The Moline Public Library and the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities welcome historian Dr. Arthur Pitz as he leads the series Building Peace in the Middle East, beginning in June.  The program will be held four consecutive Tuesdays, June 11, June 18, June 25th and July 2nd, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Moline Library, 3210 41st Street.

Participants will learn the art of conflict resolution and international relations through the methods of the Harvard Negotiation Project.  These principles will be applied to current issues facing the Middle East through active group discussion and consensus building.

This grant-funded program is provided by the generosity of the United States Institute of Peace, the independent, nonpartisan conflict management center created by Congress to prevent and mitigate international conflict without resorting to violence. USIP works to save lives, increase the government's ability to deal with conflicts before they escalate, reduce government costs, and enhance national security. USIP is headquartered in Washington, DC with offices in Baghdad, Iraq, and Kabul, Afghanistan.

As part of its congressional mandate, USIP devotes a portion of its budget to support organizations that will advance the field of conflict management by developing new techniques, establishing best practices, and professionalizing the field through education and training. The Public Education for Peacebuilding Support is a program of USIP administered by the Institute of International Education.

Space is limited for this event, so registration is required.  Participants may sign up by visiting the Moline Public Library or calling 309-524-2470.

Illinois teachers may choose to attend this series for 8 CPDUs, with a $25 fee through the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education or one hour of graduate credit from Aurora University for a $100 fee.  Contact RIROE at 309-736-1111 for more information.

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MOLINE, IL -- WQPT received more than 400 stories from students in kindergarten through third grade for the annual PBS Kids Go Writers Contest. Sixteen winners (four from each grade) were selected by educators and contest sponsors. The winners and their families will be honored and awarded prizes at Deere-Wiman House at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19.

"We received a record number of stories this year. We are thrilled that so many teachers and parents encouraged their young authors and illustrators to participate," said Ana Kehoe, WQPT's educational outreach director.

Kindergarten

First Place: Rylan Edwards, Ekstrand Elementary, DeWitt, IA

Second Place: Ellie Curnyn, Jane Addams Elementary, Moline, IL

Third Place: Sophia Foad, Cody Elementary School, LeClaire, IA

Honorable Mention: Oliver Borders, Longfellow Liberal Arts, Rock Island, IL

 

First grade

First Place: Georgia Brunkan, Ed White Elementary, Eldridge, IA

Second Place: Xion Owens-Holst, McKinley Elementary, Davenport, IA

Third Place: Gianna Schwartz, Paul Norton School, Bettendorf, IA

Honorable Mention: Nate Stanger, Garfield School, Davenport, IA

 

Second grade

First Place: Paul Schwartz, Paul Norton School, Bettendorf, IA

Second Place: Isabella Jones, Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf, IA

Third Place: Nikhil Ramaraju, Riverdale Heights Elementary, Bettendorf, IA

Honorable Mention: Jena Edwards, Ekstrand Elementary, DeWitt, IA

 

Third grade

First Place: Dalton Morrow, Harrison Elementary, Davenport, IA

Second Place: Alana Kruse, Morning Star Academy, Bettendorf, IA

Third Place: Eden Swails, Riverdale Elementary, Port Byron, IL

Honorable Mention: Calla Brunkan, Ed White Elementary, Eldridge, IA

 

All the entries will be returned, along with a certificate from PBS. Stories will be displayed at the Butterworth Center from May 19-30; the Family Museum from June 3-16; and Figge Art Museum from June 18-30.

The contest is supported by WQPT-Quad Cities PBS, the Butterworth Center, Deere-Wiman House, Family Museum in Bettendorf, Figge Art Museum and the Midwest Writing Center.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University - Quad Cities located in Moline, Illinois.

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NEW YORK, N.Y. May 6, 2013 abUSed: The Postville Raid, the documentary by award-winning director, Luis Argueta, will have its Iowa broadcast premiere on IPTV World on May 12, 2013.  This broadcast will commemorate the 5th anniversary of the devastating immigration raid on a meatpacking plant in the Heartland of America.

The program will air on May 12 at 5:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on IPTV World as part of the WGBH-produced documentary series called "America Reframed."

abUSed: The Postville Raid weaves together the personal stories of those directly affected by the largest, most brutal and expensive Immigration raid in the history of the United States putting a face on the national debate about immigration.  However, the story of the Postville raid is not just about immigration, but how the rule of law was neglected, how the Constitution was trampled, how due process was overlooked and how the rights of immigrant workers were cast aside.

To see a 2-minute-trailer visit https://vimeo.com/22102237.

"With the new bi-partisan discussions on the issue of immigration reform in Washington the film is even more relevant than ever," said Mr. Argueta.

abUSed: The Postville Raid has received both critical acclaim and broad praise from communities across the country.  The film has been screened at over 200 venues, including colleges, law schools, immigration and workers' conferences, faith-based communities and at the OIM/CMS Conference on Irregular Migration for the UN Permanent Delegates in NYC. It has been an official entry in 16 international film festivals, receiving the Best Documentary Audience Award at CINEMASSÍ Film Festival in Finland (2012).

BETTENDORF, Iowa - Happy Joe Whitty loves people, and it shows. He loves to have a goodtime and to make people laugh, and that's just what his new book, "Not Your Average Joe" does.

You're sure to love this book written by the founder of Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream and theinventor of the Taco pizza! Read about this hard-working, generous, fun-loving entrepreneurwith a natural ability to make people happy. You'll be inspired, laugh, and maybe shed a fewtears. "I'm not only living proof of the American dream, but proof that the American dream canbecome a reality for any one of us," Whitty writes. "This is my story...and yours."

Meet Happy Joe Whitty himself on Saturday, May 4th, 11am - 1pm, at the Barnes & NobleBookstore in North Park Mall in Davenport, or 11am - 1pm the following Saturday, May11th, at Books-A-Million, 4000 E. 53rd Street in Davenport. There will be a meet and greetwhere Joe will visit and answer questions, as well as autograph your book!

Bring your camera and your kids for a photo opportunity with the real Happy Joe and Happy the Dog!

Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstoresnationwide, from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visitingwww.barnesandnoble.com, www.booksamillion.com, or www.amazon.com.
If you would like more information, please contact Kristel Whitty-Ersan at 563.332.8811, Ext.203, or via e-mail at kristele@happyjoes.com.

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