“Creating
Society”
“Creating a More Just Society”
Community Report 

2016—2017
—2017
601
601 Brady
BradyStreet
Street
Suite
Suite 208
208
Davenport,
Davenport,Ia.
Ia.52803
52803
www.qcinterfaith.org
“WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE UNION IN THE NATION”
A Message From Our President
This is Quad Cities Interfaith’s 30th year of “creating a more just society.” Thank you for 30
years of support.
In the wake of the Farm Crisis of the 1980s, ordinary people of faith came together powerfully
to create solutions to the jobs and housing crises in the Quad Cities. Today, people are in jobs
and out of jail because of QCI.
Recently, working with partners across Illinois, QCI brought a statewide jobs training program
to Blackhawk College. Right now, women and people of color can train for good-paying jobs
in the trades. Of 70 graduates, 22 now have apprenticeships in the trades. This is not counting
graduates in pre-apprenticeships or who found other jobs. Thanks to your support and QCI’s
organizing, these individuals now have life-changing careers. They can support a family and
reinvest in their community.
Recently, QCI also led the community to establish a Mental Health Court demonstration project in Scott County. The court launched on July 1, 2016. Today, five people are out of jail and
in rigorous, life-changing treatment. They’re no longer homeless. They have medication and
are under a doctor’s care, in some cases, for the longest stretch in their lives. Soon another 8 or
so may enter the program. Thanks to your support and QCI’s organizing, these individuals
have a chance to turn their lives around, reconnect with family, and impact their community.
Our core values motivate this work for jobs, freedom from jail, and justice.
 We believe all people are created in the image of God.
 We believe in an economy that guarantees the opportunity for all to find a job.
 We believe redemption is always possible.
 We believe justice—and restoring justice—requires nurture and not punishment.
So QCI builds power. We build power to act; power to create structural change; power to
change who decides; power to move society in the direction of these values.
On Sunday, September 11, QCI hosted a 30th anniversary celebration. We were honored by the
presence of so many past, present, and future leaders and supporters. Their vision, tenacity, and
courage brought us to today.
At that celebration, QCI launched a bold campaign for the next 30 years. We will:
 hire a second organizer
 expand across Iowa
 end mass incarceration
Since 1986 and to 2046 and beyond, Quad Cities Interfaith empowers ordinary people to pursue racial and economic equity for all. Come invest in yourself, in your
faith community or organization, and in QCI’s values toward 30 more years of leader-building and justicemaking.
Rev. Clark Olson-Smith
Pastor, St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Clinton
President, Quad Cities Interfaith
Quad Cities Interfaith: Who We Are
Quad Cities Interfaith (QCI) is a community-based coalition of 27 congregations and
community groups that have come together to build powerful local leaders and address
community issues in the Quad Cities region of Illinois and Iowa. QCI strives to improve
the quality of life in our region by developing community leadership in congregations
and other institutions, so as to bring our values into public dialogue and speak with a
strong, unified voice in the decisions that affect our lives.
Regardless of the specific issues addressed, the goal is to use the gifts of our people and
the resources of our faith to rebuild the community and to shape a society that is more
respectful of the life, dignity and rights of each person. QCI works in Eastern Iowa and
Western Illinois and members currently denominations including Disciples of Christ,
Catholic, Presbyterian, Unitarian Universalist, Spanish Mennonite, National Baptist,
Lutheran, African Methodist Episcopal, Metropolitan Community Church, United
Church of Christ, and various unions and community organizations. QCI is an affiliate of
the Chicago-based Gamaliel Foundation.
30 Years of Building Leaders, Creating Change
In thirty years, QCI has trained hundreds of leaders who have worked to bring
people together to develop community based responses to our needs, including:

Built a coalition of faith, business, education and community stakeholders to ensure that
local transportation projects bring local jobs and jobs training, local control, and equitable
access for our community.

With our allies, secured an agreement with the City of Davenport for a multi-year study of
police traffic stops to address concerns about racial profiling.

Developed a gang intervention project and an education incentive program for local youth.

Founded Interfaith Housing, which rebuilds central city homes that revitalize our
neighborhoods.

