博客存档 - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

Good LGBTQIA+ news from Montana-Of Interest to Our Community

4/28/2026

Finally, some good LGBTQIA+ news!
Montana Supreme Court blocks state's anti-Trans ID policy

Gender Equity Forum

Them.us

The Montana Supreme Court has ruled that two state agencies violated the state constitution by not allowing trans residents to change their gender markers on identity documents, per the Daily Montanan.

In a 5-2 decision, the court blocked the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, as well as the Department of Justice, which runs the state’s Motor Vehicle Division, from refusing to update trans people’s identity documents, siding with two trans plaintiffs.

In its finding that anti-trans discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, the Montana Supreme Court has reinforced the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which found in a 6-3 decision that employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity was a form of sex-based discrimination. Read more at Them.us here.

PACG Webmaster

High Iowa cancer rates - Of Interest to Our Community

4/25/2026

Why does Iowa have the second highest cancer rate in the US?

Environmental Forum

Although the cancer rate in the US is declining, Iowa's continues to rise. The Harkin Institute and the Iowa Environmental Council conducted in depth scientific studies and academic research on why the Iowa cancer rate is trending differently from that of other states. The report of the study was released on March 25, 2026 linking environmental risk factors with specific cancer trends.

The report and the executive summary can be accessed by scanning the QR code above labeled "Cancer & Environmental Risk Factors in Iowa." The details of Iowa cancer rates can be accessed from the "2026 Cancer in Iowa Report" or "Cancer Date Resources "QR codes.

Susan Leuthauser (she/her)

QCAIR 8th Annual Honors Dinner Of Interest to Our Community

4/22/2026

QCAIR 8th Annual Honors Dinner
Friday, May 15th at 5 pm

Putnam Museum and Science Center
1717 W 12th ST
Davenport, Iowa (map)
Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR)

Join us for a special evening recognizing immigrants and refugees who have become U.S. citizens and are making outstanding contributions in our community. This event celebrates perseverance, achievement, and the strength that diversity brings to the Quad Cities.

Social hour begins at 5 pm and the program starts at 6 pm. To purchase tickets scan the QR code or register here.

Susan Leuthauser (she/her)
[email protected] or 563-594-0854

An Immigrant Story - Of Interest to Our Community

4/17/2026

An Immigrant Story

Immigration Coalition of the Quad Cities

Yen's story is the first in a series of stories about local immigrants that will be appearing on the QCIMBY (Quad Cities In My Back Yard) Facebook page. These stories are also available in the Immigration Coalition QC Substack email. Please subscribe here.

Yen Dao immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam at age 7 with her mom and four older siblings to join Yen's father, who worked multiple jobs to bring them to their new home. “My parents wanted us to have a chance at freedom and education,” said Yen, now 41 and thriving in her education career and volunteerism in the Quad Cities.
Name: Yen Dao

Age: 41
Family: I have a son, four siblings and their children, and my dad. My mother passed away five years ago.

Residence: Bettendorf
Native country: Vietnam
Occupation/Volunteer or School: High School Staff Member

When did you immigrate to the United States? 1992

What motivated your decision to immigrate? My parents wanted us to have a chance at freedom and education. Since I was seven, I didn’t have a say in whether I wanted to go.

Who accompanied you when you immigrated to the U.S.? My mom and four older siblings accompanied me to the US. My dad was already in the US working multiple jobs to save enough money to bring us over.

Why did you choose the Quad Cities area for your new home? We landed in Des Moines first. I moved to the Quad Cities because my sister was already here.

What language or languages did you speak when you arrived in the U.S.? Vietnamese

If English is not your first language, how did you become more familiar with English? I learned English while I was in school. The fact that I had to use English all the time helped me become more familiar with it.

How were you treated when you first arrived in the Quad Cities area? I didn’t notice how I was treated when I first arrived to the QC. However, there was a large gathering at the airport when I arrived in Des Moines to welcome my family to the US. I definitely felt out of place and an outsider while at school because I didn’t know the language.

