The Moline Public Library is pleased to kick off a six-week look at our nation's civil rights history.  Beginning Monday, March 24^th, the travelling exhibition Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 to the March on Washington, 1963 will be on display on the library's 2^nd floor.  This exhibit, which examines the relationship between these two great people's movements that tell the larger story of liberty and the American experience, will be on display until April 30^th.

In conjunction with Changing America, the Moline Library, with program partners Rock Island Public Library and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, will feature the film screening and discussion series Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle.  The four documentaries, produced with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, tells the remarkable stories of individuals who challenged the social and legal status quo of deeply rooted institutions, from slavery to segregation.  The first viewing and discussion session, featuring The Loving Story, will be held at the Rock Island Main Library Saturday, March 29^th at 2:00 p.m.

Additionally, the Moline Public Library is hosting several programs which will highlight the milestones, prominent figures, and themes of Changing America and Created Equal.  A full schedule and descriptions of events can be found at molinelibrary.com/createdequal.

The series schedule, in brief, is as follows:

The Created Equal film and discussion series will be hosted by program partners:

The Loving Story, with discussion led by Reverend Dwight Ford of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, will be at Rock Island Main Library (401 19^th Street, Rock Island) on Saturday, March 29^th at 2:00 p.m.

Slavery by Another Name, with discussion led by Dr. Christopher Whitt of Augustana College, will be at Moline Public Library on Monday, April 14^th at 6:00 p.m.

The three part documentary The Abolitionists will be screened at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (630 7^th Avenue, Rock Island) at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15^th, April 22^nd, and April 29^th, with discussion led by Rev. Ford.

Freedom Riders, with discussion led by Dr. Whitt, will be at the Moline Public Library on Monday, April 21^st at 6:00 p.m.

All other events will be held at the Moline Public Library:

The series' keynote address, Still Moving: The 1960s Civil Rights Movement and Living History will be presented by Dr. Paul Bushnell at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1^st.

A book discussion of Kindred by Octavia Butler will be led by Western Illinois University-Quad Cities' Dr. Everett Hamner on Thursday, April 3^rd at 7:00 p.m.  Registration is required for this event and can be done at the library or by calling 309-524-2470.

A discussion of our regional history and The Underground Railroad will be presented by Dr. Arthur Pitz on Tuesday, April 8^th at 7:00 p.m.

Illinois Humanities Council's Road Scholar Donna Pierce will discuss the role of food between 1915 and the late seventies in Meals on Wheels: Great Migration Recipes Ride the Rails North on Wednesday, April 9^th at 7:00 p.m.

Award winning Illinois folksinger Chris Valillo will perform Songs of the Civil Rights Movement on Wednesday, April 26^th at 6:30 p.m.

Musician Coleman Harris, with dancer Dorian Byrd and poet Shellie Moore Guy will be Celebrating Langston Hughes on Tuesday, April 22^nd at 6:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, April 23^rd at 7:00 p.m., Dr. Nancy Huse will enact the words of Ida B. Wells: Our Fearless American Foremother in a first-person, Chautauqua-style program.

Freedom Summer participant Patti Miller will discuss her civil rights era experiences in Keeping History Alive: Freedom Summer Experience 1964 on Saturday, April 26^th at 2:00 p.m.

Dr. Arthur Pitz returns to present Civil Rights March in Davenport on Monday, April 28^th, at 7:00 p.m.

For more information, visit or call the Moline Public Library at 309-524-2470 or visit the series web site at molinelibrary.com/createdequal.

Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle is made possible through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of its Bridging Cultures initiative, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Changing America is presented by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The traveling exhibition is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

Local support for Created Equal and Changing America has been provided by Friends of the Moline Public Library, WQPT, and The Moline Dispatch/Rock Island Argus/QCOnline.  Additional support was provided by the Illinois Humanities Council (IHC), which is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Illinois General Assembly (through the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency) as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

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Registration is open for the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI) 32nd Annual St. Patrick's Day Race on March 15, 2014 in downtown Davenport.  The 2014 St. Patrick's Day Race marks the 4th year that Russell Construction will be the Presenting Sponsor of the CASI event.

