PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Action Center
    • Take Action
    • Contact Your Government Officials
    • Reliable Sources of News
  • Events
    • Upcoming PACG Events
    • PACG Calendar
    • Community Events
  • Groups
    • PACG Book Club
    • What is an Issue Forum?
    • Civil Rights Forum
    • Environmental Forum
    • Gender Equity Forum
    • Health Care Reform Forum
  • Donate
    • Donate to PACG
    • Endowment >
      • Donate to the Dick Fallow Fund for Social Justice
      • Honoring Dick Fallow
      • Grant Application
  • Contact
    • About
    • Join Us
    • Sign Up for the Progressive Action Update
    • Make a Submission to the Progressive Action Update

"Elite Capture" of Identity Politics - No Hate In Our States

12/6/2022

0 Comments

 

Confronting the “Elite Capture” of Identity Politics in Our Movement Spaces

Truthout

The Truthout mission statement includes: Truthout is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to providing independent reporting and commentary on a diverse range of social justice issues. Kelly Hayes is the host of the Truthout podcast, Movement Memos, which she describes as: a Truthout podcast about solidarity, organizing and the work of making change.

From the podcast website:

"We have to be politically serious about how much agreement and how much alignment we’re going to require in a world of a resurging far-right fascist movement across the globe,” says philosopher and author Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò.

In this episode of “Movement Memos,” Táíwò and host Kelly Hayes discuss the lessons of Táíwò’s book, Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else).


Find a complete transcript and listen to the podcast here: 
https://truthout.org/audio/confronting-the-elite-capture-of-identity-politics-in-our-movement-spaces/

Dee VanThournout

0 Comments

Phone Banking for Reproductive Rights - PACG Event

10/20/2022

0 Comments

 

Phone Banking for Reproductive Rights
Thursday, October 27th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm

Gender Equity Forum and ALCU - Iowa

​
The start of the 2023 legislative session is right around the corner and we know reproductive rights will be on the agenda. So we need to be ready to hit the ground running when the new and returning legislators arrive at the Iowa State Capitol in January.  

Join the ACLU of Iowa on Thursday, October 27th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm for a virtual phone bank on reproductive rights! We'll be calling Iowans in key areas of the state to make sure we start the legislative session with a strong and broad network of folks ready to stand for reproductive rights. 

Please register here.

After you register, you will receive a Zoom link on Thursday morning. 
​
Alta Price
0 Comments

Informational Town Hall on Potential Abortion Legislation in Iowa - October 2, 2022

9/24/2022

0 Comments

 

Gender Equity Forum Sponsors Informational Town Hall on Potential Iowa Abortion Ban
Sunday, October 2nd at 2 pm

Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities
2930 W Locust St
Davenport, IA (map)


Led by the Gender Equity Forum of Progressive Action for the Common Good, a coalition of local organizations and pro-choice activists have announced plans for an informational session on the Governor’s proposed Iowa abortion ban. The event will be held on Sunday, October 2nd at 2:00 pm at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities, located at 2930 West Locust Street, directly across the street from the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport. Discussion will focus on how the six-week abortion ban will impact women’s and nonbinary individual's health, as well as the social justice implications for these people's autonomy and equality.

The announcement comes in response to Governor Kim Reynolds' court filing requesting a state court to reinstate a 2018 law banning abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, now that state and federal precedents protecting abortion rights have been overturned. This action comes despite a recent Des Moines Register poll reporting that 60% of Iowans believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases.  

Among the speakers scheduled to present on October 2nd are: Dr. Carolyn Martin, a retired obstetrician-gynecologist; Maize Stilwell, Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa; Francine Thompson, Executive Director of the Emma Goldman Clinic; and, Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst. The event will be hosted by Scott County Supervisor Ken Croken.

Contact Carolyn Martin or Alta Price for more information.
 


0 Comments

Iowa rejects appeal to pull book from school library - No Hate In Our States

8/14/2022

0 Comments

 

Iowa State board rejects appeal to pull ‘Gender Queer’ book from school library

Gender Equity Forum
Picture
This important decision helps us move to solidify equal rights for all. From the Iowa Capitol Dispatch:

The Iowa Board of Education refused Thursday to review a decision by the West Des Moines School District that keeps a book about LGBTQ identity on library shelves.