Built a coalition of local lenders and community groups to combat predatory lending. QCI
produced a brochure warning the public about predatory lending and showcasing local
lending alternatives to pay day loan products.

Worked with Davenport students, parents and teachers to save vital school programs for
at-risk students.

Partnered with the City of Davenport on Weed and Seed Grant to create and implement
leadership training program for local youth ages 13-18.

Took part in a coalition and successfully changed Illinois and Iowa laws to cap car title loans
How Quad Cities Interfaith Works...
WE UNITE
As a community, we are more powerful when we come together! That’s why
the leadership of QCI consists of congregations and community leaders from
different faith, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. While individuals
inhabit board positions, they are representative of the congregations and
organizations, which serve as the actual members of QCI. Through
intentional relationship building, we
come together as congregations to
build a coalition for change.
WE DECIDE
In order to decide which issues to
tackle, QCI holds Issue Assemblies for
its member congregations and allies.
Through a democratic process, the
members of QCI voice their opinions regarding what problems or social
injustices within the community to address. For QC Interfaith to take on an
issue it must have two simple requirements: the issue addressed must be
winnable and the work must result in a systemic change. The leadership
votes on the top two or three issues and begins building strategic plans to
achieve the end goal.
WE ACT TO BUILD POWER
Through community organizing, we create strategies to achieve tangible
change in our community. With the proven training methods of the
Gamaliel Network, we develop ordinary people into powerful, effective local
leaders. Through public meetings, civic engagement, actions, and key
relationship building with stakeholders and decision makers, we work to
improve the quality of life for residents of the Quad Cities.
Quad Cities Interfaith Members
 All Saint’s Lutheran Church, Davenport
 Ambrosians for Peace and Justice
 Bethel AME Church, Davenport
 Broadway Presbyterian Church, Rock Island
 Church of Peace, UCC, Rock Island
 Diocese of Davenport Office of Social Action, Davenport
 Edwards Congregational Church, UCC, Davenport
 15th Avenue Christian Church, Rock Island
 Iowa Illinois Center for Independent Living, Rock Island
 Metropolitan Community Congregation of the Quad Cities
 NAACP METROCOM Unit #4019, Davenport
 Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Bettendorf
 Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport
 Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church, Davenport
 Saint John’s Lutheran Church, Rock Island
 Saint John Vianney Catholic Church, Bettendorf
 Saint Mary’s Monastery, Rock Island
 Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Davenport
 Saint Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Davenport
 Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Davenport
 Second Baptist Church, Rock Island
 Spanish Mennonite Church, Moline
 Temple Baptist Church, Davenport
 Third Missionary Baptist Church, Davenport
 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities
 United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 431
 Zion Lutheran Church, Davenport
Board of Directors
President
Rev. Clark Olson-Smith
All Saints Lutheran Church, Davenport
Secretary
Yancy Bolden
Broadway Presbyterian Church, Rock Island
Treasurer
Kriss Wells
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the
Quad Cities
Faith Leaders
Caucus Chair
Rev. Dr. Christine Isham
Edwards Congregational Church,
UCC, Davenport
Clara Delle Thompson
15th Ave Christian Church, Rock Island
Wilma Hauser
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Davenport
Margie Mejia-Caraballo
Spanish Mennonite Church, Moline
Marsha Burke
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Davenport
Deacon Rick Sisk
Third Missionary Baptist Church, Davenport
Erma Wiszmann
Office of Social Action, Diocese of Davenport
Janet Woods-Bragg
Vera Kelly, Alternate
NAACP Metrocom #4019
