PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good - Blog

The Lane Evans Forum: Putting People First - Saturday October 19th at 1 pm

10/9/2019

Election 2020: Putting People First -
Saturday, October 19th at 1pm

Augustana College
Denkman Building
Wallenberg Hall
3520 7th AV
Rock Island, IL 61201 (map)

The Lane Evans Forum

Celebrating the memory and progressive populist legacy of the late Congressman Lane Evans (D-17 Congressional District of Illinois).

Hear and share ideas, messages and principles that will earn votes and support.

Learn how you can be a catalyst for change.

Join us for a dynamic conversation!

Featuring special guests:

Representative Jan Shakowsky (D-CD 9 IL)
Fred Harris, Former Senator (D-OK) and former Presidential Candidate
Jim Hightower, America's #1 Populist
Thomas Frank, Best-Selling Author of "What's The Matter With Kansas?"

RSVP online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-lane-evans-forum-tickets-73484073843

Global Climate Strike - After Action Report

10/9/2019

Global Climate Strike - After Action Report
Friday, Oct. 4th at 4pm

920 Middle Road, Bettendorf, IA 52722 (map)

PACG Environmental Forum and
Gardening for the Environment - Quad Cities

This September, millions of us walked out of our workplaces and homes to join young climate strikers on the streets and demand an end to the age of fossil fuels. Our house is on fire — let’s act like it! We demand climate justice for everyone!

Over twenty people showed up Friday in Bettendorf to join the global climate strike efforts. Many passersby honked or gave thumbs up in support of our efforts.

Contact the Host at Global Strike for Climate, QC on Facebook.

Tara Witherow

What You Can Do Now - Call Congress About Impeachment Inquiry

10/9/2019

What You Can Do Now - Call Your Member of Congress About
the Impeachment Inquiry

A Message from the President

Considering the turmoil facing our democracy at this confusing time, we encourage all PACG members to call the offices of their Members of Congress daily to voice their opinions about the impeachment inquiry.
Tell your friends and voting-age family members to contact their representatives.

This is very simple but has enormous impact. Each call takes one or two minutes. You either speak to a staffer or leave a message. State your name, address and your message. Be brief, respectful and stay on point. It's also a good idea to thank the staffer - if you speak to one - for doing their job during this stressful time. If your Member is Congress is pursuing this situation to your satisfaction, tell them you are grateful for their diligence and hard work. If they are not, give them input.

Iowa Senators
Chuck Grassley - Davenport Office: 563-322-4331
WA DC Office: 202-224-3744

Joni Ernst - Davenport Office: 563-322-0677
WA DC Office: 202-224-3254

Illinois Senators
Dick Durbin - Rock Island: 309-786-5173
WA DC Office: 202-224-2152

Tammy Duckworth - Rock Island: 309-606-7060
WA DC Office: 202-224-2854

Your voice matters between elections - make it heard. Take 4 minutes out of your day to help make the change that you want to see. Put these numbers in your phone's Contacts and call daily. You will feel empowered.

Allison Ambrose

2019 Picnic & Pie Auction - After Action Report

10/2/2019

Picnic/Pie Auction a Great Success! - After Action Report
Sunday, September 15th at 12:00 pm

Longview Park 18th Avenue & 17th Street Rock Island, IL.

PACG Board

Despite some early morning rain, sixty-seven people turned out to enjoy picnic food from Fresh Deli and music by Chris Dunn. Nearby playground equipment provided fun for the kids as well.

There were also several raffle winners, and we were lucky again this year to have Jen Broders, assisted by her husband, Ed, do our famous Pie Auction, which is designed to help fund the many activities of our very active Civil Rights, Environmental, and Health Care Reform Forums. We got to hear short reports from our forum leaders as well as from the Fallow Endowment for Social Justice to keep everybody up-to-date on all the hard work we're doing to forward progressive issues during a time when they are being challenged as never before.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the picnic afforded a chance for everybody to just relax and visit with other progressive minded folks!

Thanks to all who were able to join us this year. It was great to see you again! Enjoy the rest of this beautiful Fall season, and we hope to see you at our Holiday Party in December.

Sincerely,
The PACG Picnic Committee
Allison Ambrose, Ann McCluskey, Susan Meenan, Margie Meija Caraballo, Caryn Unsicker

Juvenile Justice and Jails - 2019-10-05

9/28/2019

Juvenile Justice and Jails - A Community Forum

juvenile_justice_and_jails_forum_flyer_-_2019-10-05.pdf
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Read more about the event in this informative article in the Quad City Times.

