31 Jul 2012

Theplace2b invites the community to a special open house celebrating its second year of serving at-risk, displaced and homeless youth of our community.

By David Geenen, MDiv

ROCK ISLAND, IL - On August 5th from 3:00-5:00pm, Theplace2b invites the community to an open house (1600-2nd Avenue Rock Island) and art sale to celebrate two years of service to our community's youth and their families.

Art created by our youth, as well as art donated by members of Handmade City, will be for sale at the open house. All proceeds from the sales will serve as the starting funds for our new Youth Entrepreneurial Program.

Miriam Prichard, our new associate director, will be speaking at 4:00pm about what has been happening at theplace2b recently.

Refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

View photo in message

Background: Theplace2b opened its doors in August 2010 to help meet the needs of the rising numbers of at-risk, displaced and homeless youth of our area. It came into being through the involvement of persons from the social services, financial supporters, concerned citizens, and religious institutions who saw the issue an opportunity and responsibility of the entire community to come together and open a center.

The first youth who entered our doors in 2010 was 17-yrs-old and came all the way from Arkansas, homeless and sleeping under someone's bed. We began helping just one youth, and from there we have evolved to helping over 100 youth in the Quad City area. We provide youth with a meal, job skills, and a safe place to hangout. For many of youth that have come in here we have provided resources to other services in our community such as housing programs and referrals to other agencies. We have been lucky to have the support of our community through donations of food, clothing, and having generous volunteers.

According to a 2011 Quad City Times Article, over 400 youth in Davenport School District and 140 in Rock Island/Milan School District were reported as homeless (9/5/11 "Counting Q-C's homeless teens hard").

###

27 Jul 2012

Quad City Bags Classic team registration is now open!

By Emily Jepsen
DAVENPORT, IA– Team registrations are now being accepted for the Quad City Bags Classic. Enjoy the great weather, a little bit of fun and competition and support two important youth organizations. The Quad City Bags Classic is sponsored by Tri State Windows, Siding and Roofing and the Quad Cities River Bandits and will be held on Saturday, September 8th at Modern Woodmen Park.

THIS ISN'T JUST ANY BAGS TOURNAMENT!!! This tournament is held ON the field at Modern Woodmen Park. A limited field of 144 teams will get the chance to test their skills as 72 custom-built, regulation-size bag sets are placed throughout the outfield of Modern Woodmen Park. Registration is $40 per team and each team is guaranteed at least 5 games throughout the day. Teams will first play within a pool of teams (guaranteed at least 4 games), following by two "flight" tournaments.

The beneficiaries of tournament entry fees and sponsorships are Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley and Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley.

To sign up a team or for more information, please call 563-323-8006 or 309-757-5777 or visit www.bbbsmv.org or www.bgcmv.org.

###
27 Jul 2012

11th Annual ALS Walk4Life to Attract Thousands in Honor of those Affected by ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

By Rick Martin
What:
11th Annual ALS Walk4Life
When:
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Time:
Check-in 9:30 a.m.; Walk start 11:00 a.m.
Where:
Solider Field, Chicago
Registration/More Info:
www.alswalk4life.org or 847-679-3311

Along Path.jpg
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Join the Les Turner ALS Foundation for the 11th Annual ALS Walk4Life on September 22nd.
This 2+ mile walk along Chicago's lakefront is a celebration of hope, courage and community,
and is an ideal way to support for those affected by Lou Gehrig's disease.

Emceed by meteorologist Phil Schwarz of ABC7 and Kathy Hart of The Mix 101.9FM, the event
will include music, entertainment, food and children's activities. The Walk4Life will occur rain or
shine.

Most participants walk as a team, honoring those living with ALS or in memory of someone
who has passed away from the disease. Teams have clever names such as "Hoofin' for Helga"
and "Pat's Warriors" and nearly every group designs their own colorful T-shirt.

The ALS Walk4Life is one of the world's largest gatherings for the ALS community, and in
its 10-year history, the Walk4Life has raised more than $7 million. Registration is free, but
participants are encouraged to fundraise for the Les Turner ALS Foundation.

ALS
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or motor neuron
disease (MND), causes motor neurons to stop working and die. The result is loss of voluntary
movement and muscle functions such as speaking, swallowing, and breathing. In the United
States, someone is diagnosed every 90 minutes, and 35,000 people are living with ALS.
Average lifespan is three to five years from diagnosis. Approximately 10 percent of all cases
are inherited, and a faulty protein pathway is known to play a role in all types of ALS. Though
treatment of symptoms often improves quality of life, there is no cure for ALS.

