Blog Archives - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

"The Trial of the Chicago 7" - No Hate In Our States

12/31/2021

"The Whole World Is Watching!"
Watch The Trial of the Chicago 7

No Hate In Our States

In 2020 Netflix released The Trial of the Chicago 7 about the activists protesting the Vietnam War at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Based on the official transcripts of the trial and numerous interviews with participating activists, the movie is fascinating and moving. From Smithsonian Magazine: "Aaron Sorkin’s newest movie dramatizes the clash between protestors on the left and a federal government driven to making an example of them."

The Official Trial of the Chicago 7 Podcast is an important supplement to the movie. "The [podcast] series features conversations devoted to the significance of events in 1968 and the trial, and the parallels with what’s happening in America today, as well as discussions with Sorkin and the actors and creative minds that realized the world of the film." You should be able to find it as a free podcast where you listen to them. In one of the episodes (all under an hour of time), Jill Wine-Banks, former Assistant Watergate Special Prosecutor, states, "We have to stand up and speak in defense of democracy no matter what the danger is because the danger of not speaking up is that we lose the democracy." Sound familiar?

Watch the Netflix trailer here.

PACG Webmaster

Plastic Pollution Initiative - After Action Report

12/22/2021

Plastic Pollution Initiative - After Action Report

Mississippi River City and Town Initiative

For the month of October, numerous organizations in the QC region participated in citizen scientist data collection. Those of us in the Environmental Forum participated in collecting litter and submitting information about the specifics to the Marine Debris Tracker app on our phones. Staff at the University of Georgia, National Geographic, and the United Nations Environment Programme analyzed the data and provided an overview at a Zoom conference on November 17th.

Data was collected from 6476 volunteers, who collected debris from an area equivalent to over 10,000 football fields. Significant take-aways included that the largest sources of litter were cigarette butts and food wrappers, with 76% of the material being made of plastic. What will be done with this data depends in large part upon our city commitments to reduce litter, particularly plastic litter. Ideas discussed at the meeting included modifying city contracts with mowing companies, who may not always clear trash before mowing. The trash is then chopped into little pieces, which then permeates our soil and water. There was also discussion of expanding Keep America Beautiful projects, and increasing the number of trash and recycling receptacles all around our communities. If you are interested in working on a litter campaign, contact the Environmental Forum.

Lori McCollum

Christmas for Enslaved People - No Hate In Our States

12/22/2021

What was Christmas like for America’s enslaved people?

No Hate In Our States

The History Channel website contains several interesting articles about Christmas and enslaved people in the US. “While many enslaved people partook in some of these holiday pleasures, Christmas time could be treacherous.”

Learn more at this link: www.history.com/news/christmas-slavery-american-south

Julie Ross

January Green Drinks - What Happened at COP26?

12/22/2021

What happened at COP26? - Green Drinks
Tuesday, January 4th at 5:00 pm

Join us on January 4th at 5 pm for the first Green Drinks of 2022. Joseph Robertson, who led a delegation of 23 at COP26 in Glasgow, will share with us his experience and takeaways from the conference. Joe is the Executive Director of Citizen Climate International.

Please register in advance at: zoom.us/meeting/register

Susan Leuthauser

Y15K Final Distribution

12/22/2021

Y15K Fund Drive Distributes Final Gifts

A Message to Our Membership

Last year's Y15K "Understand the Need" Initiative and fund drive inspired PACG members to donate to support various non-profits that were providing support to individuals and families hit especially hard by the pandemic.

One group benefitting from our members' generosity was the residents of Cobblestone Place, which provides affordable subsidized housing for people with low income. In addition to purchasing outdoor seating and a large dining table for residents to share community meals, PACG raised enough to give a $120 HyVee gift card to each of the 23 households at Cobblestone Place. PACG decided to gift the cards at this time, when need is greatest. We also had enough funds to purchase 5 rolls of bus tokens, which will be distributed by the property manager to residents in need of such.

Cobblestone Place also offers extremely affordable office space to various non-profits, including Progressive Action for the Common Good. Once the pandemic subsides, we will again hold meetings in their public meeting room.

Other organizations that benefitted from our Y15K drive: Catalyst Kitchen, Heart of Hope, and QC Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees. Remind yourself of this good work by rereading our Blog post here.

PACG is proud that our members rallied and donated to support the common good.

Julie Ross

Holiday Greetings from the President

12/22/2021

Year-End Holiday Greetings!

A Message from the President

Hello Progressives,

As we end this year, I am writing one last message to you as your President. I am excited to announce that Glenda Guster will be taking over as President, starting January 1st. Glenda has been a devoted board member and will make a fabulous President! Check out her bio on the PACG About page here.

Other changes to the board during this past year include new member Susan Leuthauser who has been a very active member in our Environmental Forum. I am sad to say that Margie Mejia-Caraballo will be leaving the board after many years of devoted service in the role of Vice President. I will be taking over as Vice President beginning January 1st.

I'd also like to say how sorry I am that we again were not able to hold a live Holiday Party this year. Let's hope for the return of this fun and festive event in 2022. However, we did use a bit of our Pie Auction funds raised from the picnic, which we typically used to fund the Holiday Party, to benefit two local organizations that serve those in need: Dress for Success and The Center.

I encourage you to look at our Holiday Poem that we sent out again this year (see below). It sums up some of the things that PACG accomplished during our second year of the pandemic. I am so proud of us!

Finally, I want to express what an honor it has been to serve as your President over these past three years. The organization is one we should all be proud of! I'd like to thank everyone for supporting all that we do in so many ways. In particular, thanks to those active in the forums, our three part-time employees, Julie Ross, Jeannie Price, and Dee Fitzgerald - as well as the board members who have all tirelessly supported our mission during my tenure. This organization would not be the success that it is without these individuals.

Happy Holidays to you all! Here's to a healthy and progressive 2022!!!

Allison Ambrose

2021_winter_holiday_poem.pdf
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"Who Killed Malcolm X?" Documentary - No Hate

12/8/2021

“Who Killed Malcolm X?” Documentary exonerated two wrongfully convicted men.

If you don't know much about the assassination of African American leader Malcolm X, you are not alone. Decades after his death, activist Abdur-Rahman Muhammad embarked on a complex mission seeking truth and justice. The six-part documentary led to the re-opening of his murder and ultimately to the exoneration of two men convicted of the crime. The documentary can be watched on Netflix.

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/bqqOQBalq5k

Julie Ross

ART Discussion - PACG Event

12/1/2021

Adolescence, Race and Trauma Discussion via Zoom
Monday, December 13th at 7 pm

Adolescence, Race and Trauma Coalition

The ART Coalition will meet via Zoom on Monday, December 13th at 7 pm. This group is working on ways to implement the work of Kristin Henning in order to alter the institutions which disproportionately lead to incarceration of black and brown youth.

We will also briefly discuss the first three chapters of Henning’s new book, The Rage of Innocence. Read the Washington Post review here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/for-black-kids-typical-childhood-behavior-is-often-seen-as-a-crime

Contact Julie Ross for Zoom invite.