Happy New Year!

QCI Trivia Night

Quad Cities Interfaith Trivia Night on March  2nd, 2013 at Knights of Columbus (Downstairs) Doors open at 6:30 pm, Game starts at 7 pm. Bring your own food. ALL beverages to be purchased there. $10 per person. Reserve your table now. Call Beth at 563-322-4910.

Fire of Faith 

In October of 2012, QCI kicked off the Fire of Faith Campaign - Rekindling Congregations, Democracy, and the Economy campaign. Fire of Faith is a three-year campaign that will strengthen member congregations and institutions, increase participation in democracy, and move one million people into jobs and increase economic dignity. Our faith traditions teach us that loving our neighbor cannot be just a sentiment- we must help to shape a world we can be proud to leave to our grandchildren.  "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." (Amos 5:24)

What's New at QCI

Fire of Faith - A movement to Rekindle Our Congregations!

Quad Cities Interfaith is leading a Fire of Faith campaign for 2013, developing a local Fire of Faith Cohort  of 6-7 congregations that walk together on a year long journey of congregational development and strengthening . Through this Cohort QCI will help lay leaders and clergy assess and identify the needs of a congregation and work to develop leaders for the congregation's ministries. The FOF Cohort will meet and receive training, intensive technical assistance and mentoring . This cohort of congregations will journey together, but each member congregation in the cohort will develop and work on their individual plans.

The purpose of QCI and Congregational Based Organizing, is to identify and develop lay leadership in a cohesive and active congregation so they can fully proclaim their faith in the public sphere, increase membership and engagement and create long term sustainability. Using the arts, attitudes and disciplines of the faith based community organizing, Fire of Faith will strengthen a congregation in ways that are measurable to that congregation. While often it is community issue work that draws and keeps a congregation engaged in QCI, this Fire of Faith process focuses in on what a congregation can do using our tools to build their congregation and make sure they are growing and building community. When congregations are strong , QCI is strong. Curious? Interested in learning more about this process? Call Leslie Kilgannon at 563.322.4910.


Photos from Gamaliel's Fire of Faith Retreat in January in Mundelein, Illinois. 68 leaders came together from Iowa, Indiana and Illinois to chart our course for 2013, Fire Of Faith is a year long journey of strengthening congregations. Clockwise from top. Quad City lay leaders and clergy joined QCI Director Leslie Kilgannon for the two day spiritual retreat and planning session. QCI Director and a leader from Gamaliel of Chicago.Gamaliel of Illinois Director Juan Soto explaining the Fire of Faith Campaign for 2013. 

Please Consider Becoming a Sustaining Donor!

We are trying to diversify our funding. To do this, the breakfast kicked off the individual sustaining donor campaign. The goal is to get 200 individuals donating at least $20 a month.  Any contributions to Quad Cities Interfaith are an investment in the work for justice in our community. Your tax-deductible donation is essential to our future and the work for justice. Making a monthly (or an annual) sustaining donation is easy and convenient through VANCO services on our website. You are able to make a secure payment using your credit or debit card. Sustaining donors make an on-going contribution. Each month or year you will be charged the same amount. You can also decide to stop or change your contribution at any time.

Ready to Become a Sustaining Donor?

It's Simple with these Step by Step Instructions
1.) Visit our website at www.qcinterfaith.org
2.) On the top right hand side of the site, click on donate now
3.) You will be taken to a secured website provided by VANCO Services to the Online Donation Page which has our logo
4.) Go to Donations
Enter the dollar amount you wish to contribute.
Donation Frequency: Identify how often you will be giving i.e weekly, monthly, one time gift
Donation Start Date: Identify the date you want a withdrawal to begin or to be made
5.) Click on Continue
Fill out donation information including how you would like to pay, your name and address, etc.
Review the information carefully
Make sure you click on process
6.) Confirmation. A confirmation page comes up with a thank you, confirming the donation and a confirmation number.
You can print off a receipt of your donation for your records.
It is recommended that you create a profile so that the system remembers you and you can log in and make changes, etc. 

QCI Issue Updates

Transportation and Jobs Equity

As part of  Gamaliel of Illinois, the task force is working to secure a State wide Project Labor Agreement (PLA) from the contractors,unions and Illinois Department of Transportation that will include requirements for diversity in the work force on all transportation projects in Illinois. The Task Force is also looking to build a local monitoring committee in early 2013, that will hold accountable IL DOT on the Community Benefits Agreement principles it agreed to for the passenger rail project coming to the Quad Cities. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 10 am at Church of Peace- 12th and 12th in Rock Island.  Join us! For information, please contact QCI.

Health Equity

Imagine this situation:  Your six-year-old child has a fever and a sore throat.  You're worried, so you take him to the doctor. You say, "I notice he talks little.  Little by little and he has difficulty eating and swallowing."  The doctor asks you, "Does he have a sore throat?" Pretty straightforward, right?

But now imagine the same situation when your first language isn't English, and you have to bring someone, in this case a family friend, to interpret for you, and this is how the friend translates what you told the doctor:  "She says he is talking like, like lazy, whatever he says all the time, and plus he is not eating at all."  Then, when the doctor asks about the sore throat, your no doubt well-meaning friend keeps interrupting and doesn't let you answer the question.
Research is starting to show that medical communication problems caused by language barriers are not only distressing, they are also potentially dangerous.
Medical interpretation and translation are key health care services in reducing health disparities.  There are many other issues of disparity, of course: geography, ethnicity, physical and mental limitations, but the disparities caused by language services in our communities are the current focus of the QCI Health Equity Task Force.