Green Drinks - Thursday, September 26th, 5-7 pm

9/25/2019

Green Drinks - Thursday, September 26th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm

Fresh Deli at the Freight House
421 W River Drive, Davenport, IA (map)

Environmental Forum

Join us for lively discussions at our September Green Drinks. A flyer is available for download below the image below. We look forward to seeing you Thursday!

Susan Leuthauser

green_drinks_flyer_v2.0.pdf
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Global Climate Strike - Friday, September 27th at 4 pm

9/10/2019

Due to inclement weather, this is postponed to next Friday, October 4th!
What You Can Do Now - Join Our Global Climate Strike -
Global Climate Strike - Friday, September 27th at 4pm

920 Middle Road, Bettendorf, IA 52722 (map)

"This September, millions of us will walk out of our workplaces and homes to join young climate strikers on the streets and demand an end to the age of fossil fuels. Our house is on fire — let’s act like it! We demand climate justice for everyone!"

Bring a sign with a message to the event, or there will be a poster making party at the Freight House (on the patio at the west end) at 5pm on September 20th.

Contact the Host at Global Strike for Climate, QC on Facebook.

Tara Witherow

PACG Book Club for October - December of 2019 and January - March of 2020

9/8/2019

PACG Book Club Selections for October of 2019 - March of 2020

The PACG Book Club will continue this year with our theme of racial justice. Our book discussions are held on the first Saturday of the month at 10:30 am at the Davenport Main Public Library, 321 N Main St, Davenport (map). We meet in the small community meeting room on level LL, unless noted otherwise. Everyone is welcome. Come even if you have not read the book. Contact Alta Price if you have questions.

The following are our selections for the next six months. Some of the later ones may change, so check back here as it gets closer to March.

October - Thursday, October 10th at 6 pm, UUCQC (map) Board Room
We are not meeting in October. The PACG Book Club invites everyone to join the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities (UUCQC) for discussion of White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. We will discuss the book at our November book discussion.

November - Saturday, November 2nd at 10:30 am - White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

December - Saturday, December 7th at 10:30 am - Honky by Dalton Conley
(Note: You can pick up a copy of Underground Railroad from Alta at the December book discussion or at the Holiday Party.)

January - Saturday, January 4th at 10:30 am - Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
(Note: Return your library copy of the book to Alta at the meeting.)

February - Saturday, February 1st at 10:30 am - The Souls of Black Folks by W.E.B. Du Bois (or anything by W.E.B. Du Bois)

March - Saturday, March 7th at 10:30 am - They Can't Kill Us All by Wesley Lowery

A Faithful Response to Climate Change - After Action Report

9/4/2019

A Faithful Response to Climate Change - After Action Report
Sunday, August 25th

Schwiebert Park, Rock Island, IL

Environmental Forum

The Faithful Response to Climate Change was hosted by the Faith Leader's Caucus from Quad City Interfaith. This was co-sponsored by the Environmental Forum of PACG. Religious leaders spoke from various faiths about the need to address climate change in order to be consistent with their values. Olivia Dorothy from American Rivers spoke from the scientific point of view, and Mark Russell from Iowa Interfaith and Light spoke about the regional and national response from faith leaders. Lori McCollum spoke from the point of view of a parent. Music was provided by Todtz McGoats, and the Sage Sisters. About 50 people gathered in an intermittent gentle rain to discuss this topic, which was well covered by the press.

Lori McCollum

After Action Report - "Paris to Pittsburgh" Screening

9/4/2019

Paris to Pittsburgh - After Action Report
Wednesday, August 21st

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities

Environmental Forum

The movie Paris to Pittsburgh was shown on Thursday evening, August 22nd at the UU church with the Environmental Forum co-sponsoring the event. There were nearly 70 people in attendance to view the film and listen to a panel presentation about climate change by Mark Schwiebert, former mayor of Rock Island, Eric Sorensen, senior meteorologist at WQAD, Ray Wolf, National Weather Service, Olivia Dorothy, Director of the Upper Mississippi Region of American Rivers, and Mike Wilcox, chair of the Eagle View Chapter of the Sierra Club. The information was well received, and a number of excellent questions were posed by the audience.

Lori McCollum