Blog Archives - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

PACG Book Club announcements for the summer - PACG Meetings

6/27/2023

PACG Book Club announcements
Monday, July 17th at 5:00 pm

Edwards Congregational UCC
3420 Jersey Ridge Rd
Davenport, IA (map)

PACG Book Club

We will discuss Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann on Monday, July 17th at 5:00 pm. Read our blog post about the book here.

We have decided to take the month of August off and there will be no meeting. However, we are reading Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese for the September 18th discussion. It's a long book! The extra month will give you a chance to get it read.

We continue to meet in person, offering a hybrid option. Join us in person if you are able, or contact me for a Zoom link if you prefer to participate online.

Alta Price

SF Gay Men's Chorus message - No Hate In Our States

6/27/2023

Gay Men's Chorus message

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus

With all of the depressing posts and social media attention regarding attacks on LGBTQ+ Americans, this is a refreshing change. It's a message for those working against gender equality. Take four minutes to watch this uplifting, clever video.

PACG Webmaster

Plastic Free Festival - PACG Event

6/27/2023

Plastic Free Festival
Saturday, July 8th at 10:00 am

Niabi Zoo
13010 Niabi Zoo Road
Coal Valley, IL (map)

Environmental Forum

Celebrate Plastic Free July at the Plastic Free Festival at Niabi Zoo. Learn how you can reduce your use of plastics to help the environment. Admission to the zoo is required to attend the event. For information about zoo hours and ticket pricing click here.

Susan Leuthauser

July Green Drinks - Kelsey Pisel of Zero Waste Reserve

6/25/2023

July Green Drinks - A Journey to Sustainable Living
Tuesday, July 11th at 5:00 pm

Huckleberry's Great Pizza and Calzones
223 18th ST
Rock Island IL (map)

Seven years ago, Kelsey Pisel read an article about toxic ingredients in a common baby product. It prompted her to investigate products used in her household, which was the beginning of her personal journey towards sustainable living. Today, Kelsey is teaching and helping others live more sustainable lives. She is the owner and operator of Zero Waste Reserve in Bettendorf.

Come hear Kelsey tell her story about how sustainable living changed her life and benefited the planet.

Please RSVP here.

NOTE: Huckleberry's is usually closed to the public on Tuesday, but will host us as a “Private Party.” Drinks and a limited menu will be available.

3rd Anniversary of the Racial Equality rally - After Action Report

6/25/2023

Third Anniversary of PACG's Racial Equality rally After Action Report

Civil Rights Forum

Since George Floyd's murder in 2020, members of the PACG Civil Rights Forum have gathered at noon every Saturday in Moline to advocate for racial equality and justice in our country. This past Saturday, June 24th, we were joined by several other people to mark the third anniversary of our effort. The group remains encouraged by all the passersby that honk, wave and give a thumbs up in response to our weekly effort. This indicates that people still want to have the conversation about race and racial equality in America. You can see more pictures at our blog post here.

That being the case, the Civil Rights Rally will continue indefinitely until racial equality and justice for all are a reality in our society. We welcome anyone who supports these values to join us at noon on Saturdays. There are extra signs, or feel free to bring your own.

Caryn Unsicker

Vigil for Reproductive Freedom - Of Interest to Our Forum Members

6/20/2023

Vigil for Reproductive Freedom

Vander Veer Park
215 W Central Park
Davenport, IA (map)

Gender Equity Forum

One year ago the US Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, removing the constitutional right to abortion. The Gender Equity Forum invites you to join others in a community vigil to commemorate this loss.

Alta Price

Juneteenth Festival 2023 - After Action Report

6/18/2023

Juneteenth Festival After Action Report

Friends of MLK Center

This festival was complete with food and retail vendors; local and national history information; community and resource booths; and fun-filled games and live entertainment for the whole family. We had a great turnout.

The PACG Environmental Forum staffed a table to bring awareness to environmental issues and to support the event. (photos courtesy of Cath Bolkcom and Lori McCollum)

Everyday is Earth Day - After Action Report

6/17/2023

Everyday is Earth Day - After Action Report

Environmental Forum

Our 4th Annual Earth Day Fair had to be postponed this year due to flooding, but it was held on June 3rd at the Freight House Farmers Market.

We were co-sponsored by Living Lands and Waters, WVIK and WQPT.

As in years past, we had 5 musical performers/groups to entertain the crowd, and over 20 tables from local organizations. The Metrolink Electric Bus gathered a great deal of interest, and Living Lands and Waters gave away over 100 trees. Twenty-three organizations were represented and five groups of musicians played for the hundreds of visitors.

Our thanks to everyone who assisted with set up and break down, registration, etc. The beautiful weather was appreciated by all!

Lori McCollum

Susan Leuthauser

Polling shows that LGBTQ+ adults do not feel safe - No Hate In Our State

6/16/2023

LGBTQ+ Adults Do Not Feel Safe

Data for Progress

This article shares the results of polling results from among the LGBTQ+ population.

Data for Progress is a progressive think tank and polling firm arming movements with the tools they need to fight for a more equitable future.

The LGBTQ+ community in America is increasingly experiencing discrimination and political attacks on its rights. This year alone, nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures nationwide, and at least 75 of these bills have been signed into law. As a result, many LGBTQ+ Americans feel unsafe in their communities and neglected by elected officials.

Recent polling from Data for Progress shows that LGBTQ+ adults nationally are greatly impacted by anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric in the U.S. Particularly, LGBTQ+ adults feel unheard and unprotected by the Democratic Party, which is the party that the community strongly prefers.

We find that LGBTQ+ adults have felt a change, with 47 percent saying that society has become less safe for the LGBTQ+ community in the past few years. More than half of respondents ages 55-64 (52 percent) and 65+ (53 percent) believe that America has become less safe.

The article includes graphs of polling results that are titled:

A Plurality of LGBTQ+ Adults Believe That Society Has Become Less Safe for the LGBTQ+ Community
More Than 40 Percent of Transgender Adults Have Considered Moving Due to Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation in Their State
A Majority of LGBTQ+ Adults Believe That Politicians Do Not Care About What the LGBTQ+ Community Thinks
More Than 75 Percent of LGBTQ+ Democrats Think That the Party Is Not Doing Enough to Protect the LGBTQ+ Community
Young LGBTQ+ Adults Are Most Likely to Not Vote in Elections

NOH8 Campaign - After Action Report

6/14/2023

NOH8 (No Hate) Campaign photo shoot After Action Report

Civil Rights and Gender Equity Forums

PACG was happy to co-sponsor the NOH8 Campaign photo shoot to kick of Pride month in the Quad Cities. Over 80 people showed up to receive a NOH8 tattoo and have their picture taken as an act of solidarity for all those who feel hate in this world.

Participants will receive a link to their photos. The NOH8 campaign is a non-profit organization that promotes and raises awareness for marriage and human equality, as well as anti-discrimination and anti-bullying. Those from the national NOH8 (pictured below) were very pleased with the turnout.

A big "thank you!" to PACG co-founder, Cath Bolkcom, for the pictures of our friends. These are not the final images from the photo shoot.

For our local participants - we would LOVE to publish your final NOH8 image on our website and social media platforms. Please contact our Webmaster and Office Manager with your photos. Thanks for participating in this fun event.

Happy Pride Month everyone!

Allison Ambrose