QC Forum - 3-3-24

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to Quad City Forum, aweekly community service program produced by iHeartMedia to
look at the issues and opportunities thatexist in our community. Now here's your
hosts for a Quad City Forum,Dot Luke and Danny Linhowe, Daniel Sheridan,
performing Arts supervisor with Junior Theater,and Daniel the Junior Theater has been

(00:24):
in the news right off the top. How much did you know what was
happening with the City of Davenport,how it was pertaining to Junior Theater?
Well, sure, yeah, Imean that's great question. So first off,
just to share you know, DavenportJunior Theater has historically long been a
program of Davenport Parks and Recreation,and our nonprofit partner, Junior Theater,

(00:47):
Inc. Runs our main stage companyand does fundraising and alumni support. So
we're really a team over here.But to direct towards your question, the
timeline on the project is certainly atight one. I know, obviously there
were a lot of conversations with cityadministration about developing this facility. You know,

(01:11):
I've been here fifteen years and I'veI've heard talk on and off again
for years about a potential development ofthe Wittenmeier complex. And you know,
this seems to have come to fruitionrather quickly based around the needs of funding
and what the developer, Chris Alescan bring to the table. So it's

(01:34):
a challenging timeline for us, butyou know there there are hopefully some really
good opportunities along the way. Well, when we talk about the opportunities that
are available, I'm just wondering howquick of a timeline. It seems like
you can talk and talk and talk, and then all of a sudden it
sounds like somebody said, oh,by the way, Daniel, you got
to be out by you know,in like about five minutes. I know

(01:57):
it's not that quickly, but well, you just had recently had a kind
of an input meeting. What happenedwith that was there was there good things
that came out of that or goodideas they came on. You know,
we we did. We had areally great meeting, you know, because
because it's come so fast, andobviously we as a team were kind of

(02:17):
waiting to see the direction council wasplanning to head with the conditional conveyance of
the property to the developer. Andyou know, since that has gone through,
that likely puts us on a timelineto be out of the facility essentially
by June of twenty twenty five.We'll have some minimal use until December.
But the community input session was greatbecause we had just the most amazing group

(02:44):
of alumni and current students and parentsand staff all gathering together to help give
their input on you know, where, you know where in the city should
a future junior theater program be located, you know, what are the important
elements and opportunities we have, andreally getting our community talking to one another,

(03:05):
because you know, I told thekids I would build them. I
would build them a theater with myown two hands. If I could,
I'd start today, but I can't. It is the whole community is going
to have to help us kind ofrealize the vision of this program. And
it's interesting you talk about community becausethere are probably some people that were like,

(03:25):
uh, what we have a juniortheater. I mean, just because
they're just not plugged in. Beinga Fespian myself and knowing the importance of
theater. Literally, Davenport's junior theateris the second oldest junior theater. Like
what in the nation? Yeah,in the nation, Yeah, seventy two
years we've been doing theater for kidsby kids, and you know, the

(03:47):
goal. We love it if theywant to pursue the arts, But when
it comes down to it, ourgoal is to create people who can get
up and speak and speak with clarityand confidence and be creative and live the
moments. And you know, whetherthat's whether that's coaching a little league team
or standing up in a boardroom orbeing in a show, it all matters.

(04:09):
When we talk about moving forward though, and certainly with seventy two years,
we're talking about generations that have gonethrough there. Some of those people
have maybe moved, maybe they're stillin the Quad Cities, But how much
is the is the importance to stayin Davenport. Do you think there'll be
other options in other parts of theQuad Cities or is it pretty much right

(04:30):
now you're trying to stay right aroundDavenport. Well, you know, we've
we've always been primarily obviously a programof Davenport Parks and Recreation, and you
know the history of the program iswrapped up in Davenport from the moment it
began, and Davenport, you know, has always honestly shown a tremendous amount
of investment in the performing arts,you know, and the like I said,

(04:55):
coming back to the timeline, it'sit's just a difficult thing that we're
going to have to figure out andwork through. But you know, there
is a long standing commitment from theCity of Davenport to performing arts in the
community, and I know the nonprofitpartner as well, would would only love
to stay in Davenport. You know, that's really everyone's goal. Daniel.

