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| Quad Cities Interfaith | |
|---|---|
| Name | Quad Cities Interfaith |
| Type | Interfaith coalition |
| Headquarters | Quad Cities |
| Region served | Quad Cities metropolitan area |
| Founded | 1990s |
Quad Cities Interfaith is an interfaith coalition operating in the Quad Cities metropolitan area. The organization brings together congregations, synagogues, mosques, temples, and secular communities to address social issues through community organizing, advocacy, and service. It works with religious leaders, civic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government bodies to pursue policy change, community development, and interreligious dialogue.
Quad Cities Interfaith emerged amid regional civic activity influenced by movements associated with the Industrial Areas Foundation, Saul Alinsky, Community organizing, and faith-based coalitions in the late 20th century. Early formation drew on models exemplified by Chicago Theological Seminary alumni and organizers linked to networks such as the PICO National Network and National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. Founding congregations included participants from denominations represented by Roman Catholic Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), and Jewish Community Relations Council-affiliated synagogues. Regional events involving leaders from Augustana College (Illinois), St. Ambrose University, Bettendorf Police Department, and civic coalitions helped shape its priorities. Over successive decades the coalition engaged municipal administrations in Davenport, Iowa, Moline, Illinois, Rock Island, Illinois, Bettendorf, Iowa, and East Moline, Illinois on housing, education, and public safety initiatives, while members participated in national conferences hosted by Interfaith America and the Faith-based Initiative discussions during Clinton administration and Bush administration policy debates.
The stated mission emphasizes faith-rooted civic engagement, drawing on practices from Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Catholic Charities USA, and faith-based community development models promoted by Habitat for Humanity International. Programs include affordable housing campaigns modeled after Community Land Trusts and partnerships with Iowa Finance Authority and Illinois Housing Development Authority stakeholders. Education initiatives coordinate with Davenport Community School District, Rock Island-Milan School District, Moline-Coal Valley School District, and charter organizations like HAWK-region programs. Public safety and criminal justice reform efforts align with advocacy trends seen in The Sentencing Project and organizations such as ACLU chapters and local State Attorney General offices. Health and social service collaborations reflect practices similar to United Way of the Quad Cities Area and public health departments at Scott County, Iowa and Rock Island County, Illinois.
Quad Cities Interfaith is organized as a coalition of congregations, lay leaders, clergy, and volunteer organizers, paralleling structures used by Industrial Areas Foundation-affiliated groups, PICO National Network affiliates, and city-based interfaith councils like Interfaith Alliance. Leadership includes a board composed of representatives from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Davenport-style parishes, Beth Israel Synagogue-type congregations, Muslim community centers, and newer immigrant congregations such as Hispanic Catholic parishes and Laotian Buddhist temples. Staff positions typically include an executive director, community organizers, program coordinators, and volunteer liaisons similar to roles at Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and regional nonprofit employers. Funding streams combine congregational dues, grants from foundations like Loomis Foundation-style donors, awards from philanthropic bodies such as McKnight Foundation and Citi Foundation-type programs, and project support from municipal grant programs managed by Quad Cities Chamber or county grant offices.
The coalition convenes town halls, interfaith prayer vigils, and public forums in venues like Augustana College (Illinois), St. Ambrose University, RiverCenter (Davenport)-style arenas, and municipal chambers in Rock Island County, Illinois and Scott County, Iowa. Events often feature partnerships with civic leaders such as mayors from Davenport, Iowa and Moline, Illinois, county sheriffs, school superintendents from regional districts, and representatives of statewide bodies like the Iowa Department of Human Services and Illinois Department of Human Services. Annual gatherings mirror activities of the National Day of Prayer and regional interfaith convocations sponsored by groups like Interfaith Youth Core and Religions for Peace USA. Public campaigns have included voter engagement drives coordinated with local Board of Elections offices, census outreach in collaboration with U.S. Census Bureau field offices, and emergency relief coordination with American Red Cross chapters.
The coalition partners with a broad array of institutions: academic partners such as Augustana College (Illinois), St. Ambrose University, and Black Hawk College-style campuses; faith bodies including United Methodist Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport, Islamic Society of North America-affiliated centers, and Reform Judaism congregations; civic entities like Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Quad Cities Area, River Bend Foodbank, and legal aid groups such as Legal Aid of Western Illinois. It also collaborates with national networks including PICO National Network, Industrial Areas Foundation, Interfaith America, and advocacy organizations like ACLU and The Sentencing Project-style reform groups. Grants and technical support have come from regional philanthropy networks and statewide agencies such as the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and Illinois Arts Council Agency-like funders.
Notable initiatives have targeted affordable housing development with partners resembling Habitat for Humanity International and municipal housing authorities, leading to neighborhood revitalization efforts in areas comparable to Downtown Davenport and Moline Riverfront. Voter registration and civic participation campaigns increased turnout in municipal elections similar to efforts by League of Women Voters affiliates. Criminal justice and reentry programs worked with county courts, probation offices, and nonprofits modeled on Center for Employment Opportunities, reducing recidivism in pilot programs. Health access drives coordinated with Mercyhealth-type hospital systems and regional public health departments expanded vaccination and screenings. Interfaith dialogues and reconciliation events engaged leaders from St. Ambrose Cathedral-like parishes, local rabbis, imams, and Buddhist clergy, fostering collaborative responses to regional crises and contributing to policy wins at city councils and county boards.
Category:Religious organizations in the United States Category:Interfaith organizations Category:Nonprofit organizations in Iowa Category:Nonprofit organizations in Illinois