"The winter of 2014 stands as one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record for the Quad Cities.  The snow and cold are really hurting our registration numbers as runners, walker and revelers cannot even fathom being outside yet!" Laura Kopp, CEO of CASI states. "We are hoping for a break in the weather which will get everyone thinking of Spring and the great outdoors again. This is our largest fundraising event and the success of it all relies on the participation of our community." The Center for Active Seniors, Inc. provides programing and services to local seniors and their families in an effort to ensure our seniors live a long, healthy and independent life for as long as possible.

Lindsey Swearinger from Davenport Iowa isn't letting the weather stop her and her kids Emerson & Brayden from participating in this year's race. Lindsey decided last year to make a life style change by eating healthy and exercising on a daily basis to be a good role model for her 5 year old kids. With that, Lindsey has started participating in races and marathons and this year she's kicking off the season with the CASI St. Patrick's Day Race. "I signed my kids up this year for the ¼ Mile Tot Trot race and they can't wait! They found out there's a costume contest and they talk more about what costume they're going to wear instead of the race itself, they're excited." Lindsay states.

Register at CasiSeniors.org or at CASI (1035 West Kimberly Road, Davenport). This year's race includes the Sears Manufacturing ¼ Mile Tot Trot, Northwest Bank & Trust 1 Mile Family Fun Run/Walk and the Russell Construction 5K Road Race. Additionally, this year we're introducing the Unity Point Health Trinity Corporate Challenge where we encourage companies and their employees to sign up for the race. The company with the most participants wins the traveling trophy and bragging rights for the entire year. Back again are the Eye Surgeons Associates Costume Contest and the Lighting of the QC School Challenge. Register at CasiSeniors.org.

CASI relies upon volunteer support to assist with race activities - If you're not a runner but still want to be involved in this fun community event, sign up to volunteer! Call CASI at 563-386-7477, ext. 0 and sign up! We have a great variety of volunteer positions available!

For more information, please call:  Sarah Arp at CASI at:  563.386.7477, 229 (office) or 563.343.0038 (cell) or email at:  sarp@casiseniors.org

CASI, 1035 West Kimberly Road, Davenport, Iowa.  CASI is open Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm.  www.CasiSeniors.org

March 15th Monthly Trivia Night in LeClaire at the Civic Center. Doors open at 6:30pm, $10 per person. Corned Beef Dinner available for purchase ($7), including "to go". . . . Benefits LeClaire Civic Club. Win a Civic Center rental, and other prizes! For table reservations: Vicky at: 563-639-46211 or email kettlepopper@gmail.com

Last year, the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI) & Great River Brewery teamed up to make the Owney Irish Red Ale to raise funds for CASI. Well, last year was such a hit we brewed it again! The reasoning behind this fundraiser is because since 2009, government funding to non-profit organizations that provide human services has been in steady decline, forcing these service organizations to change much of their funding strategies or face a reduction in their ability to provide critical services to their communities.  Competition amongst non-profits for the "donated" dollar is extreme:  How can an individual not-for profit make itself standout from the crowd to garner more support and exposure plus increase donor dollars?

That's when CASI & Great River Brewery came up with the Owney and" brewed" the prefect fundraising plan. Owney, an old Irish name for "elderly" is on shelves now at retail locations throughout the Quad Cities.  Proceeds from the sale of Owney Irish Red Ale will be used by CASI to fund services for seniors in the Quad City community.  There are two events schedule to celebrate this cause:

Owney Tapping:

March 1, 1-5 p.m. Great River Brewery  332 E 2nd St. Davenport

Golden Keg is at 1:00 p.m.

Food is at 2:00 p.m. provided by Senior Star

Owney Dinner:

March 3, 4:00-7:00 p.m. Kelly's Irish Pub & Grill  Davenport IA

$25.00 tickets: include corn beef, cabbage, roasted potatoes and two pints of Owney. Purchase tickets at CASI, Kelly's or Great River Brewery.

*Proceeds will benefit CASI to help local seniors* 

Stop in at any of these events to... Sit up, Take Notice & Raise your Pint to CASI!

Founded in 1973, CASI is a multi-service senior center providing a variety of social, educational, support and wellness programs and activities designed for adults over the age of 60 and their families/caregivers.