(05:19):
When you talk about maybe a perfectpicture, what would be your perfect picture
of what would happen? I meanknowing that you have to move somewhere,
like a permanent home, something thatyou could move around, what would be
your perfect picture of where the theatershould be? That's a great question.
You know Mary flew or Nice Wander, who founded the program from nineteen fifty

(05:42):
one to nineteen seventy seven, theprogram moved fifteen times and then we landed
here at the Wittenmeier Complex and we'vebeen here for forty five years. But
Mary's original vision was a purpose drivenfacility made for the performing arts to serve
kids. That's the vision I thinkor the Junior Theater program is to have
a facility that is designed to connectkids to one another and become storytellers,

(06:08):
whether that's through theater or dance orany of the other number of mediums of
performing arts we offer. So itwould be nice to have a theater,
not nice with a theater and thenclassroom spaces and support spaces like we have
now to continue to grow into thefuture because we've grown tremendously over the last
fifteen years and we're a really specialregional program that draws from many communities throughout

(06:33):
the region. Now, when wetalk about some of those classes, those
things as you're trying to find alocation or moving forward, the class is
online stuff that's all going to continue. Yeah, yeah, I mean,
I mean that's the goal, right, I mean, if we were to
realize the dream of building a newfacility, obviously that's not going to happen

(06:56):
by next June. You know thatthat is you know, probably like at
best, at best a three anda half year you know, proposition probably
five. You know, it's abig project. So we'll have to find
an interim space that can adequately servethe students as well. And so it's

(07:17):
kind of a dual search right nowof you know, is there an interim
space or is there maybe a spacethat we can make the new junior theater
converted. But I can say,you know, is a department right now.
Our main interest is a parks andrec department and junior theatering team is
on seeing a vision of a newcomplex or facility for the arts. Yeah,

(07:40):
it's a while. It's a talkabout conflicting issues here, business as
usual yet, Yeah, if you'vegot a building and really it's it,
it has to be frustrating because justseeing some of the video from just recently
when you had the big meeting,that's the perfect You really have a perfect
place that you guys have improved upon. Now we have to find the next

(08:01):
big place and ready to go.But burying your head in the sand is
not an option here. We haveto move forward. And it's great when
you have the network that you guyshave to be able to really get the
feelers out everywhere already. Yeah,yeah, absolutely, we have a lot
of people engaged in that and ofcourse very invested alumni reaching out who have

(08:24):
careers and you know, experience tokind of pitch in and help and yeah,
and in regards to you know,we have maximized this space, but
it is also truthful that. Idon't think anyone would pick an eighteen eighties
slowly deteriorating former orphanage to also putthe program. We've just really, I
think, done a great job hereand so maybe there is an opportunity for

(08:48):
something for something better. You know, ada accessibility continues to be a challenge
in our space, and you know, if we're carrying costumes from one to
classroom, we're outside in the winterwhile it's snowing or raining carrying costumes around.
Like, you know, there's somechallenges here, but there are challenges.
We've been here for forty five years, so it feels like, you

(09:09):
know, that's just how things happenat our house. Building character, well
building building character, and really somany of those, so many of those
things. It was like it wasn'tlike it was just down the hall from
the stage. You were going fromone building to the next to make this
happen. And yet it still looksgreat. And yet at the same time,

(09:31):
you will probably have more input meetingsor what are the moves going forward,
because I'm sure you're gonna still wantinput from the rest of the theater
community and the community in general.Yeah. Absolutely, you know, we're
planning a follow up input for youknow, everyone who is able to be
there, and we'll be sending outa digital link survey to our broader community

(09:56):
as well to connect with all ofthem and get their feedback. But then
there's there's going to be need tobe some more strategic breakouts with you know,
our students. You know, ifthis is for kids, by kids,
they're probably the most important stakeholder wehave, and then you know parents
and staff and breaking those things outas well. So but really the next

(10:18):
month is trying to figure out thatinterim piece with is there a site,
a location or a goal for apermanent home, and you know, we
need to build the maps so weknow the journey we're going to go on.
Oh my goodness, it sounds likea rough journey, but again you're
building character. You're going to findthe perfect spot. It's going to be
the best thing ever. And justby the way it was said by Gandhi

(10:43):
and I believe you've said it tobe the change you wish to see in
the world. Mm hmmm, yes, absolutely, and I completely agree.
And if I can share just oneone more quick story. Lyvia Goff was
a junior theater student in the seventies, who's here all the way through until
like nineteen seventy eight, seventy nine. And she helped move junior theater as

(11:03):
a kid five different times, includingto the Wittenmeier Complex. But she never
got the chance to perform on thestage. It was never done for her,
it was never ready for her.And she drove three and a half
hours to be and she's retired now. She drove three and a half hours
to be at the community meeting,and she made a pledge to everyone.
She was the kid who is heremoving us in, and she's the woman

