
Religious ethics expert to explore deeper meanings of happiness, “god,” in free symposium
The key to finding happiness in a difficult world also involves reconstructing “god.”
That’s one of the premises Dr. Diana Cates will share during her presentation Saturday as part of “Finding Happiness in a Difficult World.” The free symposium is offered by One Human Family QCA, a Davenport-based nonprofit that focuses on educating people about how to report hate crimes and incidents and how to fight hate.
Saturday’s symposium at Scott Community College-Urban Campus in Davenport starts at 9 a.m., though Cates’ presentation isn’t until 11 a.m. Read more about it here.

Pride walk/runs in Des Moines, Moline, Niles, Tuscola fill LGBTQ communities’ need for family-friendly, healthy activities
It’s time to start walking, running, and rolling for Pride, with at least five Pride-themed 5Ks coming up in the next six weeks across Illinois and Iowa.
They all start tomorrow with the Southern Illinois Pride K Fun Walk and Run. You can join in person or virtually.
More Pride walk and run events are also coming in Niles outside of Chicago June 3; Tuscola, Ill., and Des Moines, Ia., June 10; and Moline in the Quad Cities June 25.
Read about why these events are extra important to the LGBTQ community — and especially this year.

Upcoming events from One Human Family in Davenport promote individuality, happiness, visibility
DAVENPORT — One Human Family is looking to have an impact with a trio of events coming up.
First, tap into your individuality with a workshop and “Sip & Paint Party” this Sunday.
Next, find inspiration to seek “Happiness in a Difficult World” through a free symposium May 6 with religion and ethics expert Diana Fritz Cates.
And then, you can join one of the most impactful civil rights efforts of our era, the NOH8 campaign. It’s coming to Davenport June 1, in its only scheduled stop in Iowa. You can be one of the 56,000 people nationwide who have joined the NOH* campaign since its founding in 2008.



Carbondale town hall, forum focus on LGBTQ; Royalty Pageant coming; Mt. Vernon Pride event, and more
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — Starting with Monday’s Town Hall, Rainbow Cafe has four big events coming up along with its daily work of providing support and resources to LGBTQ youth and adults.
Plus, Southern Il PrideFest sponsors a Carbondale City Council Candidate Forum.
Check out Mt. Vernon’s early start to the Pride season. And find links to learn about the Choate Mental Health crisis and how family members and activists are reacting.
It’s all part of the latest TRM Southern Illinois Weekly Update.



Pride plans from Bolingbrook, Elgin, Plainfield, Naperville and more; Green book exhibit, Elgin Juneteenth fest honor Black history
Northern Illinois is bursting with LGBTQ+ Pride events and more, including two great ways to honor Black history.
Check out Pride events this weekend and coming up in Bolingbrook, Elgin, Naperville, Plainfield, and Rockford.
Plus, explore an LGBTQ+ ‘gayming’ event in Shorewood, the upcoming Juneteenth Festival in Elgin, and a somber exhibit about The Green Book of the mid-20th century, at Skokie’s Holocaust Museum.
It’s all in the new TRM Northern Illinois & Chicagoland Weekly Update.



Four vegan holiday recipes to make your meal preparation easier, kinder
Looking for a way to bring some plant-based love to your holiday meals? Check out four vegan holiday recipes to make your meal celebration easier and kinder!
Find easy recipes for the main dish of Sheperd’s Pie the decorative side dish of Apple Cranberry and Kale Salad; the festive Plantiful Holiday Cheez Balls; and sweet Molasses Crinkle Cookies.
These recipes are provided courtesy of The Plantiful Pantry in Mount Vernon, Ia., which also provides a regular column for The Real Mainstream on plant-based cooking. Read on for their first-ever column on vegan holiday recipes!



World AIDS Day inspires “Being & Belonging” in the Quad Cities, more events in Illinois and Iowa
DAVENPORT, IA — “Being & Belonging” is an international look at living with HIV and AIDS, and it’s coming to the Quad Cities Thursday courtesy of The Project of the Quad Cities, DeLaCerda House, and Figge Art Museum.
Read about the artists featured in the film, plus learn about seven other World AIDS Day events happening in Iowa and Illinois.
It features artists from Columbia, Mexico, Korea and more sharing what it’s like to live with HIV and AIDS in different cultures and countries.
This World AIDS Day commemoration, among many throughout Iowa and Illinois, also includes a reception and vigil. The Dec. 1 event starts at 5:30 p.m.


