In today's episode, Annika sits down with Demetrius Johnson. Demetrius grew up in Rock Island's Arsenal Courts (now known as Century Woods) in a large Rock Island family. Demetrius and his wife, Chanda, now own the Green Store, a corner convenience store located across the street from Century Woods, and strive to be a positive presence in the community. Demetrius explores his journey through young adulthood, the transformative power of fatherhood and his wife on his life, and how he's become a parent and community member he would have looked up to as a kid. 

I encourage you to follow Demetrius on social media as he tells the stories of people who live in the Century Woods neighborhood. As he says, "there are some people here I want the world to know." 

Facebook: Demetrius Johnson

Instagram: demetrius72

TikTok: demetriusjohnson260

If you like the Rock Island Line, check out the website at www.rockislandline.com

Thank you for loving Rock Island. 

In today's episode, Annika sits down with Alan Carmen. Alan Carmen is a longtime Rock Island public servant and planner. He spent decades with the City’s planning and redevelopment team—helping craft Rock Island’s landmark 1984 historic preservation ordinance and guiding neighborhood and downtown projects—then served as Rock Island Township Supervisor from 2013 to 2021. Today, he continues his civic work on the Rock Island Preservation Commission and is active with the Rock Island Preservation Society.

Alan brings a practical, people-first lens to growth, preservation, and how local government can work better for residents—perfect for this Rock Island Line conversation. While Alan has focused on preserving historic buildings through his work with the city and on the preservation commission, he is also concerned with protecting the best of Rock Island, including:

• Staying connected to one another while we face tough challenges
• The ability to do "more with less" as a city government 
• Adapting to demographic and economic change 
• Small neighborhoods with unique identities 

And challenges us to consider the importance of a city having a clear vision for the future and how city policy affects its people. Alan also provides historical context to my involvement with Century Woods.

🎶 Music featured in this episode: "Different Times" by Jett Everill, licensed through Epidemic Sounds. Listen on Epidemic Sounds

✨ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to Rock Island Line for more conversations at the crossroads of community, history, and hope.

Today's episode covers the 8.25.2025 Rock Island City Council Meeting. You can view the agenda and details and find a link to watch the meeting here: 

https://rockislandil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/613/overview

 

🏛 Council Actions & Votes

• Meeting structure change – Approved an amendment to city code:
• Regular council meetings now start at 5:45 PM with presentations and one public comment period (no more separate study sessions). Passed unanimously.
• Homelessness Services Moratorium –
• Amended to expire Oct. 13, 2025 (instead of Nov. 24).
• Applies only to new facilities (does not shut down existing providers).
• Passed 6–1, with Alderman Linda Barnes voting NO.
• Highway closure – Approved for 5th Ave (US-67) on Oct. 4, 2025 for City Open House.
• Redevelopment Agreement – Approved with SAL Community Services.
• Handicap parking ordinances – Approved for 2027 34th St. and 619 44th St.
• Consent Agenda – Approved (minus item G, later passed separately).
• Claims – Approved payments to JC Dillon ($11,213) for sewer repair & Langman Construction ($180,842) for Sunset Marina dredge pit.
• Strategic Planning – Approved contract with Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies.
• Finance Agreement – Approved $14,000 lease/subscription with DebtBook.
• Fire Station System – Approved 5-year service agreement with Honeywell/Raycom ($62,970).
• Sunset Marina lease – Approved agreement for marina apartments.
• Tobacco License Request – Denied a new license (cap already exceeded).
• Budget Adjustments – Approved:
• MLK Activity Fund (+$66,738)
• MLK Center Fund (+$225,000)
• Sunset Marina Fund (+$1.41M).
• Closed Session – Entered to discuss pending or imminent litigation.

🎙️ In this episode of Rock Island Line, host Annika O’Melia sits down with Robb McCoy, pastor of Two Rivers United Methodist Church in Rock Island, co-host of the long-running podcast Pulpit Fiction, and known to many online as FatPastor (find him on Facebook and Instagram).

Together, Annika and Robb explore:

The role of faith in challenging times

Why community matters more than ever

How Jesus might respond to the struggles and divisions of today

Robb’s deep compassion and candid reflections invite us to imagine a church and a city rooted in love, connection, and hope.

🎶 Music featured in this episode: "Different Times" by Jett Everill, licensed through Epidemic Sounds. Listen on Epidemic Sounds

📌 Follow Robb: Facebook: FatPastor Instagram: @fatpastor Pulpit Fiction Podcast: pulpitfiction.com

✨ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to Rock Island Line for more conversations at the crossroads of community, history, and hope.

Homelessness is rising nationwide—and here at home. When Christie Adamson, co-founder of The Third Place, envisioned opening a daytime drop-in center downtown, she expected hard work—not the controversy that followed. In this conversation, Christie shares why she loves Rock Island, what it’s like to live and work downtown with her husband and daughter, and how a proposed moratorium on homelessness services sparked tougher questions, deeper neighbor-to-neighbor conversations, and lots of community support.

In this episode:

• What a “third place” is and why downtown needs one

• Myths vs. realities of homelessness and daytime services

• Living downtown as a family—and choosing to stay invested

• Turning conflict into connection, collaboration, and care

Learn more / get involved: The Third Place QC on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thethirdplaceqc/

If you enjoy the show, follow Rock Island Line, rate, and share with a neighbor. Learn more at: www.rockislandline.com

Music by Jett Everill with Epidemic Sound. 

