Category: Civil Rights - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

Facing the Elder Care Crisis After Action Report

11/25/2025

Facing the Elder Care Crisis - After Action Report

Eastern Avenue Davenport Public Library

Quad Cities Civic Conversations

On November 13th, PACG, in coalition with other organizations, co-sponsored the 3rd Quad Cities Civic Conversations event, which focused on elder care. Three expert panelists spoke on various issues facing seniors as they seek care later in life, including the importance of quality, affordable elder care, current challenges to obtaining affordable care, and the lack of funding. Panelists came from Iowa Citizens Action Network, the Hale Group, Progress Iowa and LivWell Seniors. The audience was very engaged and a robust Q&A wrapped up the event.

Allison Ambrose

Heritage pushes to class Trans as terrorists - No Hate In Our States

9/30/2025

Heritage Foundation Uses Bogus Stat to Push a Trans Terrorism Classification

by Dell Cameron and Andrew Couts

Heritage Foundation Uses Bogus Stat to Push a Trans Terrorism Classification

By inflating numbers and narrowing definitions, Heritage promotes a false link between transgender identity and violence in its push for the FBI to create a new terrorism category.

Kat Fitzgerald (she/her)

Defending the Rule of Law After Action Report

8/14/2025

The Importance of Defending the Rule of Law Luncheon - After Action Report

Fifty-nine people attended the Importance of Defending the Rule of Law luncheon event at WIU's Riverfront Hall on Friday, August 8th, to hear Professor Sally Frank, Drake University Law School, explain in layman's terms how our rule of law is under attack and why it is important to recognize this and do what we can now to preserve our Democracy. Attendees asked many pertinent questions afterwards.

This event was part of the Quad Cities Civic Conversations series initiated by One Human Family and co-sponsored by Progressive Action for the Common Good, Iowa Citizen Action Network, and Quad Cities Interfaith. There will be pertinent events every three months, so watch for them in this Progressive Action Update and elsewhere.

Caryn Unsicker (she/her)

US views on immigration have changed - No Hate in Our States

7/29/2025

How US views of immigration have changed

Franciscan Peace Center

Months after President Donald Trump took office amid a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, the share of U.S. adults saying immigration is a "good thing" has jumped substantially, including among Republicans, according to a new Gallup Poll. About eight in 10 Americans — 79 percent — say immigration is good for the country, an increase from the 64 percent a year ago and a high point in the nearly 25-year trend. Only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say immigration is a bad thing right now, down from 32% last year. Read the Associated Press article here.

City Proclamations in support of Immigrant and Refugee - After Action Report

6/27/2025

Immigrant and Refugee Proclamation - After Action Report

Civil Rights Forum

The Immigration Coalition of the Quad Cities had two more successes! Both the cities of Bettendorf, Iowa and Silvis, Illinois graciously supported our Pro-Immigrant and Refugee proclamation!

Allison Ambrose

Anything for the Cause-After Action Report

6/10/2025

Anything for the Cause - After Action Report

Multi-Generational Community Building Speaker Series

Over 75 people attended our first Multi-Generational Community Building Speakers series, Anything for the Cause. We were honored to bring MacArthur “Mac” Cotton and Dr. Frank Smith, Jr as our guest speakers at the Martin Luther King Center in Rock Island, Illinois. Both of our speakers were involved during their college days with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). They worked as civil rights activists during the 1960’s to get black people in the South registered to vote, which at the time was dangerous. Mr. Cotton continues to focus on educational equity and getting people out to vote. He is the author of the book Mississippi Black Cotton about his time and struggles in the Civil Rights movement.

After relocating to Washington, D.C. Dr. Smith served four terms on the D.C. City Council. Dr. Smith is the founding director of the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum. He continues to be involved in his community to get out the vote.

The next project for the Multi-Generational Community Building group will be to raise money to send four youths from Thurgood Marshall school to Washington D.C. to the grand opening of the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum as Dr. Smith’s special guests. We are working with both Dr. Smith and Mr. Cotton to get a speaker for next year.

A nice dinner was served after the program. Thank you again PACG for your support!

Glenda Guster

Davenport Immigrant and Refuge Proclamation - After Action Report

6/3/2025

Immigrant and Refugee Proclamation presented to the City of Davenport - After Action Report

Civil Rights Forum

The Immigration Coalition of the Quad Cities presented a proclamation to the Davenport City Council affirming the value of immigrants and refugees in our community. Several coalition members were in attendance, and the proclamation was accepted with support!

Allison Ambrose

Pride Month 2025 - What You Can Do Now

5/23/2025

Pride Month 2025 in the Quad Cities

Gender Equity Forum

As usual, our friends at Clock, Inc are doing great work listing various Pride events in the Quad Cities. This link to their website will continue to be updated. As of now they begin on May 28th with the acceptance of the City of Davenport's Pride Proclamation.

There are also a lot of Community Calendars that PACG links to on our website. Check those for other activities.

Clock, Inc was one of the recipients of the Dick Fallow Endowment for Social Justice that we presented at our Annual Holiday Party in December of 2025. Their work is important for our LGBTQ+ community.

Visit their website here and sign up for their newsletter at the bottom of the page.

Alta Price (she/her)

Afghan refugees told to leave Iowa - No Hate in Our States

5/6/2025

Afghan refugees told to leave Iowa

Civil Rights Forum

From Axios Des Moines

Afghan refugees in Iowa are receiving emails that appear to come from the federal government ordering them to leave the country immediately, a local advocacy group tells Axios.

Why it matters: The notices have sown fear and confusion among Iowa's Afghan community, many of whom believe that returning to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan would result in their torture and death, Shir Agha Safi, executive director of Afghan Partners in Iowa, tells Axios.

Driving the news: Afghan refugees began receiving emails from the Department of Homeland Security this month notifying them that their immigration status had been terminated and they must leave the U.S. immediately, Safi said. Read the full article here.

The Reality of Project 2025-Of Interest to Our Community

4/29/2025

The Reality of Project 2025

Red Wine and Blue

A grassroots organization Red Wine & Blue has been keeping track of the implementation of 2025 projects. They also provide recommendations on how we can fight back. For more information go here,

You can contact them or subscribe to their email update here,

Red Wine & Blue