Elias pioneered cannabis policy in Iowa before House run
Michelle Servadio’s cannabis policy advocacy began when she met cancer patient Benton MacKenzie of the Quad Cities.


Illinois fills void of abortion care left by surrounding states’ bans, restrictions
Now that abortion is no longer a constitutional right in America, the state of Illinois and its commitment to supporting “a woman’s right to choose” is pivotal to many other states’ responses to the historic overturn of Roe V. Wade two months ago. It’s happening in...


Pack your plate with flavor and healing properties of spices
The Plantiful Pantry offers tips on how to cook flavorfully with spices that also have healing properties.


Why you should say ‘MPX’ and other timely questions, answers about monkeypox
Read about why it’s time to rebrand monkeypox to MPX, the history of MPX, and other timely questions and answers.


Meet Viminda Shafer of TPQC
Meet Viminda Shafer, community relations coordinator of The Project of the Quad Cities, in the October edition of The Project Page.



Upcoming events from One Human Family in Davenport promote individuality, happiness, visibility
DAVENPORT — One Human Family is looking to have an impact with a trio of events coming up.
First, tap into your individuality with a workshop and “Sip & Paint Party” this Sunday.
Next, find inspiration to seek “Happiness in a Difficult World” through a free symposium May 6 with religion and ethics expert Diana Fritz Cates.
And then, you can join one of the most impactful civil rights efforts of our era, the NOH8 campaign. It’s coming to Davenport June 1, in its only scheduled stop in Iowa. You can be one of the 56,000 people nationwide who have joined the NOH* campaign since its founding in 2008.



Carbondale town hall, forum focus on LGBTQ; Royalty Pageant coming; Mt. Vernon Pride event, and more
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — Starting with Monday’s Town Hall, Rainbow Cafe has four big events coming up along with its daily work of providing support and resources to LGBTQ youth and adults.
Plus, Southern Il PrideFest sponsors a Carbondale City Council Candidate Forum.
Check out Mt. Vernon’s early start to the Pride season. And find links to learn about the Choate Mental Health crisis and how family members and activists are reacting.
It’s all part of the latest TRM Southern Illinois Weekly Update.



Pride plans from Bolingbrook, Elgin, Plainfield, Naperville and more; Green book exhibit, Elgin Juneteenth fest honor Black history
Northern Illinois is bursting with LGBTQ+ Pride events and more, including two great ways to honor Black history.
Check out Pride events this weekend and coming up in Bolingbrook, Elgin, Naperville, Plainfield, and Rockford.
Plus, explore an LGBTQ+ ‘gayming’ event in Shorewood, the upcoming Juneteenth Festival in Elgin, and a somber exhibit about The Green Book of the mid-20th century, at Skokie’s Holocaust Museum.
It’s all in the new TRM Northern Illinois & Chicagoland Weekly Update.



Four vegan holiday recipes to make your meal preparation easier, kinder
Looking for a way to bring some plant-based love to your holiday meals? Check out four vegan holiday recipes to make your meal celebration easier and kinder!
Find easy recipes for the main dish of Sheperd’s Pie the decorative side dish of Apple Cranberry and Kale Salad; the festive Plantiful Holiday Cheez Balls; and sweet Molasses Crinkle Cookies.
These recipes are provided courtesy of The Plantiful Pantry in Mount Vernon, Ia., which also provides a regular column for The Real Mainstream on plant-based cooking. Read on for their first-ever column on vegan holiday recipes!



World AIDS Day inspires “Being & Belonging” in the Quad Cities, more events in Illinois and Iowa
DAVENPORT, IA — “Being & Belonging” is an international look at living with HIV and AIDS, and it’s coming to the Quad Cities Thursday courtesy of The Project of the Quad Cities, DeLaCerda House, and Figge Art Museum.
Read about the artists featured in the film, plus learn about seven other World AIDS Day events happening in Iowa and Illinois.
It features artists from Columbia, Mexico, Korea and more sharing what it’s like to live with HIV and AIDS in different cultures and countries.
This World AIDS Day commemoration, among many throughout Iowa and Illinois, also includes a reception and vigil. The Dec. 1 event starts at 5:30 p.m.