(11:26):
who will be here helping carry usout. And that's the kind of community
we have of our alumni, likethey care so deeply about the mission and
serving kids. It's a tremendous communityof which to be a part. And
there was another old saying, Nowit wasn't by Gandhi, but it was
from a movie, and they said, if you build it, they will
come. I kind of feel like, if you move it, they will

(11:48):
still come and continue success in thesearch for a new place. Absolutely,
And that you know, since we'rethrowing quotes around, I got one more
for you, and that's everybody whohas been talking about supporting us right now
in these early days, action ischaracter. What will your action be to
prove your character? And you know, we're we're we're we're anticipating a lot

(12:11):
of follow through. Nice Daniel Sheridan, performing arts supervisor for Davenport's Junior Theater.
Thank you so much and the bestto come. Thank you guys so
much. I appreciate your time.If you or your organization would like to
be featured on Quad City Forum,please visit the contact page on our station
website. Now back to bat Lukeand Danny Linnhwe we've got Lexi Bowl back

(12:37):
to talk to us at Lexi Bowlfrom Guilda's Club. She's the development and
events manager at Guilders Club and alot of stuff going on as usual with
Guilden's Club. Alexi, thanks fortaking some time to talk to us today
in our Quad City Forum. Oneof the events. Just want to talk
about right away that I you know, I kind of I noticed just the

(12:58):
name in the title makes me thinkof a football, a Quad City football
grade. But it's a little bitmore than that. Angerer each tell us
a little bit about that. Yeah, so we're really excited about this new
partnership. So this has been inthe work since about November. Marry Ainger,
she's a local meal prepper. Shehelped us provide group dinner prior to

(13:22):
our family Nights on Tuesdays every Tuesdayin October, and then at the end
of the month, she kind offelt like she could still do more to
support our mission, so she hadthis idea of bringing in a freezer to
our clubhouse so that she could putall of her extra meals in the freezer
so that people could just come inand grab a meal if they're, you

(13:43):
know, having a hard time facingfood in security. A lot of the
times with cancer treatment, we dohear that there's so many who face food
in security and getting nourishment. Sowhen she had the idea, we were
like, that is a fantastic idea. We were very excited, and she
actually put a link out to herclients and they raised over almost three thousand

(14:07):
dollars in like forty eight hours,which was amazing. Wow. So she
not only fund raised for the freezer, but she's committed to bringing meals in
weekly to help us feed those whoare you know, facing those food insecurities
during treatment. And when I hearthat name. When I hear Angerer,
I think of Pat Angerer, sothere must be a connection back in there

(14:28):
too. Yes, she's a Pat'swife. Ah well, she probably had
to provide a lot of food anyway, because Pat for a long time would
be eating house sitting enough for awhole city, So they had to keep
going. And that is so great. And Gildes's Club, you guys do
so many great things, but somuch of it you would you wouldn't be
able to do as much without anincredible volunteer base. Yeah, volunteers in

(14:54):
the community really make what we dopossible because you know, we everything we
do is at no cost, soall the funding comes from donors, grants
and then of course generous community partnerslike Inger Eats each day. You can
probably add to that list and allthe great things now for a lot of
people, we're gonna hear more aboutthis in March. You're gonna have a

(15:16):
like a big ribbon cutting March twentysecond. But that's not the only thing
that is going on with Guildness Club. We're talking a super fun event that
not only will you be able tosupport Guildless Club, but you're gonna have
a smash up time. You'll laughyour butt off. It is live from
Q laughing. It's Saturday night.Yeah, and we I know we talked

(15:39):
about it a little earlier. Howare things going for Josh Blue coming in
good? We're getting really excited.We're still soliciting for our silent auction and
all that good stuff that we're gonnahave going on. So we'll have a
line pole, silent auction, allthat stuff. But then you know,
Josh Blue is going to be ourheadlining act for the evening. We're really

(16:03):
working to sell our tickets. Soif anyone listening is interested in attending,
it's a great event and it's agreat reason to get out of the house
for the night. Plus, JoshBlue is hilarious. If you haven't seen
him, you need to look himup. He has to rebral paldi and
he actually just brings light to hisdisability in a way that you know,

(16:26):
makes people laugh, and he's he'shilarious. Now, I still I hate
to be on a one track mine, But once you said wine poll,
I'm like, okay, wait aminute, let's go back to that and
exactly what happens with a wine poll. I've never really been a part of
one of those, but it soundslike it's a lot of fun too.