This episode covers the 8.11.25 Rock Island City Council Meeting. You can watch the full meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/live/a1UoGR78hBI?si=ZNt-5-6pGgixcWXs

 

In this episode of Rock Island Line, host Annika O’Melia sits down with Atticus Garrison, Instruction and Reference Librarian at Black Hawk College. We talk about what drew him back to Rock Island as an adult and take a deep dive into artificial intelligence — how it’s poised to shape our lives, and how we can critically engage with it instead of being swept along.

I found it fascinating to consider how a librarian curating a library collection is similar to how an AI model might curate the content shaping its knowledge and responses. We aren't always aware of what's on the shelf, off the shelf, and who or what entities are making those decisions on our behalf. 

Atticus also shares his recommended reading list for anyone looking to better understand AI and its impact.

You look like a thing and I love you by Janelle Shane

https://rockisland-prcat.na2.iiivega.com/search/card?id=eebc9658-71dd-5860-9a3f-8c0dd5a97983&entityType=FormatGroup

Atlast of AI by Kate Crawford https://rockisland-prcat.na2.iiivega.com/search/card?id=853eca07-a835-5730-9061-1bfe9d635233&entityType=FormatGroup   Empire of AI by Karen Hao https://rockisland-prcat.na2.iiivega.com/search/card?id=cd5ce86f-c798-5a33-bf22-10a0dca84823&entityType=FormatGroup   Nexus by Yuval Noah Harai https://rockisland-prcat.na2.iiivega.com/search/card?id=ad7290cb-b77e-5140-8923-e8120a4fe188&entityType=FormatGroup

🎵 Music Credit: Jett Everill via the Epidemic Sound platform.

📍 Visit rockislandline.com to support the podcast and explore articles, events, initiatives and more. 

In this episode of Rock Island Line, host Annika O’Melia sits down with Dr. Sharon Williams, Superintendent of Rock Island–Milan School District 41. With decades of experience in education and leadership, Dr. Williams brings passion, innovation, and a deep commitment to student success to her work in Rock Island.

We discuss:

🔹 Dr. Williams’ personal journey to Rock Island and what drew her to the district

🔹 The unique strengths and challenges of Rock Island–Milan schools

🔹 Her perspective on integrating AI into education responsibly

🔹 The district’s approach to cell phone bans in schools

🔹 Strategies for addressing disciplinary concerns in ways that foster growth

🔹 Her vision for the future of facilities, teaching, and learning This is a thoughtful conversation about what it means to lead a diverse, dynamic school district in today’s changing educational landscape.

📍 Recorded in Rock Island, IL – where conversations about our schools and our future matter.

🎧 Subscribe to the Rock Island Line podcast for more community-centered conversations:

 Website: www.rockislandline.com

 #RockIslandLine #RockIslandMilan #DrSharonWilliams #EducationLeadership #AIinEducation #CellPhonePolicy #DisciplineInSchools #RockIslandIL #QuadCities

Building the American Dream with Isaac Carr | Rock Island Line Podcast

In this episode of Rock Island Line, I sit down with Isaac Carr, Citizenship Director at the Quad City Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR). Isaac shares his journey to Rock Island and the powerful personal and professional experiences that led him to support immigrants and refugees in building new lives here in the Quad Cities.

Together, we explore:

🔹 What it means to make a home in Rock Island

🔹 The mental and emotional toll of navigating federal immigration policy

🔹 How local efforts can create a truly welcoming community

🔹 The resilience, strength, and stories of immigrants and refugees

🔹 What building your own version of the “American Dream” really looks like

Whether you're an advocate, a neighbor, or someone simply curious about how immigration shapes our region, this conversation offers insight, hope, and a call to community.

📍 Recorded at the Rock Island Line community podcast studio in Rock Island, IL – a place where stories matter and belonging is possible.

🎧 Subscribe to the Rock Island Line podcast for more conversations that celebrate our city and its people. #RockIslandLine #QCAIR #ImmigrantVoices #RefugeeStories #AmericanDream #RockIslandIL #QuadCities #CommunityVoices #ImmigrationPolicy #WelcomeHome

In this episode of Rock Island Line, I sit down with Rev. Laura Evans Mahn — founder of Nest Café, Rock Island’s “pay-what-you-can” restaurant that’s redefining how a city can come together around a meal.

Laura shares her journey to Rock Island at age 34, how she unexpectedly fell in love with the city, and the powerful ideas that gave birth to Nest Café. We explore the philosophy behind Nest — not just feeding people, but nourishing communities.

Together, we talk about:

🍲 The dignity of shared meals

🤝 The importance of breaking down the “helper” vs. “helped” divide

🏥 The potential of food as medicine within the healthcare system

🌱 What it takes to sustainably feed a community — and why it matters Nest Café isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a movement rooted in love, equity, and the power of showing up for one another.

🎧 Listen in for an inspiring conversation about food, faith, and what happens when we build tables big enough for everyone.

Lots of shout outs in this episode, including Jerry Jones, Diann Gano, Clara Caldwell, Katie Thompson, St. John's Lutheran church, and more! 

Check out www.nestcafeqc.org to learn more about Nest.

Check out www.rockislandline.com to learn more about the work I'm doing at Rock Island Line.

This episode is dedicated in loving memory to Clara Jane Caldwell (1929-2022)