The Quad Cities Free School is an opportunity for residents to learn about community-oriented topics. The goal of the free school is to foster more community involvement and encourage citizens to become more active. The classes will be taught by members of area organizations. There are three teachers coming to teach four classes.
Robin Clarke-Bennett from the University of Iowa Labor Center will teach two classes on labor-related issues. Robin has been a labor organizer since 1994 and has been working at the Labor Center since 2008. She has served as lead instructor and curriculum developer for a 2010-2012 U.S. Department of Justice funded regional public education project on the workplace nondiscrimination rights of immigrant workers, and has coordinated several successful Labor Center partnerships and public conferences to provide community-based workers’ rights education.
Kim Brown or René Dickerson from Quad City Harm reduction will teach a class on how overdose prevention has positively impacted the community and will offer training on how to administer Naloxone to a person in need. QC Harm Reduction’s efforts have reversed at least 32 overdoses in the past year in the Quad Cities.
Finally, Gary Susich from the Davenport Fair Housing Commission will teach about renter’s rights. Gary was homeless himself for three years and has been a strong advocate for the homeless for several years. Gary led a letter-writing campaign to push for a Bill of Rights for Iowa’s homeless and has fought to end discrimination against homeless people.
The free school will be October 20, 2019 at The Center (1411 Brady Street, Davenport, IA 52803). This is a kid-friendly event. The classes are appropriate for children ages 14 and up. There will be activities for children K to 5th grade. Drinks and snacks will be provided. There will be around a 10 minute break between classes.
Class Schedule:
- 11:30AM – Doors Open
- 12:00PM – How To Organize Your Workplace – Robin Clark-Bennett
- 1:00PM – Immigration and Worker Solidarity – Robin Clark-Bennett
- 2:00PM – Introduction to Harm Reduction – QC Harm Reduction
- 3:00PM – Renter’s Rights and Civil Rights – Gary Susich