(16:47):
Yeah. So essentially, we getbottles of wine that are donated to us,
and usually we have about forty tofifty bottles and then it's twenty five
dollars. It's kind of like aroom what like the bottles are wrapped,
so you know you're getting a bottlethat's at least a twenty five dollars value
for making a donation to us oftwenty five dollars. It's kind of a

(17:10):
win win and it's fun because youdon't know what you're gonna get, but
it could be something really good.Yeah, well, even for twenty five
bucks, it's really good. Well, and I'm loving the idea there where
it unlike when you watch some gameshows where behind door number three is a
bad prize, these will all befantastic things and you'll be helping out build
this club and it's you know,if you don't aren't much of a drinker.

(17:34):
We do have an option where youcould even just sponsor a chemo bag
for twenty five dollars. That's theevent. So those are our chemo care
bags that go into the hand ofany hands of anybody going into treatment for
the very first time. So wego through about one hundred and fifty of
those monthly, so that that's alsoa big fundraising initiative at the event that
we do. Yeah, and ifyou are fund the need right right and

(17:56):
if you want to be a partof this event, and who doesn't want
to be a part of this event? How fun is this live from QC.
It's Saturday night and it's April sixth, yes, at Rhythm City Rhythm
City, So if you want toget tickets, website, phone number,
give us all those pertinents so thatpeople can be a part of it.
Now you can visit GILDASCLUBQC dot org, slash live, or you can give

(18:22):
us a call at five six threethree two six seven five zero four and
we can get your set up overthe phone so you don't even have to
deal with purchasing them online. Lovethat al. Thank you so much for
just keeping us up to date andthanks for what Gilda's Club does here for
the Quad Cities. Yes, thankyou. If you or your organization would
like to be featured on Quad Cityfor them, please visit the contact page

(18:45):
and our station website. Now backto bat Luke and Danny Linnhowe talking to
Jennifer Davis with Special Olympics Illinois.Of course we have a very big event
coming up. But Jennifer, welcometo QC Forum. Thank you for having

(19:06):
me. Oh, it's our pleasure. And of course when we talk about
Special Olympics, we do want tolike kind of preview what is Special Olympics.
Special Olympics is a nonprofit organization inIllinois that provides year round sports training
and competitions, as well as pulpscreenings for children and adults with intellectual disabilities,

(19:30):
as well as unified programming for localschool districts. So we're not talking
just I'll I call everybody kids,but we're not really talking like you know,
young kids. We're talking like allage groups, not not just young
kids, right, correct. Westart young athletes age three, and then
we have athletes up to I thinkeighty five right now participating in a variety

(19:55):
of different sports. That's so fun. And of course Special Olympics isn't just
limited to our small area here inthe Quad Cities. It actually builds.
We give athletes an opportunity to competein world games too, right, So
what are the levels here. Correct. We do regional competitions, district competitions
that usually involve more than one region, and then state level. We also

(20:21):
have USA Games and then World Gamestoo, and we've had athletes compete at
all levels. It's kind of cool. I've been out at several events and
it's just so much fun to seethe athletes, the Olympians having a great
time, and really it's like inclusionand they do appreciate it, they really

(20:42):
do. And I say that ourvolunteers get just as much out of the
events as our athletes. Everyone seemsto have a great time. I know,
really we do. And when we'retalking about all the programs that you
provide, these are not free.People can donate if they want, but
really this is why you have someof these special events. And of course

(21:04):
the first part of the year wedo a lot of plunging for Special Olympics
and Special Olympics Illinois. You're talkingright now region F correct. Yes,
our Polar Plunge does provide the freesports programming for our athletes. So we're
super grateful for the local community thatgets out and supports the polar plunges.

(21:29):
It's really what keeps our program going. And when we're talking Region F,
like where where does Region F reallyreach? Not just the Quad Cities,
right, Yes, So we serveten counties on the Illinois side, Rock
Island, Henry, Stark, Mercer, Knox, Laarren, Fulton, Henderson,
McDonald, and Hancott County. Sothere are several different plunges, but

(21:51):
the one we're going to be talkingabout, of course, is coming up
next weekend. That will be thethird of March and will be basically most
of the people who will be involvedwill be around here in the Quad Cities.
But what what can we expect?This is a polar plunge, and
so far we're having really great weather, so I don't know why we would
call it polar this year. Well, the water still will be cold cool.

