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
    • Drug Policy Forum
    • Environmental 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 Our Weekly Email Update (WEU)
    • Make a Submission to Our Weekly Email Update (WEU)

Sharing Our 2020 Holiday Card

12/26/2020

0 Comments

 

Happy Holidays from PACG! 

​We summed up our year with this fun card that went out to our members. We are reprinting here because the image may be a bit hard to read. We also have an extensive blog post detailing all of our events from December of 2019 through mid-December of 2020.


This has been a challenging year for us all. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, our generous donors and a little creative thinking, PACG has adapted well to organizing and working for social justice during the pandemic. We share this new version of a traditional seasonal song as our wishes for blessings in the New Year to all of our friends.


In the 12 Months of 2020 PACG Gave to Me…
(sung or read to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”)


12 (even more!) Platform Resolutions Written
During this election year, the Board encouraged members to submit platform resolution planks for the Iowa Caucuses. We also co-sponsored nonpartisan caucus trainings with the AAUW, QCAIR, and Alliance for Retired Americans. 
 
11 Board Members Boarding
We continue to add qualified members to our Board of Directors and are grateful for their continued leadership.
 
10 Book Club Books Read
The PACG Book Club continues to meet every month. Its focus is on racial justice and will be expanding to include books on how the environment and health care play a role. The Book Club has gone international with one member Zooming in from Canada!
 
9 Zoom Licenses Given
In February, with the pandemic looming large elsewhere in the US, we had the foresight to purchase Zoom licenses for our forum and book club leaders. We also gave licenses to other organizations in the community with whom we coordinate on issues.
 
8th Annual Picnic
PACG held its 8th Annual Picnic and Pie Auction virtually this year. Maria at Catalyst Kitchen provided enchilada dinners. We were able to have a feast and support a minority-owned small business! 
 
7 Bakers Baking
As part of our 8th Annual Picnic we held our Pie Auction on Zoom. Seven incredible cooks baked a total of 13 desserts that we auctioned off, raising $500.
 
6 Months of Rallies
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement, PACG began holding weekly “Racial Equality Now” rallies at John Deere Rd. and 16th St. in Moline. Each Saturday morning since then, supporters stand at this busy intersection holding BLM signs and encouraging drivers to honk their support.
 
Y-15-K! (read this like 5 Golden Rings!)
To celebrate our 15th Anniversary, PACG began a campaign to collect funds for our Y15K Initiative. PACG matched pledges up to $7,500. Our members helped us raise another $12,500. 
 
4 Earth Month Proclamations
In honor of the 50thAnniversary of Earth Day in April, the Environmental Forum worked to convince the cities of Bettendorf, Davenport, Rock Island and East Moline to declare April Earth Month!
 
3 Informed Voters Town Halls
We helped organize and host three virtual Informed Voter Town Halls. After the election PACG also co-sponsored a “Count Every Vote” virtual rally.
 
2 Y15K Funds Distributions
In two separate events we distributed over $20,000 to four organizations that serve those in our community especially negatively impacted by the pandemic.
 
1 New WEU Category
The “No Hate In Our States” category was added to our Weekly Email Update. Every week we give our readers an action that they can take to educate themselves on the issues of equality.
 
We missed you all during the year but are confident that the New Year will bring us all together again. Regardless, we will tirelessly continue to do good work into 2021!


Picture
0 Comments

Holiday Greetings for 2020 from PACG

12/26/2020

0 Comments

 

Holiday Greetings from PACG

A Message from the President

PACG wishes all of its many members a Happy Holiday and Peace in the New Year!

Our Board of Directors took the time to share a personal message to each of you. View that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82wmSk7vLfQ

Our next Weekly Email Update (WEU) will be coming out next Tuesday, December 29th. Thanks.


Allison Ambrose
Picture
0 Comments

Green Drinks for January, 2021

12/16/2020

0 Comments

 

January Green Drinks via Zoom
Tuesday, January 5th at 5:00 pm

Environmental Forum

Join us at the first Green Drinks of 2021 on Tuesday, January 5th from 5 to 7 pm. Our speaker is Ed Fallon, Director of Bold Iowa.

In February we will hear from the Illinois Citizens Utility Board about energy issues in Illinois, and in March we are scheduled to learn about urban, sustainable landscaping from Kathy Brynes from Birds and Bees Urban Farm in Des Moines.

Links will be available in the WEU (Weekly Email Update) and our PACG Environmental Forum Facebook page each month.

Register here for the January meeting: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/greendrinks

Susan Leuthauser
Picture
0 Comments

Read Wilkerson's Book on Racial History - No Hate In Our States

12/16/2020

0 Comments

 

Author Isabel Wilkerson Releases Second Powerful Book On Racial History

No Hate In Our States

Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson has written two important books on the history, analysis, and impact of racial divisions. Her first book, The Warmth of Other Suns  documents the migration of African-Americans from the US South to the North and West, from the end of World War I through the 1970s.

