ISSUES & FORUMS

Immigration Coalition:

Progressive Action for the Common Good and QC-AIR (Quad Cities Alliance of Immigrants and Refugees) will meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month, from 6:30 - 8:00pm.

We promote love and acceptance among ALL people. We are all part of the same human family whose existence is of shared space on earth. We believe all living creatures breathe the same air and nourish ourselves from food grown from common soil -- therefore we are in relations with one another.

We are a diverse, grassroots, non-partisan organization committed to fostering equality and human rights. Robert Kennedy once wrote, "Ultimately, America's answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired."

For more information on how to get involved, please contact Patti Van Sandt or James Lee

Immigrant Community Mobilizes

For a rally in front of the federal Building in Davenport. It is our belief that we are a unique alliance, bridging Iowa and Illinois by the Mississippi river. We recognize the importance of many organizations whose goals and missions provide much needed services and support to the Quad Cities. In addition, over the past several months QCAIR has come to represent a unifying alliance, joining Iowa and Illinois, offering a fertile opportunity for authentic dialog, and bi-state cooperation. QCAIR's unique environment for tapping into what the real grassroots issues are thanks to folks at local colleges, public schools, PACG, area churches, neighborhood alliances, World Relief, CASA Guanajuato, and others---we are dedicated to encouraging a pluralistic community of love and compassion.

Monday, March 26th, QC-AIR meeting is 6:30 pm at:
St. Johns Lutheran "Church
4501 7th St.
Rock Island, IL
(309) 786-6333

If you need a ride or further information, please don't hesitate to contact me.
In peace, Patti

Past Events:

Working For Change - Immigration – A Human Issue

On Saturday, February 24th over 150 people attended the “Working For Change: Immigration – A Human Issue” conference at the Moline Community Center in Moline Illinois. PACG and QC AIR co-sponsored and assisted in the planning of the event. During the morning the event featured workshops such as: Immigration – Public Perceptions & Attitudes, Legal Assistance and Immigration Problems, Immigration and Civil Rights, and Employer/Employee Rights and Responsibilities. Perhaps the greatest success was the Youth Workshop that drew approximately 25 high school and college students. A good number of the students committed to organizing in the future to address the immigration issue.

The highlight of the conference was the keynote speaker, Dr. Juan Hernandez, a nationally known immigration lawyer and author of the book: The New American Pioneers. Dr. Hernandez urged the audience to direct action in engaging their elected representatives and educating the public on comprehensive immigration reform.

The conference wrapped up with a mobilization session moderated by organizer Diego Bonsatti with the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights in Chicago, Il. This conference was seen as another step in educating and mobilizing the public in the Quad Cities.

Working for Change
Immigration - A Human Issue
February 24, 2007

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Place: Moline Community Center
1613 5th Avenue
Moline, Il 61265
(309) 797-9962

Expected turnout based on organizations invited: 300 - 400

Goals and Objectives:

• Educate Legislators on Immigration Issues,
• Provide Accurate and Reliable Immigration Information to Attendees & Broad Regional Community,
• Establish Regional Mobilization Efforts.

Structure:

• This is a two part conference where we will have an opportunity to learn what is happening in the country, and in particular in our region of the country regarding immigration. Current law, new laws being proposed, and also what is actually happening as opposed to what is legal. It will benefit all of us in the quad cities and Iowa/Illinois residents.
• 2nd part will be focused on Mobilization. Special attention made to organize high school to 20-something adults.

Communities being encouraged to attend:

• Metro Quad Cities
• Muscatine
• Columbus Junction
• Burlington
• Sterling
• Rock Falls
  

Immigrant Rights are Human Rights: The Reclaiming Moral Values forum is in the process of coalition building and outreach within the Immigrant communities. Our goal is to hold an Immigration Town Hall meeting some time in September in order to promote tolerance and a greater understanding on this issue. What started as an event that our forum would spearhead has evolved into something much larger and more inclusive. Quad Cities Immigrant Community Turns Out for Massive Demonstration Supporters of immigrant rights turned out en masse on Monday, May 1st, and marched from downtown Rock Island across the Centennial Bridge, ending up in Davenport's LeClaire Park for a peaceful protest against pending federal legislation. This was the largest demonstration in the history of the Quad Cities and was featured on ABC's Nightline along with the massive demonstrations in Los Angeles and New York!