federal lawmakers to immediately pass $16 billion in emergency childcare funding
12. Convened Great Expectations grantees and partners in Winston-Salem to facilitate community-building and a deeper understanding of systems change work
13. Worked with rural stakeholders to provide recommendations for county use of Opioid Settlement Funds
14. Partnered with Men and Women United for Youth and Families to develop an Economic Resilience Hub for Bladen and Columbus County in North Carolina
15. Facilitated partnership of 4 statewide and 8 community-based organizations to ensure ARPA funds do the maximum good in their communities
16. Amplified MDC insights and perspectives via 9 op-eds, interviews, articles, and media appearances
17. Shared our expertise with over 280 people at 5 local and regional conferences
18. Elected 3 new board members: Michelle Mapp, Monica Dongre, and Dr. Stephanie Kang
19. Welcomed 11 new team members:
    • Cole Johnson
    • Lori Kramer
    • Sam Skardon
    • Harrison Dale
    • Laterria Lassiter
    • Magan Gonzales-Smith
    • Rebecca Hall
    • Kamilah Pickett
    • Nina Rivers
    • Brandy Bynum Dawson
    • Everett Campbell
20. Promoted 3 team members: Susan Noblitt, Kierra Clark and Carolyn D’Amelio
21. Celebrated the bittersweet retirement of long-time MDC leader and staff member Julie Mooney
22. Cultivated the next generation of leaders in philanthropy by hosting 23 interns
23. Partnered with over 25 funders who generously supported our efforts to help shape a South where all people thrive.

None of this was possible without the dedicated work of our staff, board, partners, and friends. Your unwavering support will propel our progress into 2024 and beyond.  Thank you.

For more on MDC’s work read our 2023 Impact Report, available in January.