Les Turner ALS Foundation
Founded in 1977, the Les Turner ALS Foundation is recognized internationally and is the only
independent, publicly supported non-profit organization in the Chicago area dedicated solely

to the treatment and elimination of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Foundation is
affiliated with Northwestern Medicine where it supports two scientific research laboratories and
a large multi-disciplinary clinical program. Currently, the Foundation serves 90 percent of the
ALS population in the Chicago area with an array of patient services, such as support group
meetings, professional in-home consultation services, and respite care grants.

For more information, contact the Les Turner ALS Foundation at 847-679-3311 or visit
www.alswalk4life.org.
###
25 Jul 2012

13th Annual Walk for the Future Walking for OUR children...and yours.

By Patty Keeley
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN:SIDS Foundation hosts the 13th Annual Walk for the Future & Adds two 5K Run Locations

The thirteenth annual Iowa SIDS Foundation Walk for the Future will be held Saturday, August 25, 2012 in seven cities
across Iowa. Participants can register on line or request a registration form or additional information at www.iowasids.org
or by calling 866-480-4741. Participants may also register in person on the day of the walk.

Walk locations across Iowa:
  • Ankeny Walk– Wagner Park Bandshell, 8:30 am
  • Cedar Rapids Walk–Noelridge Park Lagoon Pavilion, 8:00 a.m.
  • Mason City Walk–East Park Prairie Playground, 8:30 am
  • Quad Cities Walk & 5K Run–Crow Creek Park, 8 am
  • Sioux City Walk–Bacon Creek Park, Shelter #1, 8:30 a.m.
  • Washington Walk & 5K Run- Sunset Park, Run at 7 am, Walk at 8:30 am
  • What Cheer Walk- Keokuk County Fairgrounds, 8:30 am

The 2012 walk celebrates thirteen years of walking and fundraising to fight SIDS and SUID in Iowa. The purpose of the
walk is to raise awareness about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and funds for the Iowa SIDS Foundation.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an otherwise healthy infant up to the
age of one year.

The annual walk is a family orientated event for SIDS and SUID families to celebrate and remember those babies that
were only with us for a very short time, and for community members to show their support.

This year's walk sponsors include : Modern Woodmen of America, NCMIC, Jeneary Dental, Transamerica, LS2 Group,
Stairway to the Stars, TrueNorth, Corporate Farmer, Grinnell Mutual, Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists, P.C., Children's
Dental Center of Mason City, American Bank, Beaton Inc., Casey's General Stores, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, Dr. Tim &
Carol Dettmer, LeMars Sertoma Club, Mahaska Health Partnership, Major Erickson Funeral Home, Medicap Pharmacy-
Ankeny, Quality Construction Services, Inc., and Zany Janie Entertainment.

SIDS and Reducing the Risk
While great strides have been made in reducing SIDS deaths, SIDS remains the leading cause of death for infants from
one month to one year of age. For more information about the Iowa SIDS Foundation, the annual walk, or AAP's safe
sleep risk reduction recommendations, visit www.iowasids.org or call the ISF office at 866-480-4741.

Iowa SIDS Foundation

The Iowa SIDS Foundation is a statewide, 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer organization committed to helping families that
have experienced a SIDS or SUID death, educating the public about SIDS and funding research into the causes of SIDS.
23 Jul 2012

40th ANNUAL BARNES FAMILY BLUEGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL BENEFITS CHILDRENS THERAPY CENTER

By Cathy Wonderlich
The 40th Annual Barnes Family Bluegrass Music Festival will be held August 31, September 1 & 2, 3, 2012 at the Mercer County Fairgrounds, Aledo, Illinois.

Shows start;
Friday at7:00 PM
Saturday; 12:30 and 7:00 PM
Sunday 11:00 AM

Admission for the weekend; Friday $15; Saturday $20; Sunday $15. Weekend Passes are $40.

Children under 16 are free with a parent.

Camping fee is $12 per day and electricity is available.

Bring your own lawn chairs. RAIN OR SHINE!!! There are shelters in case of rain.  Concessions on the grounds.

