Common Chord
Common Chord – previously known as River Music Experience or RME – activates the power of music to improve our community. They achieve this mission with a variety of programs that share the common goals to support local musicians and the local music scene, advocate for the positive outcomes of music, and create accessible and inclusive experiences around music for all Quad Citizens and visitors. You may know Common Cord from the shows they produce at the Redstone Room, their Live@Five concerts, Music at the Market, or the whole host of educational and enrichment programs for kids and teens.
Founded in 2004, River Music Experience has had a storied and challenging history on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport. Originally founded as a museum, its programming began evolving almost immediately within its first years. Throughout that time, beloved local musician Ellis Kell provided a guiding light as programming and community outreach director as the organization continually sought to develop relevant and beneficial programming for the Quad Cities community. After Kell’s death in 2017 and a change in leadership in 2018, the organization was poised to think deeply about its purpose and mission.
In 2021, executive director Tyson Danner reached out to Wastyn & Associates to facilitate some strategic discussions with their board and leadership staff. They had collected data from internal and external constituents about community needs and perceptions of the organization and needed someone to help them bring it all together into actionable items to move the organization forward.
In early 2022, Linda Wastyn facilitated a half-day retreat that allowed the board and leadership staff to focus on the needs of the community and ways that they could help meet those needs. It also helped them focus their attention on their core program areas and where they could grow their impact.
Out of that discussion arose a strategic plan to guide the organization forward. This plan has already resulted in a name change to Common Chord, branding work, and expanded programming throughout the community, setting Common Chord up for many years of continued success.
