PACG - Blog

What You Can Do Now in Illinois - VOTE & Dine with Friends October 24th!

10/22/2018

VOTE at the Moline Public Library, (3210 41st St, Moline) (map)
Dine at the Quad Cities USA Family Restaurant 4910 22nd Ave, Moline (map )
Date: Wednesday, October 24th
Time: Noon to 6 pm to VOTE, 6:15 pm to dine

If you are registered to vote in Illinois, and have not voted or sent in your Absentee Ballot, VOTE with your progressive friends at the Moline Public Library between noon and 6 pm on Wednesday, October 24.

If you have an Absentee Ballot, bring it along and ask the people at the polls what to do with it. They will either have you vote using the Absentee Ballot or have you surrender the Absentee Ballot and give you a new ballot to use.

No matter how or when you're voting, join your progressive friends for dinner at the Quad Cities USA Family Restaurant in Moline (behind Arby’s). We will be dining between 6:15 and 8:00 pm.

PACG board members won't be at the library all afternoon, but we'll get there by late afternoon & head over to the restaurant at 6. Feel free to meet us at the restaurant or travel with us from the library.

Check out our Illinois: VOTE & Eat Facebook event page!

Linnea Crowther
linneacrowther@gmail.com

PACG is looking for a part time Office Manager

10/20/2018

Part Time Office Manager Job Posting

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OFFICE MANAGER
Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG) of the Quad Cities is seeking a part-time (10 to 15 hours per week) Office Manager to assist the Board of Directors in carrying out the organizational mission: "As progressives, we empower people to take action for positive change and social justice by coordinating a network of community forums and events aimed at educating and engaging citizens to work for the common good of all. Our core values are: Social Justice, Empowerment, Diversity, Sustainability and Community." This position is responsible for overseeing the PACG communications plan, outreach to volunteers, assistance in carrying out Issue Forum events, support for monthly Board and Issue Forum meetings and PACG software management. Candidate must have excellent organizational and communication skills (written and oral) and be willing to work occasional nights and weekends. Candidates must possess a college degree. Experience in office management is preferred. PACG is a 501(c)3. Position is open until filled. People from under-represented populations are encouraged to apply. Please submit letter of application, resume and contact information for three professional references to:

PACG
1212 W 3rd St.
Davenport, IA 52802

Book Club News for October, November and December 2018

10/9/2018

October 23 (Tuesday) at 5:30 pm: International Women Authors Series with Mexican Author Valeria Luiselli

In my other book club I have very much enjoyed the Annual International Women Authors series. Consider attending the 12th Annual International Women Authors Series dinner on Tuesday, October 23, 5:30 pm with Mexican author Valeria Luiselli. The dinner is at the Radisson in downtown Davenport. The cost is $40 (less if you fill a whole table). You must register in advance, and they could sell out. Her books are short and you could probably get some of them read by October 23. Also, she wrote Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in Forty Questions, a book of essays interviewing children fleeing violence in Central America that is very pertinent to the work we are doing on Immigration in the Civil Rights Forum.

Alta Price

**November 10 (Saturday) at 11:30 am: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas**

Read more about it at the author’s website. There is also a movie based on the book, so PACG will go to the movie as well (on a different date). Check back later for the location.

**December 1 (Saturday) at 11:30 am: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander**

Read more about it at the NewJimCrow.com website. We will be reading this with the folks in PACG’s new Issue Forum on Drug Policy. (Join the Drug Policy Facebook group or visit the Drug Policy section of our pacgqc.org website to get involved.) Check back later for the location.

What You Can Do Now in Iowa - VOTE & Dine with Friends October 16

10/9/2018

What You Can Do Now if You Live in Iowa - VOTE & Dine with Friends - October 16th

VOTE at the Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Dr, Bettendorf (map link)
Dine at the Olive Tree Cafe, 2513 53rd Ave, Bettendorf (map link)
Date: Tuesday October 16
Time: Noon to 6 pm to VOTE, 6:15 pm to dine

If you haven't already sent in your absentee ballet, come out and vote in person with your progressive friends! Early voting is available at the Bettendorf Public Library (2950 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf) on Tuesday, October 16 from noon to 6 pm. If that works for you, come and vote and then join us for dinner at the Olive Tree Café in Bettendorf, 2513 53rd Ave, Bettendorf. The Olive Tree Café is just up 18th from the Library. (You can still come to dinner with us if you already voted or sent in your absentee ballot.)

If you have an absentee ballot, bring it along. You will either surrender the absentee ballot or use it to vote (I’m not sure which). If you haven’t requested an absentee ballot, you will be given a ballot at the satellite voting location.

Alta Price

What You Can Do Now in Iowa - VOTE!

10/9/2018

What You Can Do Now If You Live in Iowa - VOTE!

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Early voting in Scott County starts on October 8 (absentee ballots ready) or October 10 (satellite voting). Visit the Scott County Auditor’s Election Central part of the Scott County website for much more information.

There are two ways to vote early:

Early voting by mail (absentee voting)
Early voting in person (satellite voting) There is a list of sites and dates/times for satellite voting, as well as a downloadable flyer at the end with that information. You can also use the link at the top to download the flyer.

Community Events: Quad Cities Interfaith October 2018 Task Force Assembly

10/9/2018

Join Quad Cities Interfaith
for our upcoming

Issues Task Force Assembly
October 22, 2018, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
St. Mary’s Parrish House, 516 Fillmore Street, Davenport (map link)

Issue Task Forces will be strategizing on advancing our campaigns for:
Immigrant Rights
Mass Incarceration/Restorative Justice
Additional issues as they emerge

Note from PACG:
Immigrant Rights will be of interest to our Civil Rights Forum
Mass Incarceration/Restorative Justice will be of interest to our Civil Rights Forum
and Drug Policy Forum

Contact Lead Organizer Aaron Wagner, QCI, at
641-990-4594, aaronwagnerqci@gmail.com, with
questions or input leading up the October 22nd meeting

Civil Disobedience Training!

