MDC

Do you know someone who has contributed to understanding public policy, education, labor markets, academic disciplines, or society? If so, the Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management is accepting nominations for the William Spriggs Memorial Award through July 17, 2024! Dr. William Spriggs was an effective and powerful voice who brilliantly championed the causes of equity, racial justice, and worker's rights. Dr. Spriggs was a professor, and former chair of, the Department of Economics at Howard University, chief economist to the AFL-CIO, and a long-serving member of MDC's Board of Directors. Our work at MDC and the communities we serve are immeasurably better because of Bill's insight, generosity, and wisdom. For more about the award, visit https://lnkd.in/eqyrQ5sW

MDC is Hiring! We are seeking a Program Director to lead work to advance early childhood education and child-care equity in the South. The primary focus is leading MDC's work on Home-Based child care, a multi-year strategy that currently includes both a community of practice of networks, and Haven, a provider leadership development program. To learn more about the position, visit: https://lnkd.in/dhESXHx The deadline to apply is Friday, April 26, 2024.

The North Carolina Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network is a cross-sector collaborative that seeks to advocate for communities and equitable access to resources in a disaster recovery system. The collaborative recently conducted a case study looking at the power, politics, and partnership dynamics and priorities to develop actionable recommendations to increase collaboration and inclusivity within disaster recovery networks. Below is an infographic created by Kayla Gilligan, MDC Rural Forward Program Associate, summarizing the case study. For a map of the participating organizations in the N.C. Disaster Recovery Network, visit: https://lnkd.in/eAVhDywM To learn more about the Disaster Recovery Network, visit: https://lnkd.in/et8WXkDg

“When an entire community is locked out of this essential health care, as many communities throughout the South are, it holds everyone back. We can invest in housing and education, economic development, and social services, but without expanding access to health care, our efforts to root out poverty will fall short. If, on the other hand, we want to unlock a bright future for Southern communities and economies, we know just where to begin.” We invite you to check out a commentary written by MDC President and CEO John Simpkins on Medicaid Expansion in the South. Published via The Post and Courier https://lnkd.in/eGT9c4G5

MDC's Student Debt Relief Coalition has a call to action for federal student loan debt-holders. If you have loans that aren't "direct" loans or if you have loans on different timelines, you may need to act by April 30, 2024 to maximize your credit toward forgiveness programs like public service loan forgiveness for nonprofit and government employees and income-driven repayment forgiveness. Student debt isn't a "them" problem, it's an "us" problem - 1.3 million North Carolinians have student debt in the present day. If you don't have it yourself, you definitely love someone who does, so consider sharing with your networks!

The NC Summer Policy Institute is a four-day program for students in undergraduate programs, recent graduates, or other young people ages 18-25, who are interested in getting involved and learning more about public policy in North Carolina. Applications are now open for the upcoming summer cohort; closing Sunday, April 14th at 11:59pm. Link to apply: https://lnkd.in/eaV_D8Gu

"Because all disasters start and end locally, strong partnerships between community organizations and public agencies are necessary for effective implementation." Read more about FEMA's new rule changes to address federal disaster assistance programs and MDC's role in addressing some of the gaps in the disaster recovery system. The post features our very own Andy Shoenig, Rural Forward Program Director, and MDC Fellow Dr. John T. Cooper. https://lnkd.in/ewrusw-G

We're Hiring: MDC seeks a Senior Program Director to lead our work to advance equity-centered leadership and philanthropy through fellowships, foundations, and community partners. MDC defines equity-centered leadership as the work of developing collaborative, human-focused solutions to achieve systemic equity and build community. We currently advance this agenda among young leaders in the early stages of their careers, leaders of color established in their careers, and within foundations at varying stages of their equity journeys across the South. The Senior Program Director will drive three significant initiatives to further this work. For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/dhESXHx

We're Hiring: The MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment team seeks an advanced or graduate-level student to support capacity building and technical assistance services in rural communities through the Dan Broun Internship program. This is a hybrid (virtual and in-person) internship and candidates should be available to travel into a community once a month.  The internship is a 10-month long opportunity, with a duration of May 2024 - April 2025. For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/dhESXHx

"For decades, millions of Americans have been forced to go without internet or pay for subpar service, which thwarts opportunities to participate and thrive in today’s society, especially for Black communities in the rural South, where the digital divide is the greatest. In this region, about 38% of Black households don’t have home internet, a higher percentage than white people in the same region and the national average, a 2021 report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found." Check out this article on digital redlining and the lack of internet access across the rural South. https://lnkd.in/eUiaiZfp