Last year, Teri Patrick of Clive complained about the book, “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” which is available for check-out at Valley Southwoods Freshman High School, a West Des Moines school campus for ninth grade students. Patrick wrote in the complaint that some of the book’s content violated state law which prohibits giving minors explicit material. The book, by Maia Kobabe, includes scenes which involve sexual activity and masturbation.

The West Des Moines school board voted in March to keep “Gender Queer” on school library shelves. Patrick then filed an appeal of the board’s decision to the state Department of Education.

​We must continue to work for gender equity. Read the full article here.


Alta Price
0 Comments

Gender Equity Forum Meeting - After Action Report

7/24/2022

0 Comments

 

Gender Equity Forum First Meeting - July 19th - After Action Report

Gender Equity Forum

The Gender Equity Forum held its first meeting on Tuesday, July 19th at the Bettendorf Library. Thirty-five people were in attendance. 
While we normally won't share a forum meeting update as an After Action Report, this was our first one and we were very pleased with the turnout.

Although there were technical issues with hooking up the computer to the Gilbert Room's system, the forum facilitators were able to "wing-it" in fine form. We began with a discussion of what we had planned for the meeting and then broke into two meetings to brainstorm ideas for actions to be taken in both Illinois and in Iowa.

Here's the PowerPoint presentation that we had hoped to share. You will probably see something similar to this in a future meeting.

Alta Price
Carolyn Martin
2022.07.19_gender_equity_forum_meeting.pptx
File Size: 166 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File

0 Comments

LTE from Iowa Medical Professionals re: Abortion as health care - PACG Event

7/24/2022

0 Comments

 

Letter to the Editor from Iowa medical providers regarding abortion as health care 

Gender Equity Forum

July 19, 2022

To The Editor:

(Note: Read the published letter here.)

As physicians and advanced practice providers from across the State of Iowa who care for women, we are compelled to outline our concerns for their healthcare after the recent SCOTUS decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health which overturned prior precedent of autonomy and privacy for women. While abortion and contraception remain legal and available in Iowa for now, we are concerned about future legislation that has the potential to negatively impact the health and autonomy of our patients.

We have conversations daily with women about medical conditions that may adversely affect a pregnancy or vice versa. Complications that can arise in pregnancy are complex, different for every person, and often unpredictable. We are highly trained medical professionals, yet we cannot foresee every pregnancy complication; therefore, policymakers cannot be expected to do so. We are concerned that maternal outcomes will be adversely affected in Iowa if more restrictive abortion legislation is enacted. Maternal outcomes have already suffered in Texas after legislation that significantly limited abortion was signed into law in September 2021. 1 Furthermore, legislation restricting abortion may worsen inequities in maternal health outcomes for people of color and those with limited economic resources. The pregnancy-related maternal mortality rate in Iowa for non-Hispanic Black women is currently six times higher than

the rate for non-Hispanic White women. 2

Some states have passed legislation that defines life as beginning at conception and these laws threaten medical advances such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and medicated intrauterine devices (IUDs). IVF accounts for 2% of all births in the United States. Defining life as beginning with fertilization, even outside a woman's body and restricting a patient’s autonomy over their own embryos will result in reductions of pregnancy rates. Medicated IUDs are used for medical conditions such as endometriosis, irregular menstrual bleeding or to prevent cancer of the uterus. Some states have targeted IUDs under restrictive legislation despite little evidence that their mechanism of action is to prevent implantation of an embryo. We hope our legislators can appreciate that farreaching legislation can have inadvertent consequences that place lives at risk. These reproductive health decisions, including abortion, should be made after an informed individual in consultation with a trusted healthcare provider.


And finally, physician staffing in Iowa may worsen if additional legislation is passed to restrict abortion and healthcare for women. Recruitment and retention will be more difficult and physician training programs could lose accreditation, resulting in closure. Highly restrictive laws will make this state much less attractive to outstanding physicians who desire to practice evidence-based medicine utilizing the best treatments for helping patients in need. The State of Iowa is understaffed for Family Medicine and OBGYN physicians and this deficit is projected to worsen by 2030. 3 - 4  Since 2000, 40 rural Iowa hospitals have closed their maternity units. 5 This has resulted in maternity care deserts in 29 Iowa counties. 6 Women often drive 2 hours or more, one way, for prenatal care. These hardships will worsen with legislation that impairs reproductive and medical autonomy for patients and their physicians. 7

We implore the policymakers for Iowa at the State and Federal level to collaborate with us, the physicians and advanced practice providers who provide healthcare to the women of Iowa. We advocate for public policy that maintains bodily autonomy and privacy for women, does not restrict medical practices designed to improve the health and fertility of women and sometimes saves their lives. Give us a seat at the table, so that we can learn from one another and find the common ground we all desire: Improved health and well-being for women and infants in our state.