Her newest book, Caste, compares racial division to caste systems in India and in Nazi Germany. 

Both books are fascinating reads and are also available as audio books. Wilkerson is the first woman of African-American descent to receive the Pulitzer Prize.

Julie Ross
Picture
0 Comments

2020 Year-End Summary

12/9/2020

0 Comments

 

PACG 2020 Year-End Summary

A Message from the President

PACG wishes all of its many members a Happy Holiday and Peace in the New Year!

Our Board of Directors took the time to share a personal message to each of you. View that here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82wmSk7vLfQ.

 
This has been a challenging year for us all. Thanks to dedicated volunteers, our generous donors and a little creative thinking, PACG has adapted to organizing and working for social justice during the pandemic. Our PACG Board and Forums have met via Zoom throughout these last 9 months. PACG bought a corporate Zoom license and we decided to share it with other social action agencies in the Quad Cities area. This new format has taught us a lot about how to set up successful and secure Zoom meetings. We made our voice stronger and were able to reach a broader progressive audience. We collaborated with partner agencies: Quad Cities Interfaith, Sisters of St. Francis (in Clinton), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), One Human Family, Catalyst Kitchen, United Way, Augustana College, St. Ambrose University, Wapsi River Center, Western Illinois University, Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, Our Lady of the Prairie and Quad Cities Interfaith.
 
The PACG Board and our groups have continued to be active. The Civil Rights Forum, Environmental Forum, and Health Care Reform Forum and Book Club have met with regularity during a very unusual time.
 
The PACG Civil Rights Forum began the year working for restorative justice by meeting with those involved with the anti-immigration rally at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Members also met with Iowa US Senate candidate, Theresa Greenfield, to deliver the message, “Children do not belong in detention camps.” In May PACG signed on to a Protect Iowa Workers statement and joined a broad coalition of Iowans to protect the safety of Iowa’s workers during the global pandemic. The Forum is also active in the Juvenile Justice Coalition of the Quad Cities.

 
The PACG Environmental Forum screened the film, From Paris to Pittsburgh, at Augustana College in Rock Island. In March they promoted the “Plant 1000 Trees” event.  They co-sponsored a virtual screening of the film The Story of Plastics at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the QC. The forum assembled a panel of sponsors including Rock Island Soil and Conservation District and Niabi Zoo to discuss the film after the showing. 
 
Because of the pandemic, the forum reconfigured its Earth Day Celebrations. 
  • In May, they set up a voter information table each Saturday at the Freight House Farmer’s Market.  
  • They prompted the cities of Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island and East Moline to proclaim July as “Earth        Month.” 
  • They celebrated Earth Day at the Farmer’s Market. Many vendors participated in this physically distant, outdoor          event.
  • They hosted the Citizen’s Climate Lobby via Zoom. Donald Addu presented a discussion, “The Environmental    Voter: A Path to a Just and Stable Climate.” Over 40 people attended this virtual event.
​
Throughout the year, the PACG Health Care Reform Forum members have been writing letters to the editor that have been published in the Quad City Times. They also continued to promote Affordable Care Act education and enrollment.
 
The PACG Book Club continues to meet monthly with a focus on racial justice. Topics for 2021 will be expanding to include books on how the environment and health care play a role in racial inequality. The Book Club has gone international with one member zooming in from Canada!
 
The Dick Fallow Endowment continued its association with PACG.  At the Holiday Party in December of 2019, PACG awarded the Dick Fallow Social Justice Endowment Grant to Project Renew. In February of 2020 one of our founding members, Kriss Wells passed away. PACG made a donation to the Endowment to honor him.
 
The PACG Board ended 2019 with a Holiday Party. Over 70 PACG members gathered in person at the German American Heritage Museum to award the Dick Fallow Award, review 2019 and eat food catered by Maria from Catalyst Kitchen.
 
During this election year of 2020, the Board encouraged members to submit platform planks for the Iowa Caucuses and also co-sponsored nonpartisan caucus trainings with the AAUW, QCAIR, and Alliance for Retired Americans. We also co-sponsored three virtual Informed Voter Town Halls. After the election PACG also co-sponsored a “Count Every Vote” virtual rally. 
 
In commemoration of Black History Month in February, PACG members donated $2,200 to purchase an information kiosk at the Friends of Martin Luther King Interpretive Center in Davenport.
 
In May PACG co-hosted the Covid-19 Victims Remembrance Day.
 
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement, PACG began holding weekly “Racial Equality Now” demonstrations at John Deere Rd and 16th St. in Moline at 11:30 am. Each Saturday since then, supporters stand at this busy intersection holding BLM signs and encouraging drivers to honk in support.
 
