Standing InThe Gap
When the Ground Shifts: A Hard Year, A Clearer Purpose, A Future of Dignity
The political changes and international policy choices this past year have reminded us how quickly the ground can shift beneath people’s feet. Rules change, norms erode, and the basic assumption that tomorrow will look like today feels less certain than it once did. Without cataloging every headline, we can see the consequences in people’s everyday lives: rights that feel conditional, safety that feels unevenly distributed, and futures that feel more precarious for those who have always had the least margin for error.
If this past year has felt heavy, disorienting, or unfair, you’re not alone and you’re not wrong. That fragility is real. It is also exactly why, as we step into 2026, we must be clear about restating who we are, who we are for, and how we show up. At MDC, times of transition don’t blur our purpose; they sharpen it.
We know who we are for: people whose choices and chances have been constrained by racism, poverty, disinvestment, and systems never designed with them in mind—especially Black, Brown, Indigenous, immigrant, and low-wealth communities across the American South. We know what we are for: a future where people can choose meaningful lives of opportunity and security. And every day, we work with partners to make that future real, using an explicit equity lens to focus on those who have been pushed furthest from resources, power, and safety.
Read the full article HERE or at the button below.
Webinar: Are we ready for a new era of Philanthropy in the US South?
Thursday, Feb 12., 2pm ET
This webinar will invite attendees to understand traditional approaches to philanthropy, contextualize philanthropy from a Southern perspective, and explore what a new era could look like. This is an opportunity to learn, engage, and connect through a moderated discussion between two philanthropic leaders, advisors, and visionaries.
Register HERE or at the button below
MDC in the News: Environmental justice projects impacted EPA cuts
WUNC News, 12/22/25
MDC Inc, a Durham-based nonprofit aimed at advancing economic and environmental equity, has spent months partnering with the local Hispanic Federation to boost Latino participation in Eastern North Carolina’s environmental politics.
The Hispanic Federation's North Carolina director Lariza Garzón said this initiative combats years of exclusion.
“Historically, Latino communities have not been sitting on the table with decision makers when it comes to environmental issues,” Garzón said.
The $3 million EPA grant was supposed to help fund a project that the two organizations hope will solve this issue.
Registration is Open! State of the South, Jacksonville, Florida
Join us for State of the South: Jacksonville, a three-day event to bring together Southerners around art, policy, data, & shared community.
Climate and development pressures are exacerbating economic and social challenges for Southern communities. In this convening, we will explore and highlight strategies for preventing land and housing loss, disaster recovery, wealth-building, and celebrating the cultural ties and traditions that ground us.
Attendees can expect sessions focused on Southern history and data exploration, disaster recovery, community organizing, and storytelling. We will celebrate local artists and share visions for a healthy, thriving South. More information on the Agenda, Speakers, and Venue Details will be released in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more updates!
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Shaping a South where all people thrive
307 W Main St | Durham, North Carolina 27701 | 919-381-5802 | info@mdcinc.org
www.mdcinc.org
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