How are state and federal budget decisions shaping the future of rural
communities across the South?
Join MDC for the George B. Autry Policy Series, bringing together leading experts to explore how policy choices impact equity, opportunity, and economic stability in small towns and rural regions.
🗓 April 20, 2026 | 12:30 PM ET | 📍Webinar
Featuring:
Gbenga Ajilore, Chief Economist, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Brandy Bynum Dawson, Senior Program Director, MDC
This conversation will connect national policy trends to real impacts across the South—offering insights, context, and opportunities for action.
REGISTER for the webinar at the button below.
Welcome to MDC, Ren Bullock!
Please join us in welcoming Ren Bullock (they/he) as MDC’s new Program Administrator for Educational Equity.
Ren is a nonbinary Black and Vietnamese cultural organizer, educator, author, and speaker whose work centers community, storytelling, and equity. With experience spanning organizations like Youth Speaks, Words Beats & Life, and Blackspace, Ren brings a dynamic and deeply rooted approach to education and community engagement.
We’re excited to have Ren join MDC and help advance educational equity across the South.
LENS-NC: Learning, Growth, and Collective Practice
The LENS-NC network continues to bring together organizations across North Carolina working to improve outcomes for students with learning differences.
In our latest blog, we reflect on lessons from the network and what it takes to build collaborative, equitable learning environments, from sharing power in co-design to recognizing the emotional dimensions of learning.
👉 Read the full blog and explore key takeaways at the button below.
What is a Citizen?
In a recent op-ed, MDC’s Harrison Dale reflects on immigration, citizenship, and history, drawing connections between past and present to examine how legal status, belonging, and protection can shift over time.
The piece challenges us to consider how we define citizenship and what it means to build a society rooted in dignity and safety for all.
Read the Op-Ed at the button below.
Image: Anne Frank at 2 years old
Photo Credit: Toro Photo Company
State of the South: Jacksonville
Thank You + What’s Next?
Thank you to everyone who joined us for State of the South™: Jacksonville, and to those who have been following along and supporting this work.
This convening brought together leaders, artists, practitioners, and community members to explore how development pressures and climate-related challenges are shaping Southern communities—and how people are organizing to respond with resilience, creativity, and care.
Whether you were in the room or not, we invite you to experience moments from the convening and stay connected to what’s emerging from these conversations.
👉 View photos here or at the button below (Photos courtesy: Toro Photo Company)
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more reflections, content, and highlights from Jacksonville, including stories, insights, and continued opportunities to engage.
Stay tuned for what’s next in the State of the South™ series. We hope to see you at a future convening!
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Shaping a South where all people thrive
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