Sister Mary Schmidt
St. Mary’s Monastery, Rock Island
Mario Ruiz
United Food and Commercial Workers
Union—Local 431, Davenport
Joe Heinrichs
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport
Rev. Rich Hendricks
Metropolitan Community Church of the
Quad Cities
Our Work: 100 Ready Workers
In our changing economy, people in our community need new skills and
opportunities in order to find meaningful work and support their families.
With the passenger rail and I-74 bridge projects coming to our community,
there will be many opportunities for work, and there is a pressing need for
more skilled labor and a more diverse workforce.
QC Interfaith developed the 100 Ready Workers Campaign to work to
keep those jobs local, and to facilitate needed job training so people from
all sectors of our community can benefit from those good paying jobs.
QCI and Gamaliel of Illinois, worked with the Illinois Department of
Transportation, the Illinois Community College Board and Black Hawk
College to bring to the area the Highway Construction Careers Training
Program (HCCTP). Placed at Black Hawk College in 2013, the HCCTP is
designed to train minorities, women and others in the highway
construction fields, giving them a leg up in their readiness to join trades
apprenticeship programs. QCI continues to help recruit participants for
HCCTP.
So far, 70 of 99 HCCTP participants have graduated, with 23 placed in
construction related jobs or apprenticeship programs. (Source: Illinois Dept.
of Transportation). A new class graduates November 2016.
100 Ready Workers also works within congregations and the general
public to provide hands on job preparedness events to prepare
unemployed and underemployed individuals with help in resume writing,
interviewing, softs skills and guidance on applying to skilled trades. We
are grateful for the partnerships we have forged with the NAACP
MetroCom 4019, NAACP of Rock Island County, the RI Housing
Authority, BlackHawk College, Scott Community College and the Tri
CityBuilding and Trades on these workshops.
HCCTP Graduates
Photo courtesy: Black Hawk College
Our Work: Racial Justice
QCI leaders are working to establish a Community ID in Scott County, Iowa.
This campaign is modeled after the campaign by the Center for Worker Justice
in Johnson County, Iowa. Community ID is a locally issued government photo
identification. A community ID would be a valid and acceptable identification
for populations who do not have a state ID.
People who might be interested in a Community ID include the elderly, youth,
homeless, low income persons, persons with disabilities, undocumented
immigrants and survivors of domestic violence. More importantly, Community
ID is a tangible demonstration of the principle that everyone who lives here is a
part of our community.
Also in 2016 , local clergy formed QCI’s Faith Leaders Caucus (FLC) and are
working to improve local police and community relationships. More than 35
clergy have signed their Partnership for Vibrant, Equitable, and Safe
Communities and Policing statement, and are building relationships with local
police departments to address the FLC goals, such as a return to community
policing; addressing identified issues with racial profiling; requiring more local
training on bias, crisis intervention and diversity; hiring more officers of color ;
and creating civilian oversight boards, which help to strengthen trust within the
community.
Photo courtesy:
Leslie Kilgannon
Our Work: Restorative Justice
Beginning in 2015, QCI launched a campaign to
address disparities in the criminal justice system.
With the support of a grant from the Riverboat
Development Authority, and the Doris and
Victor Day Foundation, the Restorative Justice
task force met, researched, and identified its first
issue goal: to establish a Mental Health Court in
Scott County, within the 7th Judicial District of
Iowa.
A mental health court serves as a diversion
program, so people who have been charged with
a crime are connected to mental health
screening, intensive support, and treatment, instead of only criminal
Prosecution. Designed to be an effective alternative to more traditional