Proceeds will benefit the Children's Therapy Center.
20 Jul 2012

Lowe's Heroes Day Project

By Rick Martin

QUAD CITIES, USA - More than 15 volunteers from Lowe's of Moline, IL will work along side Salvation Army staff in nearly 100-degree heat this Saturday from 10am to 3pm to completely restore the landscaping and renew the playground area at The Salvation Army's Family Service Center. This homeless family shelter houses over 100 people every night, and another 70-100 people are fed at the Churches United/Salvation Army Meal Site Monday through Saturday evening.

"The stigma of being homeless is bad enough, so making the property as inviting as possible means a lot to the programs here at the Family Service Center. We cannot thank Lowe's enough for partnering in our mission of changing lives," states Brandon Luke, Social Services Director for The Salvation Army.

Lowe's Heroes, a company-wide program from coast to coast, has a mission to provide impactful support to local communities, and was put into place in the late 1990s. The Lowe's Moline Store employees will roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty as they reinforce Lowe's culture of caring.

Shayne Cobine, the Lowe's project organizer said that "We are very excited to help. I have been working at the shelter recently, and it has been an eye opening experience. It has been my pleasure to help make this day happen."

Lowe's employees devised a plan to make the heavily-used yard a more function and maintainable space. The work will include mulching the existing playground area and adding benches for the parents; installing hearty plants around the perimeter of the new sod; and fencing and lighted fence posts.

A grant from Lowe's and a grant from the Tri-City Garden Club have made this project possible.

###

16 Jul 2012

Quad Cities Interfaith Newsletter July 2012

By Quad Cities Interfaith

Join Quad Cities Interfaith on October 5th, 2012 for QCI's 25th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser at the St. Ambrose Rogalski Center from 6-10pm. We'll keep you updated as the details unfold.


QCI in Action

 

Quad Cities Interfaith, LULAC, NAACP, Churches United and the Davenport Civil Rights Commission have been meeting with Davenport Chief of Police Donchez and various City Officials for the past two years regarding our concerns about racial profiling by local law enforcement. The goal of this group is to eliminate incidnets of racial profiling or the perception that law enforcement is profing in our community.  A St. Ambrose Professor and his Grad students have completed a base line study on racial profiling and have requested from the City $15,000.00 a year for four years, for a more detailed annual study. During this current base line study, the report shows  the police department have thusfar been very cooperative with St. Ambrose. It is expected that the city will commit the money for a more detailed study.  The organizations are pleased with the current cooperation between the organizations and the Davenport Police Department and hope to model this project so partnerships can be formed in other Quad Cities.

Leadership Assembly

QCI meets every month on the second Tuesday of the month. Next meeting is Tuesday, August 14th, 2012 at 6:30 pm at St. Mary's Parish Center (525 Fillmore, Dav.). Come and grow with us.


What's New

Quad Cities Construction Employment Workshop is Saturday, July 21st, 2012 at Second Baptist Church (919 6th Ave, Rock Island, IL) 10 am to 2 pm. The Rock Island County NAACP, Quad Cities Interfaith, And IL/IA Center for Independent LIving would like to talk about the upcoming rail and transportation projects in the QCA, other upcoming construction projects in the QCA, building business relationships, job readiness skills, and  becoming a Certified Disadvantages Business Enterprise (DBE). Any Questions can be answered by Liz Sherwin at 309-793-0090/Liz@iicil.com or Leslie Kilgannon at 563-322-4910/qcikilgannon@gmail.com.

Herrington Park, 1100 Gaines St., 12:15-12:35 p.m.

Roosevelt Center, 1220 Minnie Ave., 11:35-11:55 a.m.

Sister Concetta Park, 6th and Warren streets, 11:40 a.m. to noon

Van Buren Park, Lincoln and Elmwood avenues, 11-11:20 a.m.

Whalen Park, 2800 W. 72nd St., 11:45 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.

Emeis Park, 2000 Emeis Drive, 12:15-12:35 p.m.

Indoor sites

Buchanan Elementary, 4515 N. Fairmount St., 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Garfield Elementary, 902 E. 29th St., breakfast from 7:40-8:05 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. extended dates June 4-July 27

Hayes Elementary, 622 S. Concord St., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Madison Elementary, 116 E. Locust St., breakfast from 7:40-8:05 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Monroe Elementary, 1926 W. 4th St., breakfast from 7:40-8:05 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Truman Elementary, 5506 N. Pine St., lunch from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Washington Elementary, 1608 E. Locust St., breakfast 8-8:30 a.m. June 11-June 28 only, lunch 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Davenport Parks and Recreation will offer free activities for children before and after lunch June 11 to July13. Parks staff and Youth Corps Volunteers will provide art, music, games, gardening, story time and more as an expansion of the mobile playground program. Before lunch activities will run from 10 am to 11:30 am at the Roosevelt Center, aTruman Elementary sites. After lunch activities will be held from 12:30-1 pm at the Hayes and Washington Elementary sites and 12-1:30 pm at Goose Creek/Americana Park. No registration is required.



