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COVID-19 Update: We continue to monitor the novel coronavirus pandemic. Board member, Dr. Alta Price, MD, asks that we follow CDC guidelines regarding mask-wearing. Fully-vaccinated people at out-of-doors events are not required to wear masks, but may choose to do so.
Events listed on our website and calendar will clearly state whether they will be in-person, via Zoom or phone-in.
Our Office Manager, Julie, can set up Zoom meetings on behalf of members or affiliates. Contact her via pacgoffice@gmail.com, her cell (563-508-2209) or the PACG Office (563-676-7580).
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Note: Although we schedule the WEU for Tuesday morning delivery, submissions to the WEU are due by noon on the Sunday before publication.
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Juvenile Justice Coalition Meeting Via Zoom
Friday, October 15th at 4:00 pm
Online
(first published 10/05/2021)
Juvenile Justice Coalition
The Juvenile Justice Coalition will meet Friday, October 15th at 4 pm. We continue to discuss issues affecting youth in our community. With a move forward toward a new Juvenile Detention Center (jail) in Scott County, our work has become even more important. Join us to discuss this issue and our efforts to promote a Youth Assessment Center (distinct and separate from a juvenile jail).
Contact Michael Guster for a Zoom link
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PACG Book Club: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins via Zoom
Monday, October 18th at 5:30 pm
Online
(first published 10/12/2021)
Book Club
Our October book is American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. Read this PACG Blog post to learn more about the book.
We hope you can join us! Click on my name for a Zoom link to the book discussion.
Alta Price
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Adolescence, Race, Trauma Discussion via Zoom
Monday, October 18th at 7 pm
Online
(first published 10/12/2021)
Juvenile Justice Coalition
The Adolescence, Race, and Trauma group continues with discussion and actions inspired by Professor Kristen Henning. We are focusing on two strategies: community outreach through tutoring; and, ways to strengthen and involve neighbors and neighborhoods. Please join us so we can continue to build a broad coalition.
Contact Julie Ross for a Zoom link.
Julie Ross
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Health Care Reform Forum Meeting via Zoom
Wednesday, November 10th at 2:30 pm
Online
(first published 10/12/2021)
Health Care Reform Forum
Join the Health Care Reform Forum for a Zoom meeting Wednesday, November 10th at 2:30 pm. We share information and actions to improve the Affordable Care Act, reduce prescription costs and connect with lawmakers.
Contact Julie Ross to get the Zoom link.
Julie Ross
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'The Greatest Heist In History': How Haiti Was Forced To Pay Reparations For Freedom
Online
(first published 10/12/2021)
Haiti has been maligned and punished by the developed world for being the first country on earth to declare slavery illegal. Economic instability has been exacerbated by unlucky natural events.
Learn more:
https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2021/10/05/1042518732/-the-greatest-heist-in-history-how-haiti-was-forced-to-pay-reparations-for-freed
Julie Ross
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Podcast: "Our nation’s Haitian double standard"
Online
(first published 09/28/2021)
Gain more info of the plight of Haitians at the southern border of the US. Listen to this LA Times podcast:
https://www.latimes.com/podcasts/story/2021-09-23/the-times-podcast-del-rio-texas-haitian-refugees
Julie Ross
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Ian Manuel
Online
(first published 09/21/2021)
There are several local groups working on various aspects of the issues of adolescence/race/trauma/incarceration. This podcast is an excellent documentation of one youth’s story.
From the podcast description at "This Is Criminal:"
“At 14 years old, Ian Manuel was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and spent an estimated 18 years in solitary confinement. Today, he tells his story.”
https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-170-ian-manuel-7-30-21
Julie Ross
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Racial Equality Now! Rally
Saturdays from 12:00 noon - 12:30 pm
The Slumberland/Party City Corner of
John Deere RD & 16th ST
Moline, IL (across from South Park Mall) (map)
(first published 06/16/2020)
Note: We will continue to gather every Saturday unless there is lightning from an active thunderstorm.
Civil Rights Forum
Join us every Saturday to stand up for the rights of Black People, specifically, and all People of Color in the United States of America! The purpose of this local Racial Equality Now! Rally is to support the current movement for racial equality and justice that has spread across this country, and to ensure that it keeps going for as long as it takes to see real and meaningful progress toward racial equality in America.
The half-hour you spend with us is empowering and unifying.
If you join us on Saturday, please wear a mask and expect to participate in social distancing. (Note: We were all vaccinated and stood closer for just a few minutes while taking this photo.)
Although I made a few extra signs, please bring some of your own if you can. Ideas for signs include “Honk for Justice,” Honk for Equality,” “Black Lives Matter,” “I Can’t Breathe!,” “Let’s Talk!,” “No Hate in Our State,” or “No More Deaths,” and many others.
There is always parking in the adjoining Slumberland/Party City/Enterprise parking lot, so please bring a friend and join us to help promote racial justice and equality for all People of Color! If you can’t make it this Saturday, join us on Saturdays as often as you can. Together we can make a difference!
Caryn Unsicker
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Introduction to Honeybees
Wednesday, October 13th at 4:00 pm
2664 145th Ave
Wheatland, IA (map)
(first published 10/05/2021)
The Prairie Retreat
During this two hour class at The Prairie, we will look into and observe a hive. We will discuss different types of hives and the components needed for a hive; the types of bees; where to get bees and how to install them. Meal not included.