10/8/2018

Civil Disobedience Training - Monday, October 15th at 7:00 pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities
3707 Eastern Ave, Davenport IA (map)

Twenty-two people attended the October 5th training for nonviolent civil disobedience in support of justice in our country. It was a wonderful turnout to get this movement started!

You must be trained to act in nonviolent resistance! Our next training is October 15th at 7 pm at the church. This free, one-hour class is for people interested in participating in protest AND for those who want to support protesters (but who don't want to participate in civil disobedience themselves). You will learn the underpinnings of peaceful, nonviolent resistance and practical advice for making it work.

All are welcome. We will be building the capacity to bring a large number of people together peacefully in support of justice, in reaction to the upsetting, ongoing injustice coming from DC every day.

Contact Alta if you are interested in attending.

Alta Price

Working Together Online Fund Drive Videos - Check 'Em Out!

10/8/2018

Our History of Activists and Action!
Founding Mother: Cath Bolkcom, and Alta Price discuss the beginnings of PACG.

One of Our First Employees: James Lee talks about his early work for PACG.

Health Care Reform Die-In: One of our early demonstrations for Health Care Reform.

Our Current Issue Forums!
Civil Rights - Juvenile Justice Reform: Jane Duax tells how a PACG Civil Rights panel sparked this project.

Civil Rights - Immigration: Margie Mejia-Caraballo and Maria Bribiesco discuss working in coalition.

Environmental Forum: The Environmental Forum gives an overview of their recent events and actions.

Health Care Reform - ACA: Facilitators Karen Metcalf and Frank Samuelson discuss the handprints project and efforts to save the ACA.

Health Care Reform - A Musical Appeal: Members channel Bob Dylan.

Our Newest Issue Forum!
Drug Policy Forum: Caroline Vernon and Dan DeShane share some PACG history and plans for this newly organized forum.

October 2018 Immigration Meetings

10/3/2018

October 2018 Immigration Meetings

The PACG Civil Rights Forum is working on its own and also in coalition with other community organizations on Immigration. Consider coming to one of these upcoming meetings on Immigration issues:

Oct 13 (Saturday), 10 am at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the QC, 3707 Eastern Ave, Davenport - QC Sanctuary Coalition (contact John Dunsheath with questions)

Oct 14 (Sunday), 4 pm at Greatest Grains, 1600 N Harrison, Davenport - PACG Civil Rights Forum (contact Alta Price with questions)

Oct 22 (Monday), 6:30 pm at St. Mary’s Parish House, 516 Fillmore St, Davenport - Quad Cities Interfaith Task Force Assembly(includes Immigration and Restorative Justice) (contact Quad Cities Interfaith with questions)

Oct 24 (Wednesday), 1 pm at the Chancery of the Catholic Diocese of Davenport, 780 W Central Park, Davenport - One Human Family Immigration Task Force (contact Sister Nancy Miller with questions)

What You Can Do Now - Call Your Senators and Tell Them #NoKavanaugh

10/1/2018

What You Can Do Now - Call Your Senators and Tell Them #NoKavanaugh

Anyone who watched Dr. Christine Ford’s testimony on Thursday and the yelling, self-pitying, lying testimony of Brett Kavanaugh knows that Kavanaugh assaulted Dr. Ford when she was 15-years-old. Senators Grassley and Ernst know that as well. They intend to vote for Kavanaugh anyway.

We are asking you to call your Senators’ offices every day next week. Also, look for local #NoKavanaugh rallies that will come up on short notice by following our Progressive Action for the Common Good Facebook page.

Call your Senators and ask them to vote No on Kavanaugh, or to explain their Yes vote to you.

In Iowa:
Senator Grassley: 563-322-4331
Senator Ernst: 563-322-0677

In Illinois:
Senator Durbin: 309-786-5173
Senator Duckworth: 309-606-7060

Background information and talking points:

Senator Grassley has taken most of the heat on Kavanaugh. Let’s turn our attention to Senator Ernst. According to this article in the Des Moines Register, Senator Ernst expressed support for Kavanaugh on Friday, telling him:

“I would say to him, stay strong, I would say, continue on with the push forward and I would also say, 'God keep you and bless you,' because I do know how painful this process can be," she said.

This is the same Senator Ernst who has a section on Combating Sexual Assault on her website. There she writes:

Sexual assault is a horrendous crime, and we must work to ensure there is zero tolerance for it in our society. We won’t tolerate it in gyms, we won’t tolerate it on college campuses, and we won’t tolerate it in the military. Period. Additionally, we must develop and enforce policies to prevent sexual assault from happening in the first place.

Senator Ernst should update her website to clarify that she doesn’t actually have zero tolerance for sexual assault. It is okay for a Republican partisan hack that wants to be on the Supreme Court to sexually assault women. And from her past support of candidate Trump we know that a Republican nominee for President will also have Senator Ernst’s support, even if he sexually assaults women.

Call your Senators and ask them to justify their votes. Do they think Dr. Ford is lying? Do they think she is telling the truth, but they are okay with putting a sexual predator (and mean drunk) on the Supreme Court?

If you live in Illinois, call Senator Durbin and thank him for everything he has done to lift up the voices of Kavanaugh’s victims and keep this partisan hack off the Supreme Court. Call Senator Duckworth and ask her to vote against Kavanaugh.