Quad Cities Chamber denounces racism, celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion

“The racist white nationalist flyers and messages being spread in the Quad Cities region are unacceptable,” Quad Cities Chamber President & CEO Paul Rumler said in a statement released on December 10, 2019. “The Quad Cities Chamber believes in creating a prosperous region where all can thrive. We have joined with hundreds of community partners to help lead Q2030, our regional action plan. Our collective goal through Q2030 is to be globally recognized for attracting talent and business, embracing our culturally rich and diverse community, inspiring innovation and encouraging lifelong learning.

“It is clear we have more work to do on our journey to foster belongingness and inclusion within the Quad Cities," Rumler continued. "We stand with our partners in denouncing these hateful messages meant to work against our region’s goals. More importantly, the Chamber will continue working with our partners to create the community we aspire to be." 

We stand together against racism. Stand with us. #StandTogetherQC

Join us by using #StandTogetherQC to share what you and/or your organization is doing to cultivate inclusive Quad Cities. Creating a welcoming, equitable and inclusive environment doesn’t happen organically; leaders of organizations and communities must be intentional in their efforts and commit to prioritizing and practicing what they preach. 

Measuring progress

Q2030 started as an idea to make the Quad Cities a different and better place by 2030. More than 240 area businesses, colleges, nonprofit organizations and government entities endorsed the vision, which, among many things, inspired new welcoming and inclusive initiatives.

While there are several successful ripple effects of Q2030, here are some recent and relevant wins worth celebrating:

• In February 2018 – almost 50 years after students at the Black Power Symposium called on Augustana College to identify a diversity officer to address race relations on campus – the college answered the call by hiring Dr. Monica Smith, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• In the spring of 2018, 36% of Quad Cities Big Table hosts said their groups discussed equity and social inclusion. Participants identified a need to develop an awareness of the challenges certain populations face and empathy for people from different backgrounds. They also called for the sponsorship and promotion of more cultural events that celebrate the area’s diversity.
• In October 2018, One Human Family QCA began distributing its “welcoming business” signs.
• In late 2018, the Putnam Museum in Davenport organized a team of Quad Citizens to prepare for the four-month run of “RACE: Are We So Different?” The exhibit challenges racial stereotypes and debunks misconceptions.
• In June 2019, the Chamber partnered with Augustana College at the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Centers Institute at Villanova University.
  • Augustana is working with the Association of American Colleges & Universities “to develop a systematic, strategic and sustainable approach to dismantling racism and other hierarchies of human value throughout the college community and the Quad Cities region.”
• On July 31, 2019, United Way of the Quad Cities launched the African American Leadership Society. The initiative aims to break down structural barriers to equal treatment and opportunity preventing African Americans in the Quad Cities from living their best life.
• On August 26, 2019, Ryan Saddler was named the first Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at St. Ambrose University in Davenport.
• On Dec. 10, 2019, the Quad Cities Community Foundation awarded a $100,000 Transformation Grant to Mercado on Fifth, an open-air night market in Moline that supports the development of minority-owned businesses and celebrates Latin culture in the region.