criminal court prosecution, mental health court works to ensure that those
who fit strict criteria can begin to address the underlying root cause of their
contact with the law enforcement and the judicial system.
QCI organized a diverse team of leaders from the mental health, health care,
higher education, probation, judiciary, faith communities and persons
living with mental illness, to create a pilot program within Scott County.
In July 2016, a partnership between Transitions Mental Health Services, the
Scott County Attorney, Probation and Scott County Judges , began and
through a grant from Genesis Philanthropy, the Scott County Mental Health
court is operating!
The one year project expects to work with up to 15 people and take them out
of jail, connect them with housing, mental health services and medication
and other resources needed to empower people to get their lives back on
track.
Our Work: Rekindling Our Congregations
QCI and the Gamaliel Network have created the Rekindling Our
Congregations (ROC) program to help revitalize community, deepen
communication and encourage engagement within congregations.
Using the tools of community organizing , Quad Cities Interfaith
provides local training to clergy and lay leaders within a congregation or
organization. In the ROC , QCI trains teams to conduct “listening campaigns” of one on one “sacred conversations” with congregation or
community members.
As the Gamaliel website states, “the goal of these conversations is
straightforward: to build relationships among members; to hear dreams
and concerns members have about their church; to learn about talents
and giftedness members bring to church; to foster deeper participation
in the life of the church, including outreach beyond themselves.”
Photo courtesy: Leslie Kilgannon
QC Interfaith Honors the legacy of
Monsignor Marvin Mottet
Courtesy of Catholic Messenger
“Charity is no replacement
for justice denied.”
-Monsignor Marvin Mottet
Thanks to Our Donors &
Funders for Their Support of Our Work
Funders
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Quad City Bank & Trust
Church Women United of the Quad Cities
Quad City Federation of Labor
Community Foundation of the Great River Bend
Rauch Family Foundation
The Doris and Victor Day Foundation
Riverboat Development Authority
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Saint Ambrose University
Genesis Philanthropy
Saint John’s Lutheran Church, Rock Island
Iowa Illinois Center for Independent Living
Social Action Office, Diocese of Davenport
Pro Reconciliation/Anti Racism Committee,
Social Action Office, Diocese of Peoria
Christian Church in Illinois/Wisconsin
United Food Commercial Workers Union #431
Sustaining Donors
Barbara Shaw
Caryn Unsicker
ClaraDelle Thompson
Dan Ebener
Dave & Jeanne O’Melia
Dennis Xuereb
Dr. Arthur & Suzanne Pitz
Erma Wiszmann
Glenn & Bernadine Leach
Jack & Mary Knepp
Jared Johnson
Jayne Peak
Joe Heinrichs
John & Linda Molyneaux
Karen Metcalf
Kent & Lori Ferris
Kevin Carney
Kriss & Marth Easter Wells
Leslie Kilgannon
Lora McDonald
Marco LaNave
Marsha Burke
Mary Jane Kilgannon
Rev. Christopher & Mariah MarlinWarfield
Rev. Dr. Christine Isham
Rev. Ed O’Melia
Rev. Michael Swartz
Rev. Rich Hendricks
Rev. Ron Stewart
Reverend Robert & Shannon Leveridge
Revs. Clark & Sara Olson-Smith
Richard & Cindy Crowell
Shelley Heideman
Thomas & Mary Kilbride
Timothy & Erin Phillips
Tom & Loxi Hopkins
Wilma Hauser
Yancy Bolden
Individual Donors
Alexander Stewart
Alice and Ronald Lyons
Alta L Price, MD
Amy Kersten
Angela Elliott
Angela Gallagher
Ann Hailey
Anne Corbi
Arthur Seeser
Arthur Pitz
Britt Vickstrom
C. Wesley Llewellyn
Carl & Stella Herzig
Carla I McGreevey
Carolyn Merrill
Cathy Loughead
Charles Adam
Cherry McIlvain
Cindy Winckler
Connor & Laura Anderson
Cyrus Winters
Daniel & Rachel Huber
David & Sandra Reinders
David Geenen
Deluca Family Trust
Dennis & Vicki Conard
Dino D Leone
Doris Unterzuber
Eric Barta
Eric Engstrom
Floyd & Sylvia Elliott
Francis Burke
Frank & Terri Klipsch
Franklin Samuelson
Gary & Carol Freeman
Gene Conrad
George & Karen Erickson
George & Mary Oelschlaeger
Grace Franck Trust
Helen Brandt
Henry & Bev Sobaski
Ida Johnson
Jake & Leslie Klipsch