Here is Rock Island and Moline meal/activity site info:

 

Broadway Presbyterian Church

June 11th - July 20th

12 - 12:30 Lunch

4 - 4:30 Dinner

 

15th Avenue Christian Church

June 4th - June 29th

12 - 12:30 Lunch

 

Church of Peace

June 4th - August 2nd

9 - 9:30 Breakfast

12 - 12:30 Lunch

 

Rausch Park

June 4th - August 2nd

11:30 - 12:00 Lunch

4 - 4:30 Dinner

 

Truth Temple

June 4th - August 2nd

4 - 4:30 Dinner

 

Rock Island Academy

June 11th - July 20th

10 - 10:30 Breakfast

12 - 12:30 Lunch

 

Academy for Math and Science

June 11th - July 20th

10 - 10:30 Breakfast

12 - 12:30 Lunch

 

Ridgewood Elementary School

June 11th - July 20th

10 - 10:30 Breakfast

12 - 12:30 Lunch

 

Frances Willard School

June 11th - July 20th

9 - 9:30 Breakfast

12 - 12:30 Lunch

 

Martin Luther King Center

June 11th - July 20th

9 - 9:30 Breakfast

12 - 12:30 Lunch

 

The Place 2B

June 4th - August 2nd

5 - 5:30 Dinner

 

Union Congregational Church

June 8th - July 27th

Fridays only

5 - 6 Dinner

 

Longfellow Elementary School

June 5th - July 20th

7:50 - 8:15 Breakfast

11:45 - 12:15 Lunch

 

Casa Guanajuato

June 4th - August 10th

8 - 9 Breakfast

11:30 - 12:00 Lunch

4 - 5:00 Dinner

 

Valley View Apartments

June 4th - August 10th

8:30 - 9:00 Breakfast

12:00 - 12:30 Lunch

 

Pheasant Ridge Apartments

June 4th - August 10th

9 - 9:30 Breakfast

12 - 12:30 Lunch

 

Immanuel Lutheran Church

June 11th - July 20th

8:30 - 9 Breakfast

12 - 12:30 Lunch

Most, but not all, sites have enrichment activities besides meals.  All is free.  For more information, call Nora at Church of Peace 788-6357.

QCI Monthly Committees

Fundraising meets August 14th, 2012

The Fundraising Committee is currently working on QCI's 25th Anniversary Fundraising Celebration to be held October 5th, 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. We are currently working on a Taco Tuesday Fundraising event to be held  in July.  And will keep you posted as we work out the details. We are very excited about all the FUN we are having this year!

Transportation Equity and Jobs Coalition
The Transportation Equity Task Force is hosting a meeting with officials from the Iowa Department of Transportation on Wedensday, June 27th at 3rd Missionary Baptist Church in Davenport.The goal of this meeting is to build a relationship between our leaders and the Iowa DOT Officials and to see if there are ways to partner in our common interest of extending the rail line from the Illinois to the Iowa Quad Cities.  The next regular task force meeting is Wednesday July 18th at 10 am at Church of Peace, Rock Island to plan a local leadership training.

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, July 24th, 2012.

Health Equity Task Force

The Health Equity Task Force continues to learn about the issues involved in medical interpretation and translation and how they affect equitible access to medical services in the Quad Cities.  We are currently working primarily with Genesis Health System.  We have also been networking with Broadway Presbyterian Church in order to see how our work and theirs on this issue might be mutually supportive.  Our next Task Force meeting will be Monday, July 16, 2012.  We will be meeting with representatives of Genesis Health System to continue our dialogue.The Task Force is committed to finding solutions that will 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.

Upcoming Events:

QCI monthly Leadership Assembly -- Tuesday, August 14th at St Mary's Church - 516 Fillmore, Davenport 
Gamaliel of Illinois National LeadershipTraining July 8th-July 14th,2012  Mundelein, IL
Gamaliel of Illinios Week Long Training August 5th-August 11th, 2012 Chicago, IL
International Leadership Training December 6th-8th, 2012 (site TBD)

Back by Popular Demand! QCI Taco Night Fundraisier is on July 17th, 2012! Join us at Azteca 1 (4811 N Brady St) Walnut Center from 5 pm to 8pm. Buffett dinner. Drinks not included. $10.00 per person. Call QCI for your Ticket reservations 563-322-4910.