How did get more involved in life in the Quad Cities area? I became more involved and met more people by joining the Quad Cities Tennis Meetup group over 13 years ago. Shortly after I joined, the organizer moved and needed someone to take over the role. I have been the organizer for QC Tennis Meetup ever since. Later, I joined the Quad Cities Pickleball Club and became involved with running leagues and tournaments. I also participate in neighborhood gatherings to meet more people around me.

What work, volunteer activities, children’s activities and/or hobbies keep you engaged? I work at a high school to help students with disabilities prepare for life after high school. Outside of work, I stay involved with the tennis and pickleball community. My interest in gardening has helped me meet many neighbors as they walk by my property.

What gives you the most joy? I love working in my garden! I’m constantly working on my garden and look forward to seeing new growth.

What challenges have you navigated as an immigrant? Language barrier was the most difficult part to navigate as an immigrant. This affected my ability to make friends and perform well in school. When I was at home, my parents expected me to speak Vietnamese so I wouldn’t forget it. I wasn’t allowed to speak English. It made the process to learn English a little slower at first. I’m grateful that my parents insisted I speak Vietnamese only because I do retain most of it compared to my peers.

Who are your mentors, the people you admire most? I admire my parents the most. My parents showed me the value of hard work, perseverance, and honesty. My mother had a 9th grade education and raised her five children on her own while my dad worked in the US to bring all of us over. With limited English, they were still able to provide us with what we needed by working multiple jobs, saving money, and teaching us valuable lessons. I can attribute my love for gardening from my dad, who is a master gardener.

What gives you hope? I think people in general are good and kind to others. I see this every day with the teachers, counselors, admins and neighbors I interact with.

What is your favorite quote, motto or religious verse? Treat others the way they want to be treated.

Allison Ambrose

May 2026 QCCC "Is AI coming for your job?"

4/14/2026

QCCC - Is AI coming for your job?
Friday, May 8th at 1:30

Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch
2715 30th ST
Rock Island, IL (map)

Quad Cities Civic Conversations
PACG, One Human Family QCA, Quad Cities Interfaith, ICAN

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a pervasive part of our news, social media feeds and our world in general. The term itself evokes a variety of emotions and responses from individuals as well as on a societal level. What are the pros and cons? What do we need to be concerned about? What jobs might be impacted? How can we utilize this technology for both the benefit of our economy and our citizens?

This event is free but registration is required. Use the QR code in the flyer or register at this link.

Gail Karp
Allison Ambrose

Join us for community building - 5 doctors and free meal - Of Interest to Our Commmunity

4/13/2026

Panel discussion with five doctors and free community meal
Thursday to Saturday, May 21st to 23rd Update

Second Baptist Church Family Life Center
919 6th AV
Rock Island, IL (map)

MultiGenerational Community Building

This event will feature five successful African American doctors from the same family who overcame adversity to pursue their careers and obtain their goals. How did they do it? Come be a part of the panel discussion. To register, scan the QR code above or click this link.

Glenda Guster

May 2026 Green Drinks on Davenport stormwater problems

4/13/2026

May Green Drinks - Solutions to Northwest Davenport Stormwater Flood and Pollution
Thursday, May 7 at 5 pm

Augustana CollegeHanson Hall of Science, Room 102
Rock Island, IL (map)

Environmental Forum

Our May Green Drinks will be on Thursday, May 7 on the campus of Augustana College. The Augie engineering students will present their solutions to the flood and water pollution problem in NW Davenport.

Susan Leuthauser

Opposition to power plant After Action Report

4/12/2026

Opposition to power plant After Action Report
IUC public meeting in Davenport

Concerned Citizens of Scott County

Members of the PACG Environmental Forum have been attending meetings and support this group in their opposition to the Natural Gas Power Plant proposed for Scott County. The following is an update on the meeting.

On Monday, April 6th , the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) held a public informational meeting on the Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) application to build a 240 megawatt peaker natural gas plant just outside Maysville in Scott County’s Hickory Grove Township. Peaker plants are designed to fill in when energy capacity is strained. PACG’s Environmental Forum has been attending meetings of the Scott County Board of Supervisors (BOS), those of the Concerned Citizens of Scott County, a group opposed to this plant, as well as this IUC meeting.

