Category: Community Events - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

"Fight Injustice in Iowa" campaign goes live in August

8/14/2022

"Fight Injustice in Iowa" - OHF QCA billboard campaign goes live in August

One Human Family QCA

Our “Fight Injustice in Iowa” billboard campaign will soon be in place!

Here are the locations and dates of posting for our billboards:

2814 State Street, Bettendorf (map) – August 15
400 West 2nd Street, Davenport (map) – August 15
53rd Street east of Brady, Davenport (map) -September 12
621 East Kimberly, Davenport (map) – September 19

We do not as of now know which signs will be up at which locations. But as of tomorrow, you can start checking them!

Rabbi Henry Jay Karp
One Human Family QCA

Iowa Is Better Than This! Webinar - Community Event

1/30/2022

"Iowa is Better Than This! Lamenting Iowa's Discriminatory Legislation" - A Free Hybrid Webinar
Wednesday, February 16th at 5:00 pm

In Person and Via Zoom

One Human Family and Numerous Organizations

Over the past year, the Iowa Legislature has considered and/or passed legislation that does not represent "Iowa Nice" values. We need to be heard as we Lament these actions!

Join us in this statewide Lamentation so our legislators know that these policies are not acceptable in a state that cares for all people. Let your voice be heard! We have options for online participation (via Zoom) and in-person sites across the state.

We lament the past to serve as a warning for the future!

For more information, go to OneHumanFamilyQCA.org. Read their statement, attached below.

Online Zoom Registration here.

In-Person Registration here.

Allison Ambrose

iowa_is_better_than_this_statement_2022.pdf
File Size:	219 kb
File Type:	pdf

Action Alert - Repeal 2021 Iowa Election Law Changes

1/25/2022

Petition to Repeal the 2021 Iowa Election Law Changes - Action Alert
Tuesday, February 1st

League of Women Voters Johnson County

In November, the League of Women Voters Johnson County (LWVJC) initiated a campaign to collect signatures to repeal the changes in the 2021 Iowa Election Law. At this time, they're short 5,000 signatures and are extending this campaign to Tuesday, February 1st. If you have already participated, thank you. If you haven't, and would like to be part of it, please provide your electronic signature at www.lwvia.org/anti-voter-laws. For more information about this campaign, visit www.lwvia.org/petitions.

See a summary of the 2021 Iowa election law changes published by the Iowa State Association of County Auditors.

Susan Leuthauser

Support Afghan Refugees - What You Can Do Now

1/18/2022

Furniture Donation for Afghan Refugees - Action Alert
Drop off Monday through Friday 9 am to 3pm

World Relief Quad Cities
1852 16th Street, Moline, IL (map)

World Relief and PACG Civil Rights Forum

The PACG Civil Rights Forum works in coalition with other groups aiding immigrants and refugees. World Relief is in the process of resettling 175 Afghan refugees who will be arriving in the Quad Cities by February. The relief volunteers have been impacted by the surge in Covid cases and could use our help.

Initially, most of the refugees are temporarily housed in area hotels while permanent living quarters are being set up. World Relief is requesting donations of furniture, household appliances and other supplies to help these people start their new lives in our area.

Susan Leuthauser

QC Environment Film Series

1/12/2022

2022 Environmental Film Series
Various Dates, Sundays at 2:00 pm

Figge Art Museum
225 W. 2nd Street
Davenport, IA (map)

River Action

Press Conference Regarding Juvenile Detention Center - Community Event

11/18/2021

CAN Press Conference Regarding Juvenile Detention Center
Sunday, November 21st at 3:00 pm

510 Warren ST
Davenport, IA

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
From: The QC Community Advocacy Network (CAN)
Event: COMMUNITY GROUP HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 21 TO VOICE YOUTH
CONCERNS AND CALL FOR COMMUNITY ACTION Contact: Avery Pearl, 563-320-6059
The QC Community Advocacy Network at qccommunityadvocacynetwork@gmail.com

The QC Community Advocacy Network announces a press conference at 3:00 PM, November 21, 2021, at 510 Warren St., Davenport, IA.

