Blog Archives - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

Nonbinary - What does it mean? - Of Interest to Our Forum Members

7/22/2023

What does it mean to be nonbinary?

Them.us

What is the history of nonbinary folks? What are the differences between genderqueer, gender fluid, and enby people? We’ve got you covered. By Quispe López June 30, 2023

People are holding a big non-Binary Pride Flag, during the celebration of the Pride walk in Amsterdam, on July 30th, 2022. (Photo by Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto/Getty Images

Being nonbinary can mean many things to many different people. For me, it’s that expansiveness that makes the term so beautiful.

My version of being nonbinary has looked and felt many different ways throughout my transition. Since coming out in 2016, I’ve gone through several different iterations of presentation and internal experiences of my gender. One thing that has remained consistent for me is the broad umbrella I use to encompass all of myself: I am nonbinary. And the longer I’ve been out, the more people I’ve met people who feel similarly about their gender.

...we shouldn’t limit what “nonbinary” means.

Broadly speaking, it is an umbrella term, which at its most simple definition means someone whose gender can’t be categorized as “man” or “woman.” However, there are innumerable ways one can be nonbinary, and nonbinary people don’t have to look or act alike to embody the term. Within the umbrella of nonbinary genders, genderqueer people, Two-Spirit folks, genderfluid friends, and more all have a home.

Read this interesting article here.

PACG Webmaster

Clockwise Connection - LGBT+ Mentoring - No Hate In Our States

7/18/2023

Clockwise Connection - LGBT+ Mentorship Program

Clock, Inc
4102 46th AV
Rock Island, IL

ClockWise Connection provides opportunities to connect LGBT+ youth with mentors that provide support and empowerment to live more full, happy, productive lives. Through this program, mentees are able to develop and implement goal setting, important life skills, obtain access to new opportunities, and are guided through life’s transitions and milestones with the assistance of a mentor. Read more here about the program, and becoming either a mentor or mentee.

Clock, Inc
[email protected] or 309-558-0956

August Green Drinks - Wild Edibles

7/18/2023

August Green Drinks - Wild Edibles
Tuesday, August 1st at 5:00 pm

Huckleberry's Pizza
223 18th Street
Rock Island, IL (map)

Environmental Forum

Did you know that some of the common plants growing in your garden and yard are edible? Scott County Supervisor Rita Rawson is going to tell us what they are, how to identify them, and how to use them.

Please RSVP here so that we know how many will attend and the restaurant can plan accordingly. at

NOTE: Green Drinks will be meeting at Huckleberry’s Pizza. The restaurant will be closed to the public but will host us as a “Private Party”. Drinks and a limited menu will be available.

Susan Leuthauser

Wishing Grant Tietjen well! - A Message from the President

7/16/2023

Goodbye and Thank You! to Grant Tietjen

A Message from the President

PACG Board member, Grant Tietjen, has been in the Davenport area for ten years. He relocated to Iowa from Lincoln, NE to take a faculty position at St. Ambrose University (SAU) as an Associate Professor of Criminology in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. For the past year at SAU, he was also the Assistant Program Director for the Masters of Science in Criminal Justice program. In 2017 Grant became involved with the Juvenile Justice Coalition of the Quad Cities, a group that PACG's Civil Rights Forum has supported for a number of years. This group has worked to promote sensible programs and ethical policies to protect our youth from unnecessary incarceration and undue harsh treatment.

In 2018 Grant was elected to the PACG Board of Directors, where he has served faithfully as an active member.

Grant will be moving to Tacoma, Washington where he has taken a tenured faculty position as Associate Professor of Criminology at the School of Social Work and Criminal Justice at the University of Washington - Tacoma. The position starts this fall. We will miss you, Grant, but we are so happy for you. Congratulations!

Glenda Guster

Week 3 of Plastic Free July - Say no to styrofoam!

7/15/2023

Plastic Free July - You can make a difference!
Week 3 of Plastic Free July - "I will not use single-use containers this week!"

Environmental Forum

As part of Plastic Free July we are asking that you spend each week of the month doing specific plastic elimination challenges. This week our focus is single use containers. Read this article about how one woman eliminated these items. One suggestion she has is to carry a "reusable kit" with her everywhere she goes. In it are a reusable coffee cup, bags and containers.

If you are caught out at a restaurant and don't have your reusable container for your "food to go" items, ask for a few pieces of aluminum foil. These can be easily cleaned and recycled at home once you put your food in a storage container at home. Whatever you do, say no to styrofoam!

Let us know your feedback on this third step of Plastic Free July.

Read our other blog posts for Plastic Free July below:

Week 1 - "I will eliminate single use straws this week!"
Week 2 - "I will only use reusable grocery bags this week!”

