August News & Updates

Celebrating 1-year Anniversary of the Quad City Botanical Center's

Plant Discovery Bus

Project Imagined. Mission Executed.

We’re thrilled to celebrate one of our Legacy Partners, the Quad City Botanical Center, as they celebrated the one year anniversary of their mobile greenhouse - the Plant Discovery Bus.

Back in January 2024, we introduced the new project that Quad City Botanical Center was about to bring to the region. During the interview, the Executive Director of QCBC, Ryan Wille, shared that the QCBC wanted to increase their impact by serving more community members and students but realized that many schools and organizations have some trouble with logistics and cost to attend the Center.

August Blog

Sometimes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. We let the excitement of our ecosystem grow like wildfire. The result? Always something epic...

Celebrating our Trustee, Jack Cullen. Rock Island’s 2025 Citizen of the Year

We’re celebrating Jack Cullen, a dedicated member of our Board of Trustees and the Common Chord representative, as he was named Rock Island’s 2025 Citizen of the Year in the Professional category by the City of Rock Island.

Art in Action

At Alternating Currents, the Common Chord stage came alive with more than just music—it became a Family Fun space where creativity connected us. In one inspiring moment, two young songwriters began collaborating on the spot, reminding us that art doesn’t just happen on the stage—it happens all around us. These organic sparks show how powerful it is when we nurture spaces where imagination and collaboration can thrive.

The Power of Collaboration

Our Legacy Partners came together in full force, sharing the bright spirit of our Culture Bright flair at both Alternating Currents and Riverfront Pops. The weekend overflowed with creativity and joy—from a vibrant new mural and unforgettable music to plant explorations, magicians, family fun, a Jurassic Park jeep, balloon art, and epic silent discos. Together, these moments painted a vivid picture of what happens when community, imagination, and the arts shine side by side.

Arts Alley Block Party

Kicking off Alternating Currents 2025

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