Respectfully,

Andrea Greiner, MD and numerous others

1 Nambiar A, Patel S, Santiago-Munoz P, Spong CY, Nelson DB, Maternal morbidity and fetal outcomes among pregnant women at 22 weeks’ gestation or less with complications in two Texas hospitals after legislation onabortion, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2022), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2022.06.060.
2 https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.smfm.org/mortality_records/134-:state_slug.pdf, accessed 7/5/2022
3 https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/data-research/projections-supply-demand-2018-2030.pdf. Accessed 7/5/2022
4 https://www.ama-assn.org/about/masterfile/ama-physician-masterfile. Accessed 7/5/2022.
5 Access to Obstetrical Care in Iowa: A report to the Iowa State Legislature – Calendar year 2019. Division of Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention – Bureau of Family Health, January 2021.
6 https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/datareg=99&top=23&stop=641&lev=1&slev=4&obj=9&sreg=19. Accessed 7/5/2022
7 https://www.ansirh.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/turnaway_socioeconomic_outcomes_issue_brief_8-

20-2018.pdf. Accessed 7/5/2022


Carolyn Martin
Alta Price


0 Comments

Introducing Hands Off! Happy Hour - PACG Event

7/17/2022

0 Comments

 

Introducing ✋ Hands Off  Happy Hour🤚 ​!
Wednesday, August 10th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm

Picture
Rozz-Tox
2108 3rd AV
​Rock Island, IL 61201 (map)


PACG Gender Equity Forum


One of our new forum's goals is education about issues impacting women and non-binary people. We have decided to follow in the footsteps of our very active and successful Environmental Forum and do a monthly educational, social gathering for the Gender Equity Forum. If you are unfamiliar with Green Drinks, the PACG Environmental Forum has been holding these monthly meetings since February of 2019. Green Drinks usually offers one guest speaker who discusses their particular area of environmental expertise at the meeting. You can see a complete list of all of the PACG-hosted Green Drinks meetings here.

With this inspirational group in mind, the Gender Equity Forum will host its first Hands Off! Happy Hour on Wednesday, August 10th at 5:00 pm at Rozz-Tox in Rock Island.


You can order a drink either inside or at the walk up window outdoors. If the weather permits, we will gather outside in the green space at the right side of the building, and, if it’s raining, we will meet inside.

This will be a social hour with no selected speaker. We will speak briefly about the importance of community, friendship and self-care during the difficult work ahead. 

Please join us for the fun!

Alta Price and Carolyn Martin
Gender Equity Forum Co-Facilitators
0 Comments

Gender Equity Forum Meeting July 19th at 7:00 pm

7/11/2022

1 Comment

 

Gender Equity Forum Meeting
Tuesday, July 19th from 7:00 to 8:00 pm

Gender Equity Forum

Bettendorf Public Library, Gilbert Room
2950 Learning Campus Drive
Bettendorf, IA (map)


The Gender Equity Forum’s next meeting will be Tuesday, July 19th from 7:00 - 8:00 pm in the Gilbert Room at the Bettendorf Public Library. The Gilbert Room is located on the 2nd floor. While future meetings may have a Zoom or hybrid option, this one will be in-person only.

The mission statement for our forum is: This forum works to remove barriers to equal opportunity for women and nonbinary individuals. We educate and engage members in positive action that they can take to help affect change.

This meeting will be a great opportunity to have conversations with other individuals who are passionate about gender equity. 

The planned action item for this evening is to organize in-person meetings with Iowa State legislators to discuss abortion access and to reiterate our belief that abortion is an individual’s health right. (Illinois residents will discuss what actions make the most sense for them at this point, given that abortion at the state level will probably not be restricted.) If you don't already know who represents you in the Iowa legislature, click this link to find out: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find

The American Medical Association published this statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe, calling the decision “an egregious allowance of government intrusion into medicine.”