Presenters will share vital information addressing:

Expansion of the current Juvenile Detention Center
Disparities in the current Juvenile Justice System
Acquisition of the possible building site and its implications
Flaws in the Youth Assessment Center process
Lack of transparency and community involvement in the Juvenile Detention Center proposal
The Scott County Board of Supervisors refusal to accept professional opinions and best practices
Whether or not this constitutes the best use of Scott County taxpayer dollars for ongoing operating expenses
and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding
These issues concern all citizens because the County’s proposed expansion will require $16.8 million to build, and $1 million in annual operating costs, according to the 2019 plan. These numbers do not represent the current labor and material costs. Scott County supervisors are working around the referendum process by using $10 million in ARPA funding to evade public accountability. We all should ask where they are getting the rest of the money needed for site acquisition and land preparation. This will leave taxpayers saddled with paying an estimated $2 million in annual operating costs without your consent for years to come. You have the right to ask your Scott County supervisors, “Is this the best use of taxpayer dollars & ARPA funds?”

We are asking you to help make a difference by:

Voicing your opinion (in-person or virtually) during the Scott County Supervisors meeting at 9:00 AM, November 22, 2021, 600 W. 4th Street, Board Room, 1st Floor, Administrative Center, Davenport, Iowa
Calling or writing your elected officials and media outlets
Contact the Scott County Board of Supervisors:
** Tell them there is NO legitimate reason to rush this project and the community must be involved in the decision-making process.

Ken Beck (In favor of JDC proposal), Chair, ken.beck@scottcountyiowa.gov
John D. Maxwell (In favor of JDC proposal), Vice-Chair, john.maxwell@scottcountyiowa.gov Ken Croken (In opposition to JDC proposal), ken.croken@scottcountyiowa.gov
Brinson L. Kinzer (In favor of JDC proposal), brinson.kinzer@scottcountyiowa.gov
Tony Knobbe (In favor of JDC proposal), tony.knobbe@scottcountyiowa.gov
Thank you for your time, and together we CAN make a difference!

Community Conversations on Youth Detention - After Action Report

10/31/2021

Community Conversations on Youth Detention - After Action Report

Davenport Bearing Witness

Although I am not in leadership with Davenport Bearing Witness, I wanted to share this information with our community. The following is an excerpt from Praxis: the Davenport Bearing Witness Newsletter. It describes the successful presentations on October 28th and 29th that we wrote about in this PACG blog post, Community Conversations - Youth Detention: Short and Long-Term Implications in Today's Issues. Many PACG members participated in the three offered events. I was proud to look around the room to see so many familiar faces! In addition, Davenport Bearing Witness now has a Facebook page to help you find out how you can connect to work on these important issues.

From Praxis: Ubuntu, is an African humanist philosophy based on a culture of sharing, openness, mutual dependence, dialogue and interpersonal encounter.
In Ubuntu, human existence reaches fulfillment as part of whole, society thrives on a common humanity, and forgiveness and reconciliation are prerequisites for preserving social harmony.

From We Keep Us Safe: Building Secure, Just, and Inclusive Communities,
by Zach Norris.

"Now more than ever we need to engage with each other and with our democracy. We need to build our tolerance for constructive disagreement so that we feel safe participating. We need to make our voice heard in support of the kinds of government spending and programs that will support our well-being and safety. We know what the impact is of members in the community and neighbors who engage, who listen to each other across differences and become involved in helping each other out, and who help solve domestic challenges and share with each other."

Over the last 48 - 72 hours many of us experienced just a small taste of what an Ubuntu experience can feel like. The gatherings on Thursday evening and Friday were also reminders of the democratic process Zach Norris describes above. In a democracy, all of us have a role and accountable for keeping each other safe.

Big picture. Democracy is pretty cool. Slowly emerging out of the pandemic, it may have been a while since many of us have been in settings like we experienced at Friends of MLK Interpretive Center on Thursday and Eastern Iowa Community College on Friday. Dr. Wilson created a safe and inclusive space for us to embody and experience democracy.

