Quad Cities Interfaith Newsletter

Rev. Ron Stewart Saying Good Bye

QCI leaders and staff attended Rev. Ron Stewart's last church service on March 11th. Photographed is Leslie Kilgannon, Rev. Ron Stewart, & Rev. David Geenen. His message to us and his congregation is saying "YES to Change". Yes for him in retirement, including a new chapter of life (moving out of state and getting married) and yes for his congregation accepting a new pastor. QCI and Board members attended his last sermon and gave him a gift to a weekend getaway at Starved Rock Lodge. Rev. Ron worked with QCI for 9 plus years serving at QCI president for 6 of those years. Rev. Ron feels that his work with QCI allowed him to grow and pass that growth on to his own congregation. Good Luck. We will miss you!

Leadership Assembly

What's New

QCI Monthly Committees

Fundraising meets April 20th, 2012

The Fundraising Committee is currently working on QCI's 25th Anniversary Fundraising Celebration to be held in the fall of 2012. We are very excited about this event and will give you more details as our event details unfold. Please save this date. We hope to have all of you there. Our Trivia Night Fundraiser was a success. We raised $2200. We had a great time and enjoyed having all of you there. Thanks for all your support. As we grow with each event we hope our profits grow too. We have decided to have hold at least two more fundraising event for this year. We are very excited about all the FUN we are having this year!

Transportation Equity and Jobs Coalition

The Transportation Equity and Jobs Coalition has been working hard to ensure minority hiring on the jobs created by the Chicago to Moline Passenger Rail is a priority. The Coalition continues to grow and has participation from the US Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship, Youth Build Quad Cities, NAACP Davenport and NAACP Rock Island County, as well as many people of faith. We are continuing to meet with local stakeholders for the passenger rail and are holding true to our strategic campaign. One of our leaders participated in the Transportation Equity Network (TEN) annual conference in Washington D.C. to connect with others who are working on similar projects across the US and also met with our legislators to tell them about what the Quad Cities is doing and seeking their support. Our next meeting is April 25th at 10 AM at Church of Peace in Rock Island. 

SAVE THE DATE! QCI's Fire of Faith Prayer Vigil for Economic and Racial Justice on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 . As part of the Transportation Equity Network, (TEN) QCI will be hosting a prayer vigil to join in a nationwide movement April 29 through May 6, as we take our faith into action around our values of Love Thy Neighbor and The Common Good. More information to come! 

During this time, Congress will be home to hear from you before they decide on the Federal Budget priorities for 2013. As the budget is moral document laying out the direction of our nation, we will remind our leaders that our faith instructs us to TAKE ACTION in the name of our values of LOVE THY NEIGHBOR and THE COMMON GOOD!  For more information about TEN's Fire Of Faith Movement, visit www.transportationequity.org

On April 5th, 2012, QCI Transportation leaders joined leaders from Chicago, E. St. Louis, & Springfield for a meeting with IL Dept of Transportation Chief Counsel, Ellen Haskins to discuss implementation of the state wide Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). Pictured from the QC is Vera Kelly, President of Davenport NAACP, Kent Ferris, Director of Social Action, Diocese of Davenport, Rev. David Geenen, QCI Vice President and Pastor at 15th Ave. Christian Church, Rock Island, and Leslie Kilgannon, Executive Director of QCI.

Immigration Task Force  

The Immigration Task Force is focusing on voter registration, making sure eligible voters are registered. Friday April 20th, QCI leaders will join a national webinar training on GOTV, voter registration. Task force is also focusing on know your rights sessions for the immigrant communities in the Quad Cities. A broader concern is that each immigrant understands the rights and challenges pertinent to his or her immigration status. The task force is looking at ways to work with other entities in the community to make this information available. Training will  be provided to task force members so they will have a fuller understanding of immigration legal issues. Lastly, the task force has been discussing the problem of human trafficking along Interstate 80 in Iowa.  The task force will continue to explore this issue. Our next meeting is Tuesday, April 24th, 2012at 5:30pm at Village Inn (Harrison Street).

Health Equity Task Force

The Health Equity Task Force is looking at health care issues that arise when patients are not fluent in written and spoken English.  We know that clear communication is often a challenge in health care encounters, especially those that are stressful, but a whole level of complexity is added when a third party translator is involved.  Finding ways to help these situations locally will help reduce certain disparities in health care, improve equity in health care services, and ultimately, we hope, improve the health of a significant number of members of our community.  Please join us at our next meeting:  5:30 PM, Monday, April 30th, 2012, QCI Conference Room, 111 E. 3rd St (4th floor), Davenport.

Hear Us Now Youth Leaders

Yvonne Villagomez has organized and is leading a group of 10 or so Latino youths from St. Mary's Davenport parish.  The youth have made it clear that they're interested in tackling the issues of immigration/discrimination and bullying.  The leader are planning their meeting with our elected congress persons to discuss the need for humane immigration reform that keeps families together. If your youth groups wants to get involved, please call QCI office.

Community Events

Open House for The Muslim Community of the Quad Cities, Saturday, May 5th, 2012 from 2-5 pm, at 2115 Kimberly Road, Bettendorf, IA 52722. For more information please call Talia Alvi (563) 505-0708 or email at taliaavli@yahoo.com.

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