PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good - Blog

Learn About Black History Online - No Hate In Our States

7/1/2020

Learn More About Black History - View Online

Civil Rights Forum

Here are two fine programs streaming for free that will give insight into Black history in our country.

I recommend you watch them in this order:

Finding Your Roots on PBS, Season 1, episode 2: Gives the fascinating history of two prominent African American politicians, Cory Booker and John Lewis. NOTE: this is streaming on Amazon ONLY through June 30th.

After you learn about John Lewis’s roots, you will want to watch Selma, which is streaming for free on Amazon Prime.

Both of these movies provide excellent information and are great springboards for family discussion.

Julie Ross

There Is No Such Thing As A "White Ally" - No Hate In Our States

7/1/2020

Read the Article There Is No Such Thing as a "White Ally"

Civil Rights Forum

Conversations about race are never easy. It is not the job of Black People to do that educating. As attorney Catherine Pugh points out in her article, There Is No Such Thing as a "White Ally", "Racism is not mine, it's yours. It's not called 'helping' when it's your mess we're cleaning."

This is not an easy read, but it is essential that white people fully understand racism in America. Catherine Pugh is a former adjunct professor at the Temple University in Japan. She developed and taught "Race and the Law" for its undergraduate program. She has worked for the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section, and as a Public Defender for the State of Maryland.

“There Is No Such Thing as a ‘White Ally’”

Caryn Unsicker

Introducing the "No Hate In Our States" Section in Our WEU

6/23/2020

No Hate In Our States -
A Recent Addition to the PACG Weekly Email Update

A Message From Our President

Dear Progressives,

I am sure you have been as disheartened as I have over the murder of George Floyd, but I hope you have also found hope in the powerful resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. PACG wholeheartedly supports this movement as well as all efforts for advancing racial justice in our communities and our country.

In response, demonstrating the importance of these efforts, our newsletter will begin each week with a new "No Hate in Our States" section, which will provide information on how you can get involved in supporting Black Lives Matter as well as justice and equality for all. In addition, links to more suggested actions for advancing these efforts will appear in this section.

Let's stand in solidarity with our diverse brothers and sisters in advancing justice!

Your President,

Allison

Watch "13th" - No Hate In Our States

6/23/2020

**Watch the Documentary 13th - Streaming On Netflix**

No Hate In Our States

Netflix and Amazon Prime are streaming many excellent movies and documentaries which give insight into the history of racism in our country and why the Black Lives Matter movement is something we must all understand and support.

13th is an excellent documentary for gaining understanding into the oppression and racism that plague our country. Watch 13th for free on YouTube: https://youtu.be/krfcq5pF8u8

Keep an eye on the PACG Facebook page for more film suggestions.

Julie Ross

Attend the Davenport Earth Month Proclamation - What You Can Do Now

6/20/2020

Presentation of 2020 Earth Month Proclamation
to Davenport City Council
Wednesday, July 8th at 5:30 pm

Council Chamber
Davenport City Hall
226 W 4th Street, Davenport (map)

Environmental Forum

Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Earth Month Proclamation signed by Davenport Mayor Matson has not been presented to the City Council. This will be done at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, July 8th at 5:30 pm. It will be one of the first items on the agenda.

You are welcome to attend this event. Due to present Council stipulations, seating is limited, so the City would like names of those who plan to attend. Please contact PJ Slobojan at pjs312@q.com by Friday, June 26th, if you’re interested in attending.

Susan Leuthauser

Racial Equality Now! Rally - What You Can Do Now

6/20/2020

Racial Equality Now! Rally
Saturdays at 11:30 am, beginning June 20th

The Slumberland/Party City Corner of
John Deere RD & 16th ST
Moline, IL (across from South Park Mall) (map)

Civil Rights Forum

Please join us from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm every Saturday to stand up for the rights of Black People, specifically, and all People of Color in the United States of America! The purpose of this local Racial Equality Now! Rally is to support the current movement for racial equality and justice that has spread across this country and to ensure that it keeps going for as long as it takes to see real and meaningful progress toward racial equality in America.

Our first rally was this past Saturday, June 13th, and we got lots of positive feedback from people passing by. If you come on Saturday, please wear a mask and expect to participate in social distancing (6 to 10 feet from others).

Although I made a few extra signs, please bring some of your own if you can. Ideas for signs can include things like “Honk for Justice,” Honk for Equality,” “Black Lives Matter,” “I Can’t Breathe!,” “Let’s Talk!,” “No Hate in Our State,” or “No More Deaths,” and many others.