Our panelists - Mike Guster, Scott Hobart, Jeremy Kaiser, and Marcy Mistrett - were awesome in respecting their differences of opinion. And even more impressively, and more frequently - areas where they are in agreement.

We will remember Thursday evening's powerful witness of young people and young adults, parents and grandparents, neighbors from all over Davenport.
The space was not large enough to hold all of our physical bodies.
On Friday, representatives from the faith, business, education, research and advocacy, philanthropic, elected officials and policy makers and community organizations also participated in a witness of the potential power of democracy.

In all, over 150 of us experienced and created a space for public discourse and democracy. Thank you all!

Our work ahead is to make sure the Scott County Board of Supervisors is listening.

The Quad-Cities Times wrote an article about these meetings here.

Allison Ambrose

Community Conversations on Youth Detention - Community Event

10/23/2021

Community Conversations - Youth Detention: Short- and Long-Term Implications and Today's Issues
October 28th & 29th, various times

Davenport Bearing Witness

Thursday, October 28, 6:00 pm. - 7:30 pm - MLK Interpretive Center, 501 Brady St, Davenport (map)

Friday, October 29, 8:00 am - 9:30 am - EICC Downtown Campus, 101 W. 3rd St, Davenport (map)

Friday, October 29 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - EICC Downtown Campus, 101 W. 3rd St, Davenport (map)

Panelists include:

Mike Guster, President, Davenport NAACP
Scott Hobart, Chief Juvenile Court Officer, 7th Judicial District
Jeremy Kaiser, Director, Scott County Juvenile Detention Center
Marcy Mistrett, Director of Youth Justice, The Sentencing Project.

The 75-minute conversations will be facilitated by Dr. LaDrina Wilson, founder and CEO of Iman Consulting, LLC. Iman Consulting provides leadership development programming and diversity, equity and inclusion education, and training. Dr. Wilson has spearheaded numerous initiatives to enhance understanding of diversity and social justice. She has volunteered as the state lead for Dream Corps Justice's Day of Empathy, which seeks to create more awareness of criminal justice issues and reform.

Panelists will make brief presentations and the community will participate by offering questions to the panel. Light refreshments will be served. Social distancing and masks will be implemented. For more information please write DavenportBearingWitness@gmail.com.

John DeTaeye

Watch "The Story of Plastic" - Community Event

10/12/2021

QC Environmental Film Series - "The Story of Plastic"
Sunday, October 17th at 2:00 pm

225 W. 2nd St.
Davenport, IA 52801 (map)

River Action, Nahant Marsh, the Joyce & Tony Singh Family Foundation
and the Jewish Federation of the QC

The Story of Stuff QC Environmental Film Series continues with the 2021 Emmy Award Winning Documentary "The Story of Plastic." On September 29th, this incredible film wasawarded a News and Documentary Emmy in the category of Outstanding Writing. Deia Schlosberg, director of the film – which unpacks the full extent of the global plastic pollution crisis – accepted the award on behalf of the crew involved in its production.

From the Story of Stuff website: "Our first feature-length documentary, The Story of Plastic is a searing expose revealing the ugly truth behind plastic pollution and the false solution of plastic recycling. Different from every other plastic documentary you’ve seen, The Story of Plastic presents a cohesive timeline of how we got to our current global plastic pollution crisis and how the oil and gas industry has successfully manipulated the narrative around it. From the extraction of fossil fuels and plastic disposal to the global resistance fighting back, The Story of Plastic is a life-changing film depicting one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues."

Admission at the Figge is $5. Tickets may be purchased at riveraction.org or before the movie. The Figge requires masks be worn, and seating will be limited.

The host and talk back speaker for this showing is Kathy Morris, Executive Director Waste Commission of Scott County/iLivehere Quad Cities.

The QC Environmental Film Series is sponsored by River Action, Nahant Marsh, The Joyce & Tony Singh Family Foundation, and The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities.