Our Tuesday, August 16th meeting will also be held at the Bettendorf Library, although we plan to alternate future events on both the Illinois and Iowa sides of the Quad Cities, and will vary which night of the week the meetings will be held. 

If you are unable to attend our meetings but still have interest in learning what you can do on your own to take action regarding gender equity, visit our website (www.pacgqc.org), subscribe to our weekly Progressive Action Update, and/or email us at qcprogressiveaction@gmail.com.


Carolyn Martin
Alta Price
1 Comment

Gender Equity Forum - A Message from the Board

6/30/2022

0 Comments

 

Gender Equity replaces Women's Equity in forum name

A Message from the Board

​Gender Equity Forum


We have decided to change the name of the Women's Equity Forum to the Gender Equity Forum to reflect the original intended inclusiveness of the group.

PACG was founded in 2005
as an organization built around our multi-issue forums. As progressives, we all care about many different issues. Those who feel strongly about a given concern or problem can join with others to work specifically on that topic as a member of that issue forum. Members meet to plan events and actions around their cause.

In July of 2008, the PACG Women's Issues Forum held its first 
meeting. But over the years the need for this forum was replaced by other work for the common good, and it was disbanded.

When we decided to reactivate the group as a result of the SCOTUS leak on the looming decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, we realize that we only slightly updated our forum name. However, in doing so, we may have unintentionally excluded an entire population of people from our group - those who do not identify as women but are nonbinary. We apologize for our oversight.

We welcome everyone to join this forum to work on Gender Equity in the QCA and the nation! You will see name changes across our platforms to reflect our desire for inclusivity.

Thank you for your patience with us as our own progressiveness progresses!

Alta Price and Carolyn Martin
0 Comments

PACG History - Women's Issues Forum meeting

9/3/2008

0 Comments

 

Women's Issues Forum Meeting
Tuesday, September 9th

Women's Issues Forum and QC NOW

Quad Cities National Organization for Women and the
Women's Issues Forum of Progressive Action for the Common Good
  
 Monthly meeting Tuesday, September 9, 2008.
 Butterworth Center, 1105 8th Street, Moline, IL  61265
  
In September we'll start to gear up for the Presidential elections and do some voter registration and informational rallys to educate the community about the issues we care about so they can make an informed vote. 
  
Carol Brown, David Stewart, Peggy DiBari 
 
QC NOW and PACG Women's Issues Forum
Check out our websites at www.geocities.com/qcnow and
www.qcprogressiveaction.org  (Women's Issues)
National Organization for Women www.now.org
Email: qcnow@mchsi.comQuad Cities National Organization for Women and the
Women's Issues Forum of Progressive Action for the Common Good
 