James & Ann McAtee
James & Diane Tiedje
James & Karen Collins
James & Linda Hoepner
James & Mary Orr
Jane Cox
Jane Duax
Jared Johnson
John & Diane Kinser
John & Kathryn Bowman
John Farley
Joseph & Kathleen Laird
Joseph Heinrichs
Joshua Schipp
Joyce & Donald Chamberlin
Judith A. Collins
Judith Teeple
Kaitlin Depuydt
Karen Kalber
Karen Ullestad
Kathleen B Medhus
Kathleen Christensen Weston
Trust
Kathleen Connell
Kenneth & Delores Kuenning
Kenneth Croken
L. Sue Witte
L.V. Rothert
Lawrence and Coletta Huber
Lee & Lisa Gaston
Linnea Thompson
Lisa Killinger
Lisa Powell Williams
Lori & Gerry Freudenberg
Loxi Hopkins
M Johanna Rickl
Margaret Ristau
Margaretha Fitzgerald
Maria Bribriesco
Marshall Douglas II
Martha Doyle
Marvin Mottet
Maureen Bennett
Michael & Sally Kent
Michael Agin
Michael Reyes
Myrene Burton
Nancy Huse
Nancy Servine Trust
Nora Dvorak
Patricia Miller
Paul Fessler
Paulette A Taylor Living Trust
Phillip & Joann Dennis
Randall Flowers
Rev. Rebecca David
Rev. Brian Miclot
Richard & Julie Davenport
Richard Schloemer
Robert & Georgia Steeber
Robert & Jeanette Akin
Roger & Mable Carlson
Ronald Pate
Rudolph T. Juarez
Ryan Saddler
Samuel & Elizabeth Lazio
Samuel Kresse
Sandra Burrichter
Stanley & Shirley Moore
Stephen & Sheryn Levings
Stephen Ebel
Steve & Charlene Maaske
Steve & Laura Torgerud
Steve McAtee
Tammy Norcross
Thomas & Heather Gibbs
Thomas & Sheri Carnahan
Thomas & Vicki Gall
Tracey Hustad
William & Patricia Gluba
William Harrison
The History of Quad Cities Interfaith
In 1986, in response to the farm implement crisis which led to the loss of
thousands of jobs and a subsequent housing foreclosure crisis, local
leaders of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport, Church of Peace, UCC, Rock
Island, Edwards Congregational Church, UCC, Davenport and Second Baptist
Church, Rock Island came together to address the spiraling social problems of
the Quad Cities community. Many local organizations were
addressing the immediate needs of their neighbors struggling with this crisis,
but these three congregations wanted to respond in a more systemic way,
using the tools and disciplines of community organizing, to address the root
causes of problems and train and empower people in their congregations to
“have a seat at the table” where decisions are being made.
One of the first campaigns QCI took on was “On Holy Ground,” a campaign of
congregations to take back their neighborhoods from negligent landlords and
drug houses. QCI successfully organized around strengthening and enforcing
local laws to address the problems plaguing neighborhoods . Through the
work, ordinary people took action to improve their own lives.
For 30 years, Quad Cities Interfaith, an affiliate of the Gamaliel Network in
Chicago, has trained leaders to: create a greater community impact, engage
more deeply with their congregations, and build powerful partnerships for
community solutions.
Congratulations to
Pastor Rogers Kirk Jr.
The 2016 QCI
Monsignor Marvin Mottet
Leadership Awardee
5169 Utica Ridge Road, Davenport, IA 52807
563.370.1776
Thank you Quad Cities Interfaith
for all that you do!
Supporting Quad Cities Interfaith
In Seeking Justice for All!
Quad Cities Interfaith
Empowers Ordinary People
to Achieve Extraordinary Things - Get Involved!
QC Interfaith needs not only financial support but your engagement!
There are many ways to get involved:
Stay in touch: Sign up for the e- newsletter by visiting our website at
www.qcinterfaith.org
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/qcinterfaith
Invest in your development : Attend a local or national leadership
training.
Explore membership: For faith congregations, labor unions and
community organizations.
Become a sustaining donor: online at www.qcinterfaith.org
Contact us: 601 Brady Street, Ste. 208, Davenport, Iowa 52803
563-322-4910 [email protected]
Thanks to our fundraising team:
Joe Heinrichs, Chairman
Clara Delle Thompson
Rev. Michael Swartz
Yancy Bolden
Rev. Christopher Marlin-Warfield
Marsha Burke
Jennifer Robb
Rev. Rich Hendricks
Nick Riedesel
For their hard work throughout the year.
Thank you to the
Riverboat Development
Authority for their support
of restorative justice.