Susan Leuthauser

Save the Date - the 11th Annual Picnic and Pie Auction

7/11/2023

Save the Date - 11th Annual PACG Picnic and Pie Auction!
Sunday, September 17th from noon to 3:00 pm

Middle Park's Lagoon Shelter
On Parkway Dr (off 18th ST)
Bettendorf, IA 52722

PACG Board

We have started making plans for one of our most popular events of the year - our Annual Picnic and Pie Auction! Save Sunday, September 17th from noon to 3:00 pm for this gathering. In addition, we need volunteers to help with all of the preparation involved. Working on the Picnic Committee is a great way to get more involved with PACG and to make new friends. Please contact our Office Manager, Maggie Davis. We hope to see you there.

PACG Webmaster

Plastic Free Festival - After Action Report

7/9/2023

Plastic Free Festival After Action Report

Environmental Forum

PACG joined the Quad Cities Earth Coalition to celebrate Plastic Free July at Niabi Zoo on Saturday, July 8th. The Environmental Forum hosted a table with educational materials encouraging zoo attendees to reduce plastic use.

Susan Leuthauser

Week 2 of Plastic Free July - Reusable Grocery Bags

7/8/2023

Plastic Free July You can make a difference!
Week 2 - "I will use only reusable grocery bags this week!"

Environmental Forum

Environmental Forum

Our first week of the Plastic Free July focused on giving up the use of single use straws. Review that here. If you have transitioned to going plastic strawless a part of your regular practice - congratulations! It wasn't that hard, was it?

For Week 2 we ask that you start using reusable bags for your groceries, produce and all other errands. Once you gather the supplies you need you only have to remember to bring them into the store with you!

The Plastic Free July website answers the question, "What shopping bags should I use?" like this: the best bags to use are ones you already have! They encourage you to keep stashes of bags in handy places and to remember that they are only reusable if you remember to use them! Read this article about the best reusable grocery bags.

Produce bags are another single use plastic that is wasteful and harmful to the environment. Here is a source for various types of reusable produce bags.

Let us know your feedback on this second step of Plastic Free July.

Read our other blog posts for last week here:

Week 1 - "I will eliminate single use straws this week!"

Susan Leuthauser

Attacks on LGBTQ+ community and military readiness concerns - No Hate In Our States

7/6/2023

Pentagon Officials Fear Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws Could Impact Military Readiness

The Advocate

"The Advocate is an American LGBT magazine, printed bi-monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a website. Both magazine and website have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) people." (Wikipedia)

The attacks on the LGBTQ+ community has dire consequences across American society.

Officials at the Pentagon warned on Wednesday that states’ policies affecting LGBTQ+ people are potentially damaging to the military.

At an event at the Pentagon celebrating Pride Month, Space Force Chief Operating Officer Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt emphasized that over 400 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced since January in various states.

“That number is rising and demonstrates a trend that could be dangerous for service members, their families, and the readiness of the force as a whole,” Burt pointed out, according to The Hill.

Undersecretary of the Pentagon for Personnel and Readiness Gil Cisneros said, “LGBT+ and other diverse communities are under attack, just because they are different. Hate for hate’s sake.”

Read the entire article here.

PACG Webmaster

Week 4 of Plastic Free July - No plastic water bottles!

7/3/2023

Plastic Free July - You can make a difference!
Week 4 of Plastic Free July - "I will not use single use plastic water bottles this week!"

Environmental Forum

As part of Plastic Free July we are asking that you spend each week of the month doing specific plastic elimination challenges. This week our focus is single use plastic water bottles. The Plastic Free July website says this: "Planning ahead and bringing a reusable water bottle when on the go is a healthier, cost-effective way to stay hydrated and avoid single-use plastic water bottles."

They also suggest that...In places around the world with access to safe drinking water, a reusable water bottle avoids unnecessary single-use plastic water bottles.

Choosing a reusable bottle that suits your lifestyle can be a great way to get into the reusable routine. Bottles don’t need to be fancy. Some people simply repurpose a glass jar or bottle. If you do purchase a bottle, consider its lifespan. Plastic Free July participants tell us they prefer durable materials such as stainless steel.

Most people keep their bottle in a handy location so they remember it. If you accidentally forget, you can always:

drink from a water fountain,
ask a cafe for a glass of water or
make do in the workplace with a mug or clean jar.

Read this article about the best reusable water bottles. If you are looking for one with a straw, read this article. You can also find water in aluminum bottles at local natural grocery stores. Although these bottles are not as sturdy as some, they can be reused and then recycled when they have finished their service.

Let us know your feedback on this last step of Plastic Free July. We strongly encourage you to continue these practices year-round. None of these is that difficult.

Read our other blog posts for Plastic Free July below:

Week 1 - "I will eliminate single use straws this week!"
Week 2 - "I will only use reusable grocery bags this week!"
Week 3 - "I will not use single use containers this week!"

Susan Leuthauser