DAVENPORT, Iowa — All over our area, there are people who are not just doing good - but Multiplying Good.
Every year, we honor them with the Jefferson Awards - a nationwide foundation that celebrates amazing acts of public service. 2021 is WQAD News 8's 7th Season of being a Jefferson Awards Media Partner, sponsored locally by Genesis Health System and Budget Blinds.
From January 14th to March 4th, News 8's Angie Sharp is introducing you to this year's nominees. To see all of our Jefferson Awards Nominees, past and present, click here.
2021 Jefferson Awards: Tracy Singleton
When it comes to empowering others, Tracy Singleton has a mantra:
"Scale Up. That's the only way we start affecting change here in the community."
It's change she's pushing for every day in every way through new nonprofits she's created and cultivated.
"I'm one of those people – let's go, let's go, let's go! - but I also understand that it takes time and that you have to start somewhere," says Tracy. "Nothing changes if nothing changes."
The QC Empowerment Network is one of those starting points. From 20 Black-owned businesses to now more than 120, it provides resources, opportunities, and customers.
"It was really an opportunity to get the community to engage, then you make an informed decision when you say - I shop with the best - because now you've had a chance to see everyone," she explains.
Being "seen" is what inspired Tracy to found Well Suited. The single mother of four children, two of them sons, wanted young boys to see themselves older -and bolder through different mentor-based events.
"They have no control over their circumstances, they didn't ask for it and so to be able to see – ok, he knows what I'm going through because he looks like me, because he went through what I'm going through, but this is what he's doing now – it creates that hope that I'm able to get through this," Tracy says.
The "I Matter" Rally that Tracy organized in 2020 puts that point into perspective as our nation focuses in on racial injustice:
"These boys are constantly, almost daily seeing images of men who look just like them who are subject to police brutality, who are being killed, no one is being held accountable, who are being racially profiled simply because they're a black man and I was like - gosh we have to send the message to them to let them know there's value on their lives."
That's the message at the Lincoln Center in Davenport, Iowa where Tracy does her important work. The old school is turning into another nonprofit called Together Making a Better Community. It's where businesses can get off the ground, mentoring groups can meet, and success can start.
"She has visions and it doesn't always have to be her vision and I think it's great that she's able to pull everybody together and also learn their visions and make one huge miraculous thing come together," says Alexandria Andrews, Tracy's daughter who nominated her mother for the Jefferson Awards. "She's one of those key people in the community who is willing to get everybody on the same team. If everybody is always trying to compete against each other, it's always going to be a back and forth, but everybody can come together and we'll always be able to stride forward."
Tracy is "Multiplying Good," because she knows the more good you put in, the more good comes back.
February is Black History Month and there are a number of events planned, especially for the Lincoln Center which is officially launching Together Making A Better Community all month long. On February 25th, Well Suited is hosting its Embrace Race Luncheon. On February 27th, The QC Empowerment Network is holding its 6th Annual Black Expo.