BREAKING NEWS: Negocios Now, a national award-winning publication focused on Hispanic business, has named Group O CEO Gregg Ontiveros to its 2021 “Who’s Who in Hispanic Business in Chicago’s Suburbs” list. Previously, Ontiveros made the publication’s 2020 list of “50 Most Influential Latinos in Chicagoland.” Ontiveros was recognized for turning Group O from a startup business into the $900 million diversified services firm in large part thanks to his entrepreneurial spirit and can-do philosophy. “By creating innovative marketing, packaging, and supply-chain solutions, Ontiveros... Read More

Artists in Conversation is a weekly column running Wednesdays on QuadCities.com. It features a conversation with a local creator or creators going into their artistic process, projects and more. Get to know your local arts scene and local creators better on QuadCities.com with Artists In Conversation! If you’re a local creator and would like to be featured, please email us at Sean@QuadCities.com or Tristan@QuadCities.com! This week our Artists in Conversation from QuadCities.com features Khalil Hacker and Melissa Conway. Khalil Hacker is a filmmaker and Melissa Conway is a writer/poet and together... Read More

Congratulations to RIHS student Riley Jones, whose piece “Black Pride” was selected as the winner for the Congressional Art Competition! Riley’s artwork will be on display in the U.S. Capitol! Congresswoman Cheri Bustos announced the winner and runners-up of the 2021 Congressional Art Competition in Illinois’ 17th Congressional District. The public got to vote for their favorite submission. The first-place winner this year is Riley Jones from Rock Island High School, whose submission “Black Pride” will be displayed in the United States Capitol! The Congressional Art Competition... Read More

A dozen outstanding Quad Citizens will be honored as part of the YWCA Quad Cities 3rd-annual Race Against Racism on May 22, presented by IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union. A special recognition ceremony will be held at the post-race party at Lindsay Park Yacht Club, Village of East Davenport. The race started in 2019, featuring a 5k run/walk and a 1-mile fun-run; however, the most important part of this event is honoring individuals who are standing firmly and intentionally against racism and doing this through their words, choices and actions, according to a Tuesday YWCA release. “At YWCA Quad... Read More

Representatives from Azubuike African American Council for the Arts and St. Ambrose University invite the public Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Grand Lobby of the Figge Art Museum (225 W. 2nd St., Davenport) for a conversation with special guests Jon Veal and Jordan Campbell of the Chicago-based art group alt_ (alt space). They will discuss an upcoming series of Quad-Cities projects aimed at positive disruption through tangible acts of service. There will be a cap of 45 people in the lobby and all typical Covid protocols will be in effect. RSVP is strongly suggested at azubuikeartscouncil@gmail.com. Christopher... Read More

Xixuan Collins of Bettendorf, a biology professor at Black Hawk College, is taking her personal and professional experiences to heart to help other students facing special challenges. She and her family are starting an endowed scholarship, “ABC All-Star,” for students with disabilities at BHC. “ABC” are the initials of their son Ari – a 5th grader who lives with autism and ADHD. It also stands for “American-Born Chinese” (in tribute to their family background) and “all students can be stars and shine,” Collins said recently. Currently, there is no scholarship for these students... Read More

It’s Sunday, and QuadCities.com proudly presents Fun10, a list of the top 10 things to do in the Quad Cities this week, and every week! Every Sunday, we drop a new FUN10, to give you a head start on your week and a heads up on what’s going on over the coming seven days. Check out FUN10 every Sunday for the details on ten awesome events happening around town. It’s a cool read, and a great way to get started planning your entertainment for the week. FUN10 — ten ways for you to have fun in the Quad-Cities, this week and every week, running every Sunday, only on your site for fun, free, local... Read More

Dear University Community, While Pride Month is celebrated annually each June in remembrance of the Stonewall uprising, Western Illinois University will celebrate Pride Month throughout April to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had at WIU throughout the years. The WIU LGBT*QA Resource Center, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Multicultural Center and other University programs and departments have several activities scheduled to commemorate Pride Month. More information about the activities and events scheduled during April can be found... Read More

In 2011, the LGBT*QA Resource Center was established at Western Illinois University to serve as a home, and to raise awareness for, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning+ community at WIU. Ten years later, the resource center provides that home-away-from-home, numerous programming and events and resources for the WIU and surrounding communities. According to Sarah Daniels, a graduate assistant at the LGBT*QA Resource Center, before the center had its first physical home in Seal Hall (now in the Multicultural Center), there was just one week of programming in April to raise awareness for... Read More

After having to shelve its 2020 season due to Covid, downtown Moline’s Mercado on 5th is gearing up to reopen in June with a new sense of mission and a new leader. Anamaria Rocha, 36, who grew up in Moline’s Floreciente neighborhood, was hired earlier this month as Mercado’s new director. She joins the nonprofit organization, led by co-founder and president Maria Ontiveros, as it prepares for what will be the fifth season of the popular Friday night outdoor markets on 5th Avenue in downtown Moline. “We could not have found a better person for the Mercado at this stage,” Ontiveros... Read More