Tamara Feldman, owner of the Artsy Bookworm book store in Rock Island started the campaign “Planting Books-Seeds 4 a Better Future”. She asked the community to step up and help out local kids. And they delivered! Through the donation campaign, Feldman was able to purchase enough books that every second-grade student would be able to walk away with a book bundle that includes three books. Books that they can take home and start their own home library with. “We want to make sure children can develop independent reading skills and gain the benefits that come with them: improved... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University alumna and CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber LaDrina Wilson, Ph.D. recalls the people of WIU-QC being the challenging force that pushed her to pursue specific professional aspirations. “From the amazing personal and professional relationships I established, to the amazing faculty who constantly pushed me to think differently, I reflect a lot on WIU,” said Wilson. Wilson jokes that she is one of the few people to ever change their major in graduate school, but that’s exactly what she did. “My career in higher education continued... Read More

Thanks to a generous donor, Earl Hanson was able to purchase a new playground for its students! On Friday, August 26, Earl Hanson Elementary School hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new playground. The PTO (parent-teacher organization) asked the school’s principal what are the school’s needs. She told them a playground, somewhere for the kids to play. The PTO members reached out to some of its community connections and found a donor. Seeing the need for a new playground, Heidi Huiskamp Collins generously donated funds through the Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation, so the... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the annual John Hallwas Liberal Arts Lecture. This year, WIU Professor Emeritus John Hallwas delivered a lecture on, “Liberal Arts Education in a Time of Crisis,” and the events will continue into October with WIU English Professor Everett Hamner delivering “Welcome to Spaceship Earth: Reimagining Climate Action via Popular Culture” at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 in WIU-QC Riverfront Hall, room 111. “The stories we understand ourselves to be living in shape our choices a great deal... Read More

Tyler Leibnitz, a Western Illinois University sociology graduate student from Huntley (IL), has been named the inaugural recipient of the Randall and Delores Lindsey DEI Internship. Western’s newest internship program, which focuses on justice, inclusion, diversity and equity, is on its way to being fully funded, thanks to Randall Lindsey, a 1965 graduate. Lindsey, and his wife, Delores, recently established the Randall and Delores Lindsey DEI Internship Program to support students and causes in the areas of justice, inclusion, diversity and equity. When fully funded, the DEI internship program... Read More

Looking for some positive news? Look no further! Every month, QuadCities.com and KWQC-TV6’s “Paula Sands Live” partner up for What’s The Good News, a look at great things happening in and around the Quad-Cities community. So what’s the good news for this month? Well… Genesis and River Bandits Honor Addy Genesis and the Quad Cities River Bandits honored Home Runs for Life recipient Addy Hosette, 10, of Charlotte, Iowa at their game Sept. 9. Genesis and the Quad Cities River Bandits have been partnering since 2016 to recognize the success stories of Genesis physical therapy and rehabilitation... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – – Western Illinois University’s Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student chapters on the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses both received a 2021-22 Superior Merit award designation from the national chapter of SHRM for providing excellent growth and development opportunities to student chapter members. The SHRM student chapter merit award program encourages the development of more effective student chapters and distinguishes outstanding activities and projects. Chapters are recognized based on chapter operations, chapter programming and professional... Read More

Genesis and the Quad Cities River Bandits are honoring Home Runs for Life recipient Addy Hosette, 10, of Charlotte, Iowa. Genesis and the Quad Cities River Bandits have been partnering since 2016 to recognize the success stories of Genesis physical therapy and rehabilitation patients. Friday, September 9, at the end of the 1 st inning at Modern Woodmen Park, 209 S Gaines St, Davenport, Iowa the team will honor Addy. The game starts at 6:30 p.m., and Addy will be honored during an on-the-field ceremony by the players from both teams. In addition, a video about Addy will play on the video board during... Read More

Thanks to a generous donor, Earl Hanson was able to purchase a new playground for its students! On Friday, August 26, Earl Hanson Elementary School hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new playground. The PTO (parent-teacher organization) asked the school’s principal what are the school’s needs. She told them a playground, somewhere for the kids to play. The PTO members reached out to some of its community connections and found a donor. Seeing the need for a new playground, Heidi Huiskamp Collins generously donated funds through the Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation,... Read More

It’ time to celebrate! The Argrow’s 5th year anniversary celebration will be held on September 15th at 6pm at the Quad City Botanical Garden! This year will include a virtual speech from Mrs. Joy Reyes. Joy is the Founder and Executive Director of a social enterprise called New Hope Girls. She works with women and girl survivors of gender-based violence in the Dominican Republic reminding them that they are “created for more.” The women create beautiful handbags and design a bag annually with Vera Bradley during the International Women’s Day! The program will also include survivor... Read More