Karen Baynes-Dunning’s sunny room in Greenville, South Carolina is filled with her colorful quilts, a craft she uses to connect people she cherishes. Her journey began in the South, where she first encountered racism as a young child and has since dedicated her life to fighting for social justice and advocating for disadvantaged children and families.
Quilting, both literally and figuratively, has been a constant pursuit for Baynes-Dunning. Her friend Neil Stanley Henriques described her as someone who knits together seemingly unrelated elements, a skill that reflects her approach to life and her work.
As the newly elected chair of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s board of directors, Baynes-Dunning faces the task of unifying and guiding the organization through a period of transformation. Under the leadership of Margaret Huang, the SPLC has been redefining its mission to work more closely with local communities and advocate for human rights, civil rights, and voting rights.
Baynes-Dunning’s extensive experience in leadership positions in the public and nonprofit sectors, as well as her previous role as interim president and CEO of the SPLC, has prepared her for this challenge. She has been a driving force in the organization’s strategic shift towards community engagement and support for grassroots organizers.
Embracing Community Outreach
Baynes-Dunning’s vision for the SPLC involves actively engaging with communities and empowering them to pursue their own priorities for social change. This shift represents a departure from the organization’s previous approach of making decisions in isolation, a change that Baynes-Dunning fully supports and believes in.
Her upbringing in a family rooted in the North Carolina countryside, with ties to slavery and servitude, has shaped her commitment to community. Summers spent on her grandparents’ farm allowed her to learn about her family’s history and heritage, which has greatly influenced her outlook on life.
Baynes-Dunning’s awareness of racism began at an early age and was further nurtured through experiences at school, her volunteer work, and the stories shared by her grandparents. Her education on racial inequality was not provided in school but rather through her interactions and personal experiences.
Confronting Racial Injustice
During her time at Wake Forest University, where she was mentored by poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, Baynes-Dunning became an advocate for the Black student community. The university’s environment was steeped in the glorification of the “Old South,” and she actively challenged racist customs and policies.
Her semester in Liberia was a pivotal experience that opened her eyes to a different way of life and the impact of racism globally. Upon her return, she continued to challenge discriminatory practices at Wake Forest, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to confronting racial injustice.
Throughout her journey, Baynes-Dunning’s work has been deeply inspired by her family, her community, and the individuals she has encountered along the way. Her leadership at the SPLC signifies a new chapter in the organization’s efforts to promote social justice and equality.
In the past, Karen Baynes-Dunning took a stand against apartheid and fought for a Black studies program at her university. Years later, she played a crucial role in establishing the African American studies program at Wake Forest University. She has dedicated her career to advocating for children and families, making significant contributions such as creating a special program for foster children in Georgia, overseeing reform in the state’s children and family services department, and leading a youth detention alternative initiative in Alabama. Her commitment to social justice caught the attention of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), where she later became the interim president and CEO, leading the organization through a period of renewal. With her background in law, advocacy for children, and demonstrated leadership, she was nominated and elected as the first Black woman chair of the SPLC’s board of directors. Karen Baynes-Dunning’s colleagues and peers have high praise for her relentless dedication to her work and her unwavering commitment to social justice and equality.