(22:15):
That's set up on the back patioat Bali's Casino, so no matter
what the air temperature is, Iguarantee it will still be a little chili.
But we are hopeful for a sixtysixty five degree in sunny day.
So again you're talking about it beingat Vally's and then what's all involved in
that day? So registration on Marchthird starts at twelve thirty plungers can come

(22:40):
and drop off any cash and checkdonations that they've collected. We hand out
plunger sweatshirts and additional incentives, andthen we do a costume contest and then
start plunging at two pm. Wego through all of the teams that plunge,
and then we come inside and havea big party late lunch afterwards.

(23:00):
I love it. I've been involvedfor several years, and mostly probably because
we're friends and so I like tocome up. But I've gotten hooked on
this because it's so much fun tosee everybody having fun, and the costume
contests are really fun. You neverknow what you're going to get. Yes,
the costume contest really can be thehighlight of the plunge, in addition

(23:23):
to the fun entries into the water. So registration, you'd love to know
how many people are going to bethere, So preregistration is very important.
Even though you can still register,you could still just show up and register
right correct. Yes, you canjust walk up on Sunday with at least
one hundred dollars in donations and we'lllet you plunge. But we do like

(23:47):
to have a good count of who'sgoing to attend so we can plan ahead
for food. Okay, so howwould people do that? What could they
do? Right now? They're like, oh, I want to do this?
How can I register? You canvisit plunge Illinois dot com and register,
or if you're too chicken to plunge, you can pick up plunger and
make a donation and all of thatstays here locally, and I will have

(24:10):
a team kind of. I mean, you can register under me and then
if you want to get in thewater, that's all good. But again,
what you're talking about is being ableto plunge. You're looking for each
person to raise one hundred bucks tobe able to get in the water,
right, correct, Yeah, eachplunger needs to raise a minimum of one
hundred dollars. We do have additionalincentive prizes at two fifty, five hundred,

(24:33):
one thousand, and twenty five hundred, and then they do receive incentive
prizes at those levels. If youraise two hundred and fifty this year,
you'll receive that prize on the dayof the plunge as well. Now,
what if someone oh, I'm sosorry, go ahead. In addition to
your speatshirt that you get on Plungeday, gotcha? Okay, Now,
if somebody wants to volunteer, Imean, do you have that covered or

(24:56):
would you love for someone to comeout and volunteer to help it. Still
use a few more volunteers to helpas well with registration and sweatshirt distribution and
souvenir sales. And if they're interestedin volunteering or they just want more information
about the plunge, they can callme at three zero nine three three seven

(25:18):
nine three two six. All right, now, one more time, Polar
Plunge for Special Olympics Illinois. Ilove that you'll see a ton of the
emergency like the police departments, yoursheriff departments, all of us will be
out there helping to plunge because thisis part of the torch run, right
correct, This is part of thelaw enforcement torch run for Special Olympics.

(25:41):
So we do have fantastic support fromour local first responders and as well as
corporate teams and a few community basedteams. But we were running about one
hundred plungers short of goal right now, so we still need people to sign
up and join us. All right, so one more time, how can
can they register? Visit Plungeillinois dotcom and you'll just search for the Rock

(26:06):
Island events and contact information is onthere if you have any questions. March
third, we want to see youout there. And Jennifer Davis with Special
Olympics, thank you again for lettingus know all about the details. We
love the plunge. Thank you somuch for supporting the plunge here after year.
A couple of items to at leasttalk about here that are down the
road but still worth at least beingaware of. Coming up later on this

(26:30):
month, the Schuard Fire Department havinga pancake breakfast. We'll have some other
things in the menu too, butremember that's March twenty fourth out at the
fire station. You also have comingup on March sixteenth, Impact Life with
another one of their remote blood drives. This one will be at the Milin
American Legion. This will be hostedby patent Don Peck And if you do

(26:55):
want to be a part of it, what you do is reserve your spot
now before he gets shut out onit. And that's three oh nine,
seven, two one, five,five oh five. Walk ups not necessarily
welcome yet they want to make surethey know who's coming ahead of time.
That's why they need you to preserveyour spot. So that's three oh nine

(27:15):
seven two one five, five ohfive and that's with Impact Life patent Don
Peck at the Milin American Legion that'scoming up on Saturday, March sixteenth.
Thanks for supporting him if he can. From your iHeartRadio stations to the Quad
Cities, you've been listening to QuadCity Forum, a weekly community service program

(27:37):
produced by iHeartRadio. If you wereyour nonprofit organization would like to be featured,
please visit the contact page and ourstation website, or contact quad City
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