The Coco Canary Monthly Newsletter
September 2020
Welcome to the Coco Canary Newsletter!
Hello from Molly O’Connor, the CEO and founder of Coco Canary Consulting, LLC (CCC), an evaluation & communications firm based in St. Paul, MN.
Our Mission is to use our expertise to inspire inclusion, support social justice, and promote anti-racism culture.
You may ask, how do social justice and racial equity relate to evaluation or communication? Well, from our experience, we have seen evaluation be designed, and communications reported in ways that harm, undervalue, and take advantage of the communities being served. This is our current status quo, and it is not okay. It has to change. This is why we do our work this way because we want to be apart of the solution, not the problem.
Please visit Community Centric Fundraising for more information. It is a new movement that has inspired thousands (including Coco Canary) to do better.
Business Updates
1. Fresh New Logo and Front Page
As many of you know, last month, I asked my community to help me choose Coco Canary’s new logo. Well, thanks to the nearly 60 people who cast their votes, a decision was made (as seen above)! And I couldn’t be happier. Thank you to those who helped throughout the process, especially my mother and partner, my original thought partners, and cheerleaders.
And, of course, thank you, Henry DeGrand Design, for designing my logo. If you need a designer for a logo or other marketing material, Henry is talented and hardworking. Not only that, he is an excellent strategist and researcher.
Learn more about him from his website (hyperlinked above) or, even better, from his Linkedin.
2. The Remember Project Website and Video are Live!
Some of you may recall that I assisted in the filming and production of a theatrical film for The Remember Project in late July. Since 2013, The Remember Project has used the arts, theater specifically, to reduce the stigma of memory loss. The Remember Project team coordinates the production and performances of three plays that share different stories and experiences of dementia and memory loss.
As a result of COVID-19, the team pivoted and filmed the plays so that program participants can still experience The Remember Project but virtually! After three successful preview performances, we are ready for our 2020-2021 virtual tour! If you are interested in being apart of this program, you can contact me at moconnor@rememberproject.org, and I will forward you to the director and project manager!
And, of course, after weeks of post-production and some stakeholder feedback, the film is finally available for public viewing. Watch it here! Please send it to your friends, family, and communities. We want to spread the word about this amazing program!
3. Other Updates
I am a new member of the James Ford Bell Library Board of Directors
Starting August 2020, I’m officially apart of the James Ford Bell Library’s Board of Directors (also known as the Associates). I’m looking forward to using my expertise to support the Bell Library’s mission and find ways to incorporate equity and racial justice within its programming and strategic planning.
Girls Are Powerful
I have the fortune of assisting the nonprofit Girls Are Powerful (GRP) in their evaluation work. Shawntan Howell, the founder, started the organization because she was frustrated with the lack of cultural appropriateness options available in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. Their mission is to enhance the self-esteem of all girls by inspiring them to recognize and embrace their natural qualities of being beautiful, unique, smart, confident, determined, and powerful. Visit their website to learn more about their programming and consider donating to their cause (the work they do is exceptional).
Personal Updates
My Partner and I Bought a House!
Funny story, my partner, Mike, and I bought a house in St. Paul, MN. Juggling work, supporting (and emotionally processing) racial justice efforts, house searching, and then house buying made for a busy and stressful August! Fortunately, I had a fantastic realtor (Robin Voreis, I highly recommend her!), which made all the difference.
If any of my followers are thinking of buying a house, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions OR just want to talk it through.
Let’s Stay Connected!
To keep up to date with Coco Canary, consider joining my email list (see the form below) or connecting with me on Linkedin. If you’re a WordPress user, don’t forget to follow my blog!
Talk soon!
Molly O’Connor (she/her/hers)
CEO – Evaluation & Communications Specialist
direct: (612) 868-0364
email: cococanaryconsulting@gmail.com
website: https://cococanaryconsulting.com/
Join My Mailing List!
To receive this newsletter via your email, join my mailing list!