Community Events

Broadway Church (710 23rd Street, Rock Island, IL) invites everyone to our FREE Annual Concerts on the Lawn this summer.  
All of our concerts are free, and we invite you to join us!

  • Our first concert on June 17 featured Christopher Sheridan, a local solo artist, with a blend of acoustic rock and folk.

  • July 15 brings the Just 4 Fun Band - five ladies from the Quad Cities performing old-time string music.

  • For our final concert of the summer on August 19, we welcome Rose 'n' Thorns, with their mix of music from the '50's through the '90's.

All three concerts will be from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on our lawn.  (In case of rain or other inclement weather, concerts will be held indoors as scheduled.)  
Refreshments will be available for a donation during each concert.  So bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy great FREE music and fellowship!

For more information, see the church website (www.BroadwayQC.org) as the dates approach or contact the church office (309-786-2631 orBroadway@BroadwayQC.org).


Crrection: In last month's newsletter we miss identified Illinios Supreme Cout Justice Tom Kilbride. We regret our error.

Welcome to Quad Cities Interfaith Newsletter

Hi, we are hoping you are enjoying our newsletter. Please take some time and check out our new website. It's the same web address, but a whole new look. Bare with us as we get all our information moved. We'd  love to hear any feedback from all of you about our newsletter and our website at www.qcinterfaith.org. Also, we would welcome information about faith-based activities to post on our newsletter. We reserve the right to edit for space and content.  Be patient with us as we grow in using the newsletter.  If you like this, please forward to your friends. Have a Blessed Day!

12 Jul 2012

Churches United facing financial challenges as it continues to meet the service demand.

By Jo Cohrs

Churches United is a Christian Organization who in part helps feed the hungry and shelter women and children in the Quad City Area.  To date this year they have served 45,531 individuals by way of emergency food pantries, served over 12,000 people at 3 meals sites, and sheltered 1527 lodging to a total of 128 women and children.  Winnie's Place stands for Women In Need Nurtured Into Excellence. The program is designed to not only provide shelter, but to help women to survive on their own once out of shelter.

Thank you Quad Cities for your many years of financial and volunteer support as Churches United has worked to meet the rising needs of hunger and shelter in the Quad Cities communities.  As you can imagine, it takes significant financial resources to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.  The community has been generous through donations to the various programs to address human need in the area.  Yet with a decrease in grant income has placed a decided pressure on other areas of income.  We are asking our communities for assistance to assure that families are able to continue to find food when they need it; that women with or without children can find a safe place to re-start their lives in a safe environment. Currently Churches United is facing a $30,000 short-fall in important income areas so the question arises:  Will you, the community help Churches United provide the food and the shelter that is so desperately needed?

Here are some thoughts about the importance of Winnie's Place, the Women's Shelter of Churches United, from someone who found hope within its walls.

I was invited to come back to Winnie's so I could get my kids back.  Well, I moved back in on a Tuesday and by Friday, I got my first weekend with 3 of my children.  Then I got to keep the youngest forever!  The twins came only on weekends for the next three weeks - now they are with me forever as well.  As for my oldest, he is back in town and is staying with my mother.  I'm not allowed to keep him overnight yet but soon I hope.  I also found a 3 bedroom, 2 baths plus a garage for 'low' through section 8.  YEAH!  We move on the 4th, which is today.  I thank God and Winnie's Place so much because without their belief in me I couldn't have done it!  I remember when I first came here - I was so unsure.  Ya'll made it possible for me to start getting' my babies back.  Thank you.  I am forever grateful and couldn't have done all this without your support, through all my yelling, and crying to you.

