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Project Now Magazine

Project NOW Newsletter       Project Now Magazine

2024

Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber hosts annual block party
Almost 2-million dollar grant for our Head Start program.
Renovating our new headquarters.
Project NOW is receiving almost two million dollars for our Head Start program in Moline.
Interview about the State Police report on how to treat the homeless. WBEZ's Erin Allen interviewed Project NOW's Executive Director, Dwight Ford.
July 2024-A recent report shows if you are black, you are 8 times more likely to be homeless. - Project NOW hosts exhibit Evicted
QCBI - Project NOW hosts exhibit Evicted
WHBF - Learn about eviction at new Moline exhibit
WQAD - 'Evicted' exhibit opens at SouthPark Mall - also WQAD on YouTube

2023

Dec. 2023—Director Ford talks about our LIHEAP program and how valuable it is for those living paycheck to paycheck. - Project NOW hosts exhibit Evicted
WHBF - 200 seniors celebrate at Jingle Bell Jubilee at Bally's, Rock Island
WQAD - RICO Senior Center, Project NOW hosts holiday party for area seniors
YouthBuild Quad Cities: Students learn skills, fix up old house
YouthBuild teaches teens construction skills while helping shelter women
WQAD - Students from Illinois education centers coming together to build new homes
KWQC - Students learn to rebuild homes with Project YouthBuild
WVIK - Students help build safe house for women
WVIK - Illinois State Police releases guidebook on homelessness
WHBF - Project NOW to move in downtown Rock Island
WHBF - Project NOW to offer energy assistance program LIHEAP
WHBF - New classrooms to open for Project NOW's Head Start to help address daycare shortage
WHBF - 'It's a win-win': Project NOW now owns housing for HIV/AIDS
Project NOW: Planting Seeds of Opportunity in Rock Island, Illinois
WVIK - Moline Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
Project NOW announces start of energy assistance program
Thanks to all who helped in yesterday’s successful food giveaway—600 boxes handed out, more than one thousand individuals received food—half of whom were children.
WHBF Story
Dwight Ford participated in a live, one-hour radio program discussing homelessness in the state of Illinois—you can listen here..
Illinois Public Media
After years of being closed Project NOW's Esperanza Center will be opening four classrooms for the 2023-2024 school year. Those classrooms will allow its Head Start program to provide free, high-quality early childhood education for up to 80 children in the city of Moline.
WQAD Story - QC Times Story
Project NOW mobile pantry helps Quad-City food deserts
Plus 60 grant aids Senior Center

2022

Living on the streets: 'I try to hide'
Hispanic Chamber & Project NOW host block party
Quad Cities celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with block party
Project NOW energy assistance program helps area residents
Project NOW provided $7M in energy relief to area low-income residents
Honor Homes opens door to new veteran housing
Project NOW finishes first of 6 Honor Homes for members of military, veterans and essential workers
Project NOW's First "Honor Home" is completed, and is looking for a veteran to house. (WVIK)
Project NOW's First "Honor Home" is completed, and is looking for a veteran to house. (Our QuadCities)
Our Head Start students in East Moline are TV stars....check it out
March 31, 2022 Our partnership with YouthBuild Quad Cities is helping young people learn a skill while rehabbing homes for those in need. Can't beat that! Read all about it here
March 31, 2022 Utility shut-off moratorium expires April 1. Here's how you can still receive help in Illinois
Our Head Start kids are TV stars...
Jan. 24, 2022 $1.3 million in rental assistance available in Rock Island County
Jan. 20, 2022 In Rock Island County, 'it's crunch time' to get eviction help, advocates say. $1.3 million still available locally for renters and landlords
Jan. 20, 2022 Evictions Increasing in Rock Island County
Jan. 20, 2022 Prison college programs reduce recidivism and provide "constructive focus" for incarcerated students
Jan. 19, 2022 Project NOW has $1.3 million available to help tenants and landlords in eviction diversion
Jan. 5, 2022 LIHEAP still accepting applications for those needing assistance

2021

Dec. 14, 2021 Thursday meeting in Milan to explain new $297 million available to Illinois renters, landlords
Oct. 4, 2021 Illinois' eviction moratorium expired Sunday, but an eviction diversion program can help tenants stay in their homes

Oct. 1, 2021 Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Project NOW hosted block party to celebrate Hispanic businesses

Sept. 29, 2021 New Quad-Cities group wants to remove barriers faced by the previously incarcerated

New Quad Cities Group Wants to Remove Barriers

September 29, 2021 Fully Free Organizes Chapter in the Quad Cities

September 29, 2021 QC campaign to end permanent punishments for those with criminal records

August 31, 2021 Energy Assistance Available

August 26, 2021 Project NOW, Inc., as administrator of the Home Energy Assistance Program in Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island counties, is pleased to announce that funds are available to assist income-eligible households with their natural gas, propane and electric bills and furnace assistance. The program will begin September 1, 2021 for all income-eligible households.

August 26, 2021 Project NOW will soon be starting it's energy assistance program.

August 25, 2021 Project NOW has money to keep people in their homes as the deadline for the lifting of the moratorium on evictions is fast approaching.

July 28, 2021 The Rock Island County Senior Center serves as a cooling center for the community and fans are also available to combat the heat.

Project NOW's Executive Director, Dwight Ford discusses economics as a pillar of opportunity to move people up and out of poverty.

July 13, 2021 Project NOW has money to help people avoid being evicted when the moratorium is lifted. Learn more about the Rock Island County Eviction Diversion Program here.

July 9, 2021 Project NOW is trying to raise $50,000 to pay for meals for local seniors.