To celebrate our 15th Anniversary, PACG began a fundraiser to collect funds for our Y15K Initiative. PACG matched pledges up to $7500. Our members helped us raise another $12500. We distributed over $20,000 to specially chosen organizations that serve those in our community especially hard hit by the pandemic:
  • QCAIR (for immigrants)
  • Heart of Hope Ministries (food distribution in Rock Island)
  • Cobblestone Place (low-income housing which gives PACG very affordable office space)
  • Catalyst Kitchen (in conjunction with Black Hawk College to provide food service certification). 
 
PACG celebrated its 15th Anniversary with a Virtual Picnic and Pie Auction. We raised over $500 from our pie auction! Maria at Catalyst Kitchen provided Enchilada dinners. We were able to have a feast and support a minority-owned small business. 
 
In December we have been busy helping to co-sponsor the “What is the White Power Movement and Why Should You Care?” webinar organized by our friends at One Human Family Quad Cities.
 
We are forgoing our annual holiday party due to the pandemic, but we will continue our work undaunted! We have composed a little summary of our activities over this past year and I’d like to share it with you below. 
  

Allison Ambrose
 
0 Comments

Take Action to Save the ANWR! - What You Can Do Now

12/9/2020

0 Comments

 

Take Action by December 13th to Save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

Environmental Forum
​

The Trump administration has entered the last phase of their rush to lease oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). This particular area is one of the last pristine wilderness areas in the world, and is sacred to the Gwich'in people.

Under normal circumstances the public would have 30 days to make comments about this proposal, and comments via email or US mail would be permitted. But because the administration is trying to push this through before the Biden administration takes over, they are placing as many roadblocks as possible in the way. Comments from the public must be my mail. The Sierra Club believes that the deadline for our feedback could be cut to seven days! With the usual slowdown of USPS due to holiday mail there is grave concern that our voices could be silenced and this pristine wilderness will be lost forever. The Sierra Club has asked that all comments be postmarked no later than Thursday, December 10th. That doesn't give our members much time, so we are encouraging you to write a note by then if you can, but not later than December 13th. The sooner the better!

Your message can be very simple: "Drilling in the ANWR is fundamentally incompatible with any climate justice agenda. The health of the landscape is vital to the subsistence way of life of Alaska Native communities. Do not allow drilling in this pristine area!"

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will only accept comments from the public that are physically mailed to their Alaska office at:

State Director, BLM - Alaska State Office
222 W. 7th Avenue
Mailstop 13
Anchorage, AK 99513-7504

Please take a few minutes to write a letter or postcard in protest. Let's inundate them with public comments! The DEADLINE is DECEMBER 13TH! Put your note in the mail TODAY!

Lori McCollum
0 Comments

Green Drinks Tuesday, January 5th 2021

12/9/2020

0 Comments

 

January Green Drinks via Zoom
Tuesday, January 5th at 5:00 pm

Environmental Forum

Green Drinks has continued to meet on Zoom through the fall of 2020.

In October we hosted Sarah Gardner, formerly from the Bistate Regional Planning Commission, who is now working as a sustainability staff member for Iowa City. She filled us in on many of their sustainability projects and their city resolutions and goals on the climate crisis.

In November we heard from Cassie Druhl with Partners of Scott County Watersheds (PSCWS). She informed us about their water sampling program and other projects. PSCWS hosts monthly speakers as well, and we encourage everyone to check them out.

In December we hosted Miles Brainard, a city planner from Rock Island, to learn more about their current sustainability projects and future plans.

We have already set a great line-up for 2021 and will continue with Zoom.

Please join us in January to hear from Ed Fallon of Bold Iowa about their projects and some of Iowa's environmental issues.

In February we will hear from the Illinois Citizens Utility Board about energy issues in Illinois, and in March we are scheduled to learn about urban, sustainable landscaping from Kathy Brynes from Birds and Bees Urban Farm in Des Moines.

We hope you will join us. Links can be found on the WEU and Facebook.

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/greendrinks

Lori McCollum
0 Comments

"The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America" Webinar

12/5/2020

0 Comments

 

What is the white power movement and why should you care? 
Free webinar offers insight 
Wednesday, December 16th via Zoom

Register on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/130318194227 and please share this!

Did you know there is a common thread between the mass shooting at the Walmart in El Paso, Texas, the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the distribution of hate literature here in the Quad-Cities by a chapter of the National Alliance? All the individuals involved share an ideology that is tied to the white power movement.
Learn what the white power movement is and the threat it poses. 

What: FREE Zoom webinar, “The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America”

When: 7-8:30 p.m. (Central Time) on Wednesday, December 16th

Presenter: Dr. Kathleen Belew, assistant professor of U.S. history at the University of Chicago and the author of “Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America”

Offered by: One Human Family of the Quad-Cities Area, along with the Davenport-Bettendorf American Association of University Women, the Metrocom NAACP of Davenport, Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities, One Human Family Macomb, Progressive Action for the Common Good, Quad Cities Interfaith, Temple Beth El of Dubuque and Temple Emanuel of Davenport. It also is made possible in part by grants from the Doris & Victor Day Foundation, the Joyce and Tony Singh Family Foundation, the Goldstein Family, and the Puffin Foundation. 