Will you, the community, help Winnie's Place continue the ability to provide the hope that is so desperately needed in this community and the world?  Will you, the community, provide the resources to see that those who are hungry find the food that is needed?  We invite you to consider helping us meet the needs for the next 50 years and beyond.  It is easy to donate simply go to the Churches United website - www.cuqca.org - and utilize the "donate" button.  A Donation can also be made by mailing a check to:

Churches United

2535 Tech Drive

Suite 205

Bettendorf, IA 52722

 

 

Rev. Ronald C. Quay, Executive Director

563/332-5002

rquay@cuqca.org
12 Jul 2012

Christian Care Announces Award First Congregational Church, UCC Supports Christian Care

By Ann Ring
Rock Island, IL - First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ has awarded a grant to
lend financial support for technology upgrades at Christian Care's rescue mission and domestic
violence shelter. "We are thankful that First Congregational Church in Moline has made it
possible for Christian Care to upgrade its software," said Dr. Elaine Winter, the organization's
executive director. "Men and women who come to Christian Care need our help. One way we
do this is by providing a computer for job searches, and software for these men and women to
complete their GED or college coursework. First Congregational Church's financial support will
enable us to upgrade our software needs for both clients and staff."

Christian Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization operating two facilities?a domestic violence
shelter for women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men. It serves homeless
individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and
those with mental illnesses.

For all those who need a meal, Christian Care's Community Meal Site is located at its Rescue
Mission, 2209 3rd Avenue, Rock Island. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays
Monday through Friday, and for breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast is
served at 6:30 a.m., lunch at 12:15 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m. If you know of someone in
need, call the Christian Care Crisis Hotline any hour of the day at (309) 788-2273 or visit online
at christiancareqc.org.
12 Jul 2012

Charities Help Fight Tide of Human Rights Violations

By Ginny Grimsley
Scholar Says They Empower a World of Bystanders

Despite the international outrage they provoke, genocides have flourished since World War II, when the term was first coined.

"Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Sudan offer contemporary examples of a practice that is one of the most aberrant examples of human behavior," says Renata Reinhart, author of In the Course of My Life (www.rexvita.com), a fact-based novel that recounts the little-known Soviet genocide of 2 million Eastern Germans in 1945.

"Many of these ethnic cleansings, including the slaughter in East Germany, don't come to the public's attention because they're kept secret or denied," she says. "In the case of East Germany, both England and the United States were complicit, so it's not a story they're eager to tell.

"But if history is written by the victors, then we have an obligation to get it right -- the best predictor of future genocide is denial of a past genocide."

One phenomenon that helps perpetuate the practice is psychic numbing - a person's inability to feel compassion for large numbers of people, Reinhart says.

"In a recent experiment, psychologists asked Americans to contribute money to a starving African orphan, and about half were willing. But when two orphans were presented, far fewer Americans were willing to contribute," she says.

Neuroscientific research has found evidence of psychic numbing, says Reinhart, who thinks it may be the response of an overwhelmed brain.

"We can easily conceive of helping one person, but any more than that and real help can seem implausible," she says.

However, she adds, when people are aware of trustworthy organizations making a positive impact, they're more likely to offer their own help. She recommends these:

• Genocide Watch: Dr. Gregory Stanton, president of the charity organization aimed at preventing genocide, recently published a two-pronged approach to turn the tide of mass murder, which is occurring in several hot spots throughout the world today. One prong includes compassion and awareness from the global community, and the other is an institution or institutions to track and prevent genocide, or at least hold leaders responsible.

• Women for Women International: "The cure for poverty has a name: The empowerment of women," said by the late world-renowned journalist and public intellect Christopher Hitchens. This charity is a humanitarian organization that provides emotional and financial support to women survivors of war. Job training and business development are just a few of the programs that assist impoverished populations, a preemptive measure against vulnerability, war and mass murder.

• CARE: This is another international group focused on women because, as its mission statement reads, "equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty." The organization's efforts includes the prevention of spreading disease, improved basic education, increased access to clean water and sanitation, and increased economic opportunity.

• Africare: The oldest and largest African-American led organization in the interest of aiding the continent; the group's initiatives include agriculture, micro enterprise, health, environment and women's empowerment.

• International Peace Institute: IPI is an independent, not-for-profit think tank with qualified staff representing 20 different nationalities, located near the United Nations in New York City.

"There are plenty of impactful charities that can be easily reviewed online," Reinhart says. "The events of genocide tend to begin from a chain of prior states, especially poverty and ignorance. My message is an educational effort, and I hope I contribute to the solution."

About Renata Reinhart

Renata Reinhart is the pen name of the author, a scholar of World War II history who spent years researching the Red Army's march across Eastern Europe in 1945. While the book is fictionalized as a memoir, the historical elements are accurate and based on numerous documented sources.

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Amy Alkon Advice Goddess, Real Astrology, Red Meat cartoon and RCR Crossword every week?) 

* indicates required

View previous campaigns.

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.