There is lots of parking in the adjoining Slumberland/Party City/Enterprise parking lot, so please bring a friend and join us to help promote racial justice and equality for all People of Color! If you can’t make it this Saturday, join us on Saturdays as often as you can. Together we can make a difference!

Caryn Unsicker

Illinois COVID-19 Immigrant Family Support Project in Spanish

6/11/2020

Illinois COVID-19 Immigrant Family Support Project in Spanish

illinois_immigrant_covid_relief_spanish.pdf
File Size:	211 kb
File Type:	pdf

Spread the Word About the Illinois COVID-19 Immigrant Family Support Project - What You Can Do Now

6/11/2020

Spread the Word About the
Illinois COVID-19 Immigrant Family Support Project

On Monday, June 8th, Illinois launched a $2 Million COVID-19 Immigrant Family Support Project to provide financial assistance to low-income immigrant families impacted by COVID-19.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) explains:

The COVID-19 pandemic put the systemic failures of our health care, labor, economic and public safety infrastructure on full display. Our communities have been uninsured, underpaid, and over-policed long before this crisis struck.

As the faults of these systems are laid bare, we have an opportunity and responsibility to fight for a vision of a world where the most vulnerable are not left out but also given the opportunity to live lives of dignity and respect.

The COVID-19 Immigrant Family Support Project is just one avenue to respond to the needs of our communities.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Immigration Funders Collaborative will provide direct assistance to families that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences. ICIRR and IDHS will work with Illinois Welcoming Centers (IWC), Immigrant Family Resource Program (IFRP), and New Americans Initiative (NAI) partners with current contracts to deliver this much needed program.

Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR), World Relief - Moline and Open Door (Rock Island Welcoming Center) each received a grant for 20 applications for Rock Island and Henry County residents. They’re working together to ensure that 60 eligible QC families complete the application process prior to the June 30, 2020 deadline.

Qualified applicants must be not eligible for the federal stimulus package, unemployment insurance and federal benefits; he/she must have a photo ID and proof of address (official document with printed name and address, e.g. phone bill, utility bill, bank statement, etc.).

The deadline for application is June 30th. The successful applicant will receive a cash award of $1000, which is limited to one per household. This is state funding, and is exempt from Public Charge.

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. To expedite your application, please contact them no later than Friday, June 26th.

Contact one of the people below to begin this process. Assistance in Spanish and French are also available (flyers in each language may be downloaded below).

QCAIR: Nana Ouro-Agoro – 309-716-7437 or nana.ouro-agoro@qcair.org

World Relief:  Habie Timbo -309-938-0275 or htimbo@wr.org

Open Door:  Loredia Dixon – 309-793-8201

French Speakers:  Nana Ouro-Agoro – 309-716-7437 or nana.ouro-agoro@qcair.org

Spanish Speakers:  Maria Bribriesco – 563-505-5711 or qcair@qcair.org

Note:  When you go to the ICIRR website, it says "Funding Update – the $2 Million funds have been exhausted." Disregard this message! The QC groups have already been granted these applications and funding is guaranteed (although application submission does not guarantee approval of request). The state of Illinois is continuing to seek further funding for this program.

Flyer in English

illinois_immigrant_covid_relief_eng.pdf
File Size:	279 kb
File Type:	pdf

Flyer in French

illinois_immigrant_covid_relief_french.pdf
File Size:	211 kb
File Type:	pdf

Flyer in Spanish

illinois_immigrant_covid_relief_spanish.pdf
File Size:	211 kb
File Type:	pdf

Illinois COVID-19 Immigrant Family Support Project in French

6/11/2020

Illinois COVID-19 Immigrant Family Support Project in French

illinois_immigrant_covid_relief_french.pdf
File Size:	211 kb
File Type:	pdf

ACA Deadline for Laid-Off Workers

6/2/2020

ACA Deadlines Near For Laid-Off Workers

Health Care Reform Forum

Workers who were laid off due to the coronavirus shutdown, and who lost their employer health insurance, have a 60-day window of opportunity to seek replacement insurance on the Affordable Care Marketplace.

Low-income or unemployed workers may be eligible for subsidized insurance on the ACA. If you know anyone who might qualify for this benefit, encourage them to go to www.healthcare.gov/ to see if they qualify. They must apply within 60 days of becoming unemployed.

Frank Samuelson