Allison Ambrose


Register on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/130318194227 and please share this! A pdf of this flyer is downloadable below.
Picture
whitepowermovementwebinar.pdf
File Size: 2323 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

0 Comments

No Hate In Our States - "Dance Dreams" Documentary

12/1/2020

0 Comments

 

Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker on Netflix

Netflix is airing a new documentary about dancer/choreographer/actress Debbie Allen and her annual performance of her version of The Nutcracker. Appropriate for all ages. Allen says this about the production: “I have taken tradition and given it a new context, fresh lively characters, new music and spectacular dancing to bring a vibrant, unforgettable theater experience for all ages to enjoy. Don’t miss this wonderful production created just for you!!”

Watch the trailer: www.youtube.com/dancedreamshotchocolatenutcracker

Julie Ross
Picture
0 Comments

December Green Drinks

11/26/2020

0 Comments

 

December Green Drinks via Zoom
Tuesday, December 1st at 5:00 pm

Join us at our December Green Drinks on Zoom. Our speaker this month is Miles Brainard, the Planning and Redevelopment Administrator for the city of Rock Island. Miles will share with us sustainability projects he's working on.

Register for the event at:  www.us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/. You will be sent a link to join the meeting after you register.

Susan Leuthauser
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Archives

    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
    June 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

    Categories

    All
    2020 Platform Resolutions
    3 Actions 3 Days
    3 Actions - 3 Days
    3 Months
    3 Weeks
    Absentee Voting
    ACA
    ACA Enrollment
    Action Alert
    Affordable Care Act
    African American History
    African History
    After Action Report
    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
    Citizens Advisory Panels
    Civil Disobedience
    Civil Rights
    Civil Rights Forum
    Clergy For A New Drug Policy
    Climate Change
    Climate Crisis Voter
    Community Events
    Connection With Others
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Crisis At The Border
    DACA
    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
    Environment
    Environmental Forum
    Environmental Voter
    EPA
    Ernst
    Family Separation
    FARMERS MARKET
    Fundraising
    Global Climate Strike
    Government Shutdown
    Grants
    Grassley
    Green Drinks
    Green Holiday
    Green New Deal
    Gun Regulations
    Harm Reduction
    Health Care
    Health Care Reform Forum
    Hear Our Voice
    Holiday Party
    Illinois Local Government
    Immigrants And Trafficking
    Immigration
    Impeachment Inquiry
    Informed Voter
    Iowa Caucus
    Iowa Local Government
    Iowa State Government
    Jobs
    Juvenile Justice
    Kavanaugh
    Kriss Wells
    Leahy
    Legislative Forum
    Legislative Session
    Lights For Liberty
    Living Lands And Waters
    Lobbying
    Local Culture
    Lunch & Learn
    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
    MoveOn
    Music
    Nahant Marsh
    National Organization For Women
    Net Metering
    Networking
    Nobody Is Above The Law
    No Hate In Our States
    Nonviolent Resistance
    Novel Coronavirus
    No Wall
    One Human Family
    Opioid Epidemic
    Our Office Manager
    Out & About
    PACG Action
    PACG Event
    PACG Events
    PACG Parties
    PACG's 15th Anniversary
    Pandemic
    Paris To Pittsburgh
    Paris To Pittsburgh Movie
    Partners Of Scott County Watersheds
    Peace Circle
    Peace & Justice
    Peace Vigil
    Picnic
    Pictures
    Power Of 3
    PPE
    Prescription Drug Pricing
    Pride Fest
    Putnam Museum
    Quad Cities Interfaith
    Race: Are We So Different?
    Racial Justice
    Rallies
    Rapid Response Rallies
    Recycle
    Refugee Policy
    Renewable Energy
    Repurpose
    Resist
    Resistance School
    Resources
    Restorative Justice
    Reuse
    Sanctuary
    Satellite Voting
    Save The Date
    Scott County Legislative Session
    Segregation
    Sentencing Reform
    Sexual Assault
    Social Justice
    Solar Power
    Special Counsel Investigation
    Staff
    Standing With The Kurds
    Staying Informed
    Streaming Meetings
    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 Restoration
    War On Drugs
    Water Quality
    Water Sampling
    Weekly Email Update
    What Is The White Power Movement?
    What You Can Do Now
    Wind Power
    Women's History
    Workers' Rights
    Working Together Fund Drive
    Y15K
    Y15K Initiative
    Year End Summary
    Year-End Summary
    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                                                                                                                                      © 2019 Progressive Action for the Common Good