This proposal would place the plant on land zoned for agricultural preservation, and the BOS voted unanimously to deny the permit for the plant to proceed after considerable opposition. CIPCO then asked the IUC to overrule this denial. Approximately 135 people attended the IUC hearing, with comments that were both pro and con. Most of the comments in favor of the plant were about job growth, even though these plants typically employ only 6-7 staff. Local citizens expressed concerns about use of this highly rated agricultural land for industrial purposes They also questioned why CIPSO has an option to acquire 90 acres when the plant would only use about 30, leading to questions about the potential for expansion in the future. A
local firefighter expressed concerns about the potential for “incidents” and the fact that nearby fire departments are staffed by volunteers with inadequate equipment to manage an “incident”. They also failed to report that the closest school is John Glenn, which is within 3 miles of the plant, instead reporting that the closest schools are in Eldridge, about 5 miles away. Some residents expressed concerns about decreased property values after the plant is built.

Other concerns were noted about pollution. CIPCO staff showed graphs that predict minimal levels of pollution. However, one PACG member researched this and found that their modeling was based on 15-year-old data. Current data show that peaker plants emit considerably more pollutants than regular natural gas plants because they come on and off-line intermittently. According to the American Lung Association, the Quad Cities air ranks poorly, 43 rd worse in the nation, especially for particulates, which these plants produce. To learn more, we recommend reading the report from Jonathan Turner on the WVIK website. If you’d like to express your opinion to the IUC you can access their website (https://iuc.iowa.gov), on the docket titled:
Generating Certificate – Scott County, IA, # GCU-2026-0001).

Lori McCollum

Power plant meeting in Davenport After Action Report

4/12/2026

Opposition to power plant After Action Report
IUC public meeting in Davenport

Concerned Citizens of Scott County

Members of the PACG Environmental Forum have been attending meetings and support this group in their opposition to the Natural Gas Power Plant proposed for Scott County. Read our statement at the PACG blog post here.

Lori McCollum

Trans author to speak in Davenport - What You Can Do Now

4/5/2026

Croken invites trans author to speak in Davenport
Saturday, April 25 at 1 pm

Metropolitan Community Church
2930 W Locust St
Davenport IA (map)

Gender Equity Forum

The Gender Equity Forum is very excited about this event organized by Iowa State Representative Ken Croken to bring in Sheryl Weikal, the author of I Was an Abomination: A Story of Trans Survival in Conservative America.

We encourage you to come meet this author. (Those of you in PACG Book Club may also want to read the book. Read more about the book at Goodreads.)

Read Ken Croken's news release below.

Alta Price (she/her)

CROKEN WELCOMES TRANS AUTHOR TO DAVENPORT

CONSTITUENT NEWS UPDATE
For more information, contact
Ken Croken at 563/940-8439

DAVENPORT, March 30, 2026 In conjunction with other Trans Visibility Day activities on March 31, Iowa House District 97 State Representative Ken Croken announced that he will host a speaking engagement by trial attorney and award-winning author Sheryl Melanie Weikal. The reading and Q&A will be held on Saturday, April 25 at 1:00 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad cities, located at 2930 West Locust Street in Davenport, near the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. According to Croken, Weikal’s 2025 release I WAS AN ABOMINATION: A Memoir of Trans Survival in Conservative America is a “must read” for all policy makers and people committed to social justice.

Approximately 1% of the U.S. population (2.8 million people aged 13 and older)
identify as transgender, according to a 2025 report from the Williams Institute at UCLA. Of these, it is estimated that about 7,100 live in Iowa. Croken said: “Generally, the majority of Americans support non-discrimination protections for transgender citizens in housing and employment. Yet, the Iowa General Assembly voted to remove these same civil rights protections from transgender Iowans, making Iowa the first and only state to do so. I can only attribute such draconian action to a lack of understanding of the underlying clinical condition, gender dysphoria.

Croken maintains that more exposure to transgender individuals and a greater appreciation of their stories of suffering, survival and success will increase understanding, compassion, acceptance and eventual recognition in the humanity of us all, including transgender neighbors, The April 25 event is free and all are welcome. Contact Ken Croken with questions by email at [email protected] or by phone or text at 563/940-8439.