0 Comments

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008

    Categories

    All
    2020 Platform Resolutions
    3 Actions 3 Days
    3 Actions - 3 Days
    3 Months
    3 Weeks
    Abortion
    Abortion Is Health Care
    Absentee Voting
    ACA
    ACA Enrollment
    ACLU
    Action Alert
    Adolescence
    Affordable Care Act
    African American History
    African History
    After Action Report
    A Message From The Board
    A Message From The President
    A Message From The Webmaster
    A Message To Our Membership
    Annual Picnic And Pie Auction
    Asylum
    Auto Theft Accountability Program
    Black History
    Black Lives Matter
    Board
    Book Club
    Books
    Candidate Questions
    Car Theft Accountability
    Caucus Training
    CDC
    Celebrating Earth Month
    Choice
    Citizens Advisory Panels
    Civil Disobedience
    Civil Rights
    Civil Rights Forum
    Civl Right
    Clergy For A New Drug Policy
    Climate Change
    Climate Crisis Voter
    Community Events
    Connection With Others
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    COVID Relief
    Crisis At The Border
    DACA
    DAPL
    Davenport Bearing Witness
    Dick Fallow Endowment
    Donations
    Dreamers
    Dr. Kathleen Belew
    Drug Courts
    Drug Policy Forum
    Drug Policy Reform
    Drug Policy Reform Forum
    Duckworth
    Durbin
    Early Voting
    Earth Day
    Earth Month
    Earth Month Proclamation
    Earth Week
    Education
    Elections
    Environ
    Environment
    Environmental Forum
    Environmental Voter
    EPA
    Ernst
    Family Separation
    FARMERS MARKET
    Fundraising
    Gender
    Gender Equity
    Gender Equity Forum
    Global Climate Strike
    Government Shutdown
    Grants
    Grassley
    Green Drinks
    Green Holiday
    Green New Deal
    Gun Regulations
    Gun Violence
    Harm Reduction
    Health Care
    Health Care Reform Forum
    Hear Our Voice
    Holiday Party
    I Am The Future
    Illinois Local Government
    Illinois State Government
    Illiteracy
    Immigrants And Trafficking
    Immigration
    Impeachment Inquiry
    Inauguration 2021 Party
    Informed Voter
    Instagram
    Iowa Caucus
    Iowa Local Government
    Iowa State Government
    Iowa Women United
    Jobs
    Juvenile Justice
    Juvenile Justice Coalition
    Kavanaugh
    Kriss Wells
    Labor
    Leahy
    Legislative Forum
    Legislative Session
    LGBTQ+
    Lights For Liberty
    Living Lands And Waters
    Lobbying
    Local Culture
    LULAC
    Lunch & Learn
    Make Meds Affordable
    Marijuana Legalization
    Martin Luther King
    Mass Incarceration
    MCCQC
    Medical Cannabis
    Medicare
    Medicinal Canabis
    Membership Drive
    Members Of Congress
    Message From The Board
    Message From The President
    Message To Our Membership
    MLK Interpretive Center
    Monthly Environmental Celebration
    MoveOn
    Music
    NAACP
    Nahant Marsh
    National Organization For Women
    Native American
    Net Metering
    Networking
    Nobody Is Above The Law
    No Hate In Our States
    Nonbinary
    Nonviolent Resistance
    Novel Coronavirus
    No Wall
    Of Interest To Our Community
    Of Interest To PACG Forum Members
    One Human Family
    Op Ed
    Operation Reach Out
    Opioid Epidemic
    OSHA
    Our Office Manager
    Out & About
    PACG Action
    PACG Event
    PACG Events
    PACG History
    PACG In The News
    PACG Parties
    PACG's 15th Anniversary
    Pandemic
    Paris To Pittsburgh
    Paris To Pittsburgh Movie
    Partners Of Scott County Watersheds
    Peace Circle
    Peace Forum
    Peace & Justice
    Peace Vigil
    Picnic
    Pictures
    Power Of 3
    PPE
    Prescription Drug Pricing
    Pre-WEU Events
    Pride Fest
    Putnam Museum
    Quad Cities Interfaith
    Race And Trauma
    Race And Trauma (ART)
    Race: Are We So Different?
    Racial Equality Now
    Racial Justice
    Rallies
    Rapid Response Rallies
    Recycle
    Refugee Policy
    Renewable Energy
    Reproductive Rights
    Repurpose
    Resist
    Resistance School
    Resources
    Restorative Justice
    Restrictions To Voting
    Reuse
    Sanctuary
    Satellite Voting
    Save The Date
    Scott County Legislative Session
    Segregation
    Sentencing Reform
    Sexual Assault
    Social Justice
    Social Security
    Solar Power
    Special Counsel Investigation
    Spread The Relief Campaign
    Staff
    Standing With The Kurds
    Staying Informed
    Streaming Meetings
    Students
    Supreme Court
    Sustainable Farming
    Taking Action
    Taking Action 101
    The Many Faces Of Hate
    Toast The Resistance
    Transgender Rights
    Understand The Need
    Unitarian Church (UUCQC)
    Updated Post
    USPS Delivery Issues
    Volunteer Now
    Vote By Mail
    Vote-by-Mail
    Voter ID Laws
    Voter Registration
    Voter Suppression
    Voting
    Voting Rights
    Voting Rights Restoration
    War On Drugs
    Water Quality
    Water Sampling
    Webinar
    Weekly Email Update
    WEU Submissions
    What Is The White Power Movement?
    What You Can Do Now
    Wind Power
    Women's Equity
    Women's Equity Forum
    Women's History
    Women's Issues
    Workers' Rights
    Working Together Fund Drive
    Y15K
    Y15K Initiative
    Year End Summary
    Year-End Summary
    Youth
    Zoom
    Zoom Help
    Zoom Security

    RSS Feed

 Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG)
 1212 W. 3rd St, Suite 3D, Davenport IA  52802    
 (563) 676-7580      
​ qcprogressiveaction@gmail.com                                                                                                                                      © 2023 Progressive Action for the Common Good