Caitlin Wells, CEO of The Project of the Quad Cities, is shown inside the group’s new home at 4101 John Deere Road, Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
The Project of the Quad Cities (TPQC) has a message for its patients and people in the community: “All are welcome here.” That welcoming phrase appears on numerous signs throughout the group’s new home at 4101 John Deere Road, Moline. (Until last fall, the nonprofit group was located at 1701 River Drive, Moline.) Hundreds of […]
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The Project of the Quad Cities (TPQC) has a message for its patients and people in the community: “All are welcome here.”That welcoming phrase appears on numerous signs throughout the group’s new home at 4101 John Deere Road, Moline. (Until last fall, the nonprofit group was located at 1701 River Drive, Moline.)
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A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday, Feb. 12, for The Project of the Quad Cities’ new location in Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
A group tours The Project of the Quad Cities’ new home on Monday, Feb. 12. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
This is some office space in the building.
The Project of the Quad Cities is located at 4101 John Deere Road, Moline. Local agencies are forming a new Quad Cities Youth Wellness Coalition to address the physical and mental health of local youth. Organizers will hold a kickoff meeting on Monday, March 11, from 3:30-5 p.m. with a short program at 4 p.m. The kickoff, which is open to the public, will be at The Project of the Quad Cities. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
This is some of the interior space at The Project of the Quad Cities.
Hundreds of people got to see those signs and TPQC’s new home on Monday, Feb. 12, during official opening ceremonies for the organization that has served people living with HIV/AIDS through health care services since 1986. A ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a community open house and tours of TPQC’s new facilities were the main features of Monday’s event.Caitlin Wells, The Project’s CEO, said the group moved into the new location – the former office building occupied by John Deere Medical Group – in November. Since that time, she has heard many words of praise from patients and staff members about the new facility. People especially like the big and roomy lobby, the many new offices, and the comfortable couches and chairs located throughout the building. “This is all to make people feel at home. People don’t want to sit on hard, plastic chairs,” she added.TPQC has about 40 full-time employees, and its clinic sees some 15 to 20 patients a day, said Tyler Mitchell, the marketing and communications manager.Many of those employees and patients were among the hundreds of people touring the building to see many of those features. Some of the new location’s highlights include:
About 20,000 square feet of space.
Five exam rooms.
Five behavioral health offices.
Two large group meeting rooms.
An onsite pharmacy.
There’s also a small lending library.
And many spaces filled with very comfortable-looking chairs and couches. (Only a few places have the standard plastic office furniture.)
In addition, many offices and spaces feature welcoming signs and artwork. Some of the signs state: “My favorite color is rainbow,” “Love has no gender” and “All are welcome here.”
“It’s just nice to not bump shoulders with the people we are serving. … This has just about all services in one location,” Mr. Mitchell said during one of the tours as he described the added space TPQC now has.In addition to seeing all the features of the new building, visitors touring also got the chance to answer a series of questions on medical issues – with those getting the correct answers winning a $5 gift card for the nearby Vibrant Coffeehouse and Kitchen. Some of those questions (and answers) included:
Among people living with HIV in the United States, what percentage do not have health insurance? (30%)
At least what percentage of Americans living with HIV experience homelessness or housing instability following their HIV diagnosis? (50%)
The AIDS Drug Assistance Program served how many people in 2020? (300,000)
After taking the brief tests and touring the TPQC facility, many visitors said they liked what they saw.“It’s modern. It’s spacious. I think that’s what they’ve been looking for,” said Illinois Sen. Mike Halpin (D–36th District), who attended Monday’s opening ceremonies.Many of the praises for the new space were voiced during the start of Monday’s events – a ribbon-cutting ceremony. For instance, Janessa Caldron, executive director of the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, praised The Project of the Quad Cities for having a “passionate team” that has created a welcoming environment for its patients.Several people called the new TPQC home a “bigger, warmer” space for the many people who need its services.“As a former nurse, I am very excited about all the people you can help,” Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said during the ribbon-cutting.Ms. Wells said the additional space in the new building is needed because TPQC continues to grow and offer more services. Some of those services include: STD/HIV testing with same-day results; behavioral health; case management and supportive services for people living with HIV; supportive services and treatment for Hepatitis C; LGBTQ+ health care, including primary care and gender-affirming hormone therapy.“I think everybody appreciates having all these services in one building,” Mr. Mitchell added.
