Donnie Charleston is the Director of Policy & Advocacy for E Pluribus Unum, where he is responsible for developing the organization’s policy agenda and putting it to action, and overseeing public policy research partnerships for the organization. Donnie previously served as Director of State & Local Fiscal Engagement for The Urban Institute. Charleston also has extensive experience in state and local government. A native of North Carolina, Donnie currently lives in Washington, D.C.

About Us: E Pluribus Unum was formed in 2018 with the premise that we must confront the issue of race head-on if we are to move forward. They believe our cities and towns will only thrive if they find a way to unite around a common purpose. To better understand the ways in which systemic racism and economic inequality impacts Southerners, the E Pluribus Unum team traveled the South extensively, visiting 28 communities across 13 states. Our first report, Divided by Design: Findings from the American South, focuses on how residents experience issues of race and class in their communities. The report also identifies 15 key insights that will be used to build a more inclusive South.

Today, E Pluribus Unum is building programs and initiatives focused on cultivating and empowering courageous leaders who are advancing racial equity, changing the divisive narratives that perpetuate systemic and interpersonal racism, and championing transformative policy change. Through this work, they will create a vision for a more just, equitable, and inclusive South, setting an example for the rest of the nation. Together, we can chart a new course for the South — one that centers on racial equity and moves towards reconciliation.