Lori McCollum

Celebrate at the Juneteenth Festival! - Community Event

5/28/2021

Quad City Juneteenth Festival
Saturday, June 19th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

the Lincoln Center - TMBC (Together Making a Better Community)
318 E 7th St
Davenport, IA (map)

Davenport NAACP

The Friends of MLK (FoMLK) are proud host the Quad City Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at the Lincoln Center - TMBC located at 318 E. 7th St., Davenport, IA. from 11 am – 6 pm. We are looking to make this year’s event larger than ever and you can help make that happen. With food and retail vendors, history and information booths, fun-filled games and entertainment for the whole family, this is sure to be an event you will not want to miss.

Who We Are
The Friends of MLK is a non-profit corporation organized exclusively to empower and encourage the Quad City area to practice the civil and human rights for all races, colors, and creeds as exemplified by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Friends of MLK's Juneteenth Mission

Educate and promote the historical significance of the Juneteenth holiday in America Commemorate the end of slavery in America
Educate people on the history of African-Americans
Highlight the economic, political, and social efforts of African-Americans to fully participate in the American culture following slavery and
Reach out to all in a mutual celebration of freedom.

The History of Juneteenth
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union Soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation-which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on Texas due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger's regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. Later, attempts to explain this two-and-a-half-year delay in the receipt of this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down through the years. All or none of the stories could be true. For whatever the reason, conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was statutory.

A range of activities provided entertainment to the masses, many of which continue in tradition today. Rodeos, fishing, barbecuing, and baseball, are just a few of the typical Juneteenth activities you may witness today. Juneteenth usually focused on self-improvement, education, a historic recount the events of the past and prayer services as a major part of the celebrations.

Certain foods became popular and subsequently synonymous with the celebration, such as strawberry soda-pop. More traditional and just as popular was the barbecuing. This was through which participants could share in the spirit and aromas that their ancestors would have enjoyed during the ceremonies. Hence, the barbecue pit is often established as the center of attention at Juneteenth celebrations. Dress was also an important element in early Juneteenth customs, and is often taken seriously, particularly by the direct descendants who can make the connection to this tradition's roots.

In some cases in the early years, there was an outright resistance, and people would bar the use of public property for the festivities. Most of the festivities found themselves out in rural areas around rivers and creeks that would provide for additional activities such as fishing, horseback riding, and barbecues. Often, the church grounds were the sites for the festivities.

On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official holiday in Texas, through the efforts of Al Edwards, an African American state legislator. The successful passage of this bill marked Juneteenth as the first emancipation celebration granted official state recognition.

Today forty-seven states have joined Texas in making Juneteenth an official holiday observance, and a movement is in place to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday. Thursday, April 11, 2002, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack (D-IA) signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday in Iowa. Tuesday, August 19, 2003, Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday. However, in Illinois through a friendly amendment, the third Saturday in June of each year is designated as Juneteenth National Freedom Day. The holiday will forever be known as Juneteenth National Freedom Day.

Juneteenth symbolizes the end of slavery, and symbolizes for many African-Americans, what the Fourth of July symbolizes for all Americans. For Americans that is freedom. While blacks celebrate the Fourth of July in honor of American Independence Day, history reminds us that blacks were still enslaved when the United States gained its independence.

Passed legislation allows Juneteenth National Freedom Day to be observed with suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public, while citizens of the States recognizing the holiday are urged to reflect on the suffering endured by early African-Americans and to celebrate the unique freedom and equality enjoyed by all US citizens today.

Juneteenth in Iowa
Iowa was the seventh state to officially recognize Juneteenth. The Iowa Juneteenth Observance encompasses a statewide scope of programming that spans an eight-day period and focuses on education and entertainment activities related to freedom, liberty, and responsible citizenship. Activities feature family fun and economic/political/and social development. An example of activities include the King & Queen Coronation, Miss Iowa Juneteenth Contest, Baby Contest, Education Forum (and Mary McLeod Bethune Award), Health Forum (and Dr. James Dirham Award), Proclamation Day (and Liberty Awards), Community Banquet (and Community Citizen of the Year Award), Parade, and Neighbors Day Finale. The Iowa Juneteenth Observance has been operating since 1990.

For more information contact Mike Guster by clicking the link on his name.

Mike Guster