Our next meeting is in Tuesday, February 19th at 4:30pm at the QCI office -111 E. 3rd Street Davenport Suite 423.  We will be refining our plans for 2013.  Please join us.  We hope to have at least one representative from every congregational member of QCI as we address the challenges of improving health equity in the Quad Cities! If your congregation would like more information, please contact QCI at 563.322.4910.

QCI is in the process of developing a round table on education and is looking for clergy and community leaders to join together to establish round table that will identify and advance local issues and connect to regional and national education  issues. If  you are interested please email us at qcinterfaith@gmail.com. QCI staff is looking to connect with the Gamaliel Education Equity Task Force and will schedule a first meeting in February - watch this space.

Community Events

Continuing Series -Race Matters at St. Ambrose University
The Hyphen Matters: Race and Asian-Americans
Thursday, Feb. 7th, 7 pm

Placing Blame: European Racism in an Era of Crisis
Thursday, Feb. 28th , 7 pm

For more info and Race Matters updates visit: www.sau.edu

"Celebration of Life, Honoring Reverend Ron Quay"

On Saturday, February 2nd, 2013 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation for a 2 pm community celebration of  Ron Quay, who passed away in December. Rev. Quay was dedicated to social justice and the area is a more just community because of his work. 

Upcoming Dates

Calling all leaders!!!!!! Quad Cities Interfaith Strategic Planning Session for 2013-2014 is Saturday, February 9th, 2013, 8 am to 2 pm at Church of Peace, 1114 12th Street, Rock Island
Calling Clergy and lay leaders from our member congregations to help chart a course for the next year for QCI. Well feed you, but we need you to RSVP to QCI by February 7th. More details to come.

Quad Cities Interfaith Trivia Night on March  2nd, 2013 at Knights of Columbus (Downstairs) Doors open at 6:30 pm, Game starts at 7 pm. Bring your own food. ALL beverages to be purchased there. $10 per person. Reserve your table now. Call Beth at 563-322-4910.

2013 Gamaliel National Training.........
Teaching ordinary citizens to unleash the power within themselves

February 24-March 2 (7-day): Villa Maria, PA
July 14-20 (7-Day): Mundelein, IL
November 11-17 (7-Day): Western Region
Civil Rights of Immigrants Retreat March, 2013
National Clergy/Team Training April 24-26: St. Mary's, Mundelein, IL
Strategic Campaign Training June 10-14: Gallaudet University, Washington DC
Gamaliel Leadership Retreat June 2013


Tuesday, February 12th - 6:30 pm 

QCI Leadership Assembly 

St Mary's Church , 516 Fillmore, Davenport

BETTENDORF, Iowa - Supporters of fifteen nonprofit organizations contributed over $1 million to help those nonprofits succeed in the 2012 Endowment Challenge issued by the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend (CFGRB). The endowments funded by these donations and $75,000 in matching grants from the CFGRB will create a permanent, consistent source of income, allowing organizations to fulfill their missions for years to come.

Nonprofits that raised $15,000 in new gifts for their endowment at CFGRB received a $5,000 matching grant for their endowment. Alternatively, nonprofits that raised $30,000 in new gifts had the option to add the $5,000 matching grant to their endowment or use it for current operations. Every year, 4.5% of endowment assets held at the CFGRB are distributed back out to the community to support the work of nonprofit organizations, while the principal remains intact as a permanent resource.

Because gifts had to come from at least ten people, organizations had to spread the message of the importance of endowment. Jay Morrow, Superintendent of United Township, had conversations with alumni about how they could support the United Education Foundation, which provides scholarships to students and mini-grants to teachers. "We let them know that they could be significant in the future of our foundation, giving tomorrow's students the same opportunities that they had."

CFGRB Vice President of Programs Matt Mendenhall agrees. "While the $5,000 award is certainly helpful to these organizations, increased stakeholder awareness of endowment as permanent support for a mission they care about will have much greater value over the long run." In total, 397 donors contributed to the 2012 Endowment Challenge.

For all but one organization, the 2012 Endowment Challenge was their first time raising funds specifically for endowment. Children's Therapy Center of the Quad Cities, already an Endowment Partner, took the opportunity to grow their endowment. "In today's economy, a lot of organizational energy is focused on the 'now' - making sure we can provide services today," says George McDoniel, Executive Director. "The Community Foundation through their challenge match encourages us to focus energy on securing our future with endowment."

Both Endowment Partners and CFGRB staff stressed the value of the partnerships they built through this process. Barb Melbourne, Vice President of Development at the CFGRB, says, "I am very proud of our partners who committed to building endowment for a sustainable future." Mark Drake, Executive Director of Youth Hope, says, "We are so excited about our new
endowment with the Community Foundation! We received a generous match, a new partnership, new income, and unlimited long term potential."

Each Endowment Partner who met the match will be featured on the CFGRB Facebook page as "Endowment Partner of the Week" beginning January 28th. To learn more about the impact of these organizations and how you can make a difference, Like our Facebook page.

2012 CFGRB Endowment Challenge

Bettendorf Community Schools Foundation
Catholic Diocese of Davenport
Children's Therapy Center of the Quad Cities
Eastern Iowa Community College District Foundation
Family Resources, Inc.
German-American Heritage Center
Habitat for Humanity
Handicapped Development Center
Midwest Writing Center
Oakdale Memorial Gardens
Saint Anthony's Catholic Church - Davenport
Scott County Family Y
United Education Foundation
Women's Choice Center
Youth Hope

CFGRB 2012 Endowment Challenge - By the numbers:

Successful Endowment Partners: 15
Total gifts: $956,680.31
Total donors: 397
Total match: $75,000

If you have questions, please contact the Community Foundation at 563-326-2840, or info@cfgrb.org.

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