July 9, 2021 Lunch & Learn discussion of education as a pillar of opportunity to move people up and out of poverty.

July 7, 2021 Project NOW has money to help people avoid being evicted when the moratorium is lifted.

June 28, 2021 One week from today Project NOW's Head Start will have its first ever Bridging Literacy in the Quad Cities. Free books, story time, games, songs, and more!

June 25, 2021 Project NOW's Executive Director, Dwight Ford, says we are trying to raise $50,000 to provide meals to seniors who need them.

June 24, 2021 Project NOW’s Head Start program and the Moline Public Library has started it’s Bridging Literacy events.

June 21, 2021 Want to help seniors receive hot & nutritious meals? Project NOW's Executive Director, Dwight Ford, says donating $35 provides one senior five meals.

June 9, 2021 Project NOW's Community Services Director, Ron Lund, says women fleeing domestic violence have options thanks to a new partnership with Winnie's Place. Through this valuable partnership women and children will be housed at the shelter and will be assigned a Project NOW caseworker who will help them transition to permanent housing. Ron says the women can stay up to one year at the shelter. Project NOW will pay the rent and work to find them permanent housing so they can restart their lives.

June 9, 2021 Project NOW & Winnie’s Place are working together to provide safe and secure transitional housing for women and children fleeing from domestic violence and human trafficking. Project NOW will pay the rent and work to find them permanent housing so they can restart their lives. Grimes is grateful for the partnership with Project NOW, and he says it sets an example for other not-for-profits on how to work together, serve more people and still stay afloat financially. Project NOW’s Executive Director, Dwight Ford, says both not for profits were excited and eager to expand their relationship. “The strength of our partnership is a collaborative approach to address the complex challenge of housing and the crisis of domestic violence & human trafficking. We believe it is an example of the kind of innovative approach needed to secure lives and widen opportunity”.

June 9, 2021 Late last fall, Winnie’s suspended operations to reevaluate its mission and purpose for serving women, due to a drastic reduction in donations.The Executive Director of Winnie’s Place, the Reverend Dr. Melvin L. Grimes used that opportunity to revamp their services and collaborate with Project NOW. “Through this valuable partnership women and children will be housed at the shelter and will be assigned a Project NOW caseworker who will help them transition to permanent housing”. Grimes says the women can stay up to one year at the shelter.

June 7, 2021 Head Start Director, Misi Birdsall, discusses the new Bridging Literacy program getting underway in the Quad Cities.

June 3, 2021 Project NOW's Executive Director, Dwight Ford discusses educational and developmental summer programming available for low-income children.

May 27, 2021 Project NOW’s Executive Director, Dwight Ford, has this reminder—free vaccines at our office today!

May 19, 2021 Project NOW has partnered with the 14th Judicial Circuit in Rock Island County, the Rock Island County Bar Association, Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., and the Salvation Army to develop an Eviction Diversion Program. The goal of the program is to cope with the onslaught of evictions once the Governor’s moratorium on evictions is lifted—possibly in August.

May 14, 2021 Project NOW’s Executive Director & Vice Chair of the Q2030 Board, Dwight Ford, is working to ensure the COVID relief dollars coming into our region is invested in regional solutions and projects.

May 3, 2021 Project NOW's Head Start will be pitching its plan to improve literacy in the Quad Cities next weekend.

April 29, 2021 Families in need can access school readiness resources for free with Project NOW’s new Head Start grant

April 28, 2021 Families in need can access school readiness resources for free with new grant Project NOW has received

April 21, 2021 Project NOW's Executive Director, Dwight Ford, reminded the Rock Island County Board last night to keep an equity lens in place when deciding to reduce the size of the board.

April 14, 2021 WQAD-TV's Jim Mertes talks with Q2030 team member & Project NOW's Executive Director, Dwight Ford, about plans to create a non-profit organization to advance the plans to create a more exclusive, forward-thinking community.

March 31, 2021 Channel 8 Moratorium Story

March 23, 2021 - Project NOW's Executive Director, Dwight Ford in a WKEI Radio interview.


March 16, 2021 State of the City report in Moline Dispatch

March 15, 2021 State of the City (Moline) address

March 12, 2021 Lunch & Learn-Exploring Housing

March 10, 2021 Quad Cities Chamber Amp Up Morning Network

March 8, 2021 KALA Discussion of the 5 pillars of opportunity to move people up and out of poverty.

January 14, 2021 Channel 4 LIHEAP money is available.

January 14, 2021 Channel 6 LIHAEP money is available.

January 21, 2021 WVIK Radio LIHEAP money still available

January 12, 2021 Lunch & Learn-Exploring Rooting out Poverty

2020

12/31/2020  Justice is a pillar of opportunity which moves people up and out of poverty.  Project NOW’s Executive Director, Dwight Ford, explains a just system works for everyone.

12/29/2020 Project NOW is working to ensure healthcare is affordable and available to all. As our Executive Director, Dwight Ford, explains poverty & low-income status are associated with a variety of adverse outcomes.

12/28/2020 Op Ed Quad City Times

12/22/2020 Project NOW’s Executive Director, Dwight Ford, says home ownership is a pillar of opportunity to move people up and out of poverty. This is one of the five pillars we are going to explore in coming months.

12/9/2020 Project NOW’s Executive Director, Dwight Ford, introduces us to the idea that education is an escalator out of poverty.

11/20/2020 Equity article Quad City Times

9/29/2020 Channel Six in studio conversation about Equity Summit

9/10/2020 Covid & Derecho adds to Project NOW’s workload WVIK Radio