Leader: Robert Roe Fee: $20 Limit: 30
Claudia Scharf
563-336-8414
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Sister Circle: Share the wisdom of your mothers on reusing, repurposing, recycling
Thursday, October 14th at 6:00 pm Update - Canceled
501 Brady St
Davenport 52803 (map)
(first published 10/05/2021)
NAACP
Note: Due to a death in the family this event has been canceled and will be rescheduled in the near future. Thanks.
Join us to share knowledge acquired from your mother (or other wise people) on actions that save the earth and its resources. Light refreshments will be served. CDC Guidelines will be followed. Bring a friend!
Glenda Guster
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QC Environmental Film Series - "The Story of Plastic"
Sunday, October 17th at 2:00 pm
225 W. 2nd St.
Davenport, IA 52801 (map)
(first published 10/12/2021)
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 was awarded 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
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Of Interest to Our Community
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Meet Davenport Mayoral Candidates
Thursday, October 21st at 3:00 pm
Davenport Public Library
6000 Eastern Avenue
Davenport, IA. 52807 (map)
(first published 09/14/2021)
Iowa Women United
Thursday, October 21st at 3:00 pm - Meet Mayor Mike Matson - Listen to Davenport Mayor Mike Matson talk about why he's running for re-election. The public is invited, and questions are welcome. Masks are recommended per CDC Guidelines.
Susan Meenan
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Letter of Concern to Mayor Rayapati - After Action Report
(first published 10/12/2021)
Environmental Forum
On September 16th, an article in the Argus/Dispatch caught our attention because it noted that the city of Moline was “…examining bottling and selling the city’s award-winning water…”. Members of the PACG Environmental Forum sent a letter of concern noting that single-use plastics are a source of pollution from the point of creation to the point of disposal. We pointed out that there are many health concerns related to the chemicals that leach from plastics into food sources and cause health problems, and we encouraged Mayor Rayapati to consider a different way of providing their water to interested parties, such as using 5 gallon refillable water dispensers.
We also complimented the City of Moline on other environmental policies such as providing each homeowner with a recycling bin and supporting the Metrolink solar project and electric buses. Further, we noted that Moline’s representative to the Rock Island County Waste Management Agency’s Board was one of only two votes to maintain the drop-off recycling centers.
The mayor answered our email the next day with a thoughtful response, stating, “Thank you very much for bringing your viewpoints to our attention. They are valid and definitely need to be considered as we try to be environmentally aware in not only intention but in action. Thank you for recognizing our work to this point as well. Please feel free to reach out with more ideas for alternatives to single-use water bottling as you think of them.”
It was heartening to get a timely response, and to hear recognition of our concerns. We would like to find a way to be proactive in learning about other Quad City municipal actions that impact our local environment. If you become aware of local projects that impact our environment, either positively or negatively, please let our forum know, and we will reach out to the appropriate city staff.
Lori McCollum
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Closing of Rock Island's Drop-Off Recycling Centers - After Action Report
1504 3rd Avenue, Rock Island, IL
(first published 09/28/2021)
Environmental Forum
The Environmental Forum has taken RICWMA to task for their decision to close all 4 of Rock Island County's Drop Off Recycling Centers.
We have written letters and made phone calls, issued press releases, written a joint op-ed in the local paper, been interviewed on local television stations, and attended board meetings in an attempt to keep these centers open. We may not have been able to change their minds YET, but we have increased community involvement.
There were 25 people in attendance at the September board meeting, and they expressed heartfelt concern about this issue. The board appeared unwilling to revisit the issue at this time, which means nothing will be done until the next fiscal year. This is an appalling waste of waste. Because they backed out of their contract with Republic Services early, they wasted $5000 tax-payer dollars, and now 80 tons of recyclable material will be flowing into our landfills and probably our ravines EACH MONTH.
If you are a Rock Island County resident, please call 309-788-8925 to keep up the pressure. RI County residents are able to take their recycling to the Waste Commission of Scott County if they don't have access to curb-side recycling, and we certainly encourage that choice.
Lori McCollum
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9th Annual Picnic and Pie Auction - After Action Report
Fejervary Park, Davenport
(first published 09/21/2021)
PACG Board
The 9th Annual Picnic and Pie Auction was a HUGE success! We had over 60 people in attendance, who were excited to connect with other progressives in person. Picnic goers interacted with each other over a get-to-know-you BINGO game. A delicious meal was provided by Taste of Ethiopia; information about all the great things PACG is doing was shared; Monarch butterflies were released; and, best of all, we raised close to $1400 with our pie auction! It was a great time!
Check out more great photos on PACG’s Facebook page: Here and here.
Allison Ambrose
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World Clean Up Event - After Action Report
Davenport RiverFront Bike Trail
(first published 09/21/2021)
Environmental Forum
We had 7 energetic volunteers on Saturday, September 18th to clean up along the Davenport RiverFront Bike Trail. We even worked our way into the woods on the north side of the trail, finding tires, a foldable chair, and a cooler of empty beer cans. All told, we collected 8 large bags of trash, and had some fun sharing our energy between PACG, NAACP and CCL (Citizens' Climate Lobby) friends! Thanks to everyone!
Lori McCollum
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