The Coco Canary Monthly Newsletter
March 2022
Summary:
Project & Partner Highlights, Calls to Action, Community News, and more!
Welcome to Coco Canary!
Hello from Molly O’Connor, the principal and founder of Coco Canary Consulting, LLC, a creative evaluation firm.
We are based in St. Paul, MN, and acknowledge that we are on the stolen lands of the Dakota People (specifically the Wahpekute Band of Dakota, who are among the Oceti Sakowin (“Seven Council Fires”). These people were the first stewards of the lands we occupy, and they are still here. We honor their connection to this land and their ongoing resilience in the face of violent colonialism.
A Grounding: Acts Against Humanity All Over The Globe & Calls To Action for Native-led Movements
There has been a lot of media coverage of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. I want to take this moment to uplift the other wars and violence inflicting countries getting less media coverage because they are predominantly non-white, non-christian countries, etc.
Palestine (occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War in 1967):
“When Ukrainians prepare Molotov cocktails to use in resistance against the Russian military, we will call them freedom fighters—and The New York Times memorializes their efforts with expertly produced videos of the explosive-making process. When Palestinians do so against the Israeli military, they are invariably shot and killed by a Western-financed weapon in the hands of an Israeli soldier, whom we will then shield from accountability at the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.”
On Watching Ukraine Through Palestinian Eyes – Yousef Munayyer
The Nation — March 4th, 2022
Somalia (The U.S. has been terrorizing Somalia for 15+ years):
“You do not, in fact, have to choose between American and Russian imperialisms. The correct choice is to detest and resist both, with emphasis placed on resisting your own state’s aggression…”
Quote from Spencer Ackerman
Common Dreams Article — Feb 25th, 2022
Syria:
“Most of Syria’s imported wheat is coming from Ukraine or Russia, so we are very concerned that the war in Ukraine will have a bad impact on Syria.”
Fears grow for Syria amid rising violence, deepening humanitarian crisis
United Nations — UN News — March 9th, 2022
Myanmar: Armed Forces Day Spotlights Atrocities (March 25th, 2022)
Yemen: Fighting Continues in Yemen Amid Humanitarian Disaster as War Enters Its Eighth Year, March 28th 2022
Afghanistan: The US economic war on Afghanistan amounts to a humanitarian crime (Feb 6th, 2022)
China (Uighur Genocide): Uyghur News Recap: March 17-23, 2022
And so much more.
Native-Led Movement Calls to Action
- Line 3 Legal Defense Fund STILL Needs Your Support! Donate one time or make a recurring contribution.
- Protect the Bad River Tribe and sign the Stop Line 5 Letter to Wisconsin DNR. Sign and comment here
- Show up for West Virginia Rising’s Coal Baron Blockade or DONATE to the cause!
Business Updates
Highlighting Current Projects and The People Behind Them
Since my rebrand, I’ve been invited onto projects that better align with my values and principles. So, I’m taking this opportunity to share the amazing people I have been working with and our collaborative work.
1. Inspire to Change: Creative Evaluation
If you’ve been around my newsletter for a while, you’ve likely heard me talk about the Creative Evaluation Firm, Inspire to Change (I2C).
Nora Murphy-Johnson and A. Rafael Johnson are the power couple who run I2C, and they are the masterminds behind Creative Evaluation & Engagement (CE&E). Nora is the one who opened my eyes to CE&E, and Andy has been kind enough to be a mentor to me. I’m currently working as a part-time creative evaluator for them. I am assisting on a project where we are developing guiding principles, designing a creative evaluation, and facilitating a creative engagement (a more fun and transformative way of strategic planning)! To learn more about their work visit their website, buy their book, AND join their Mighty Network!
2. Catch Your Dream Consulting: Creative Evaluation Thought Partnership
I’ve had the honor to collaborate and thought partner with Equity Consultant and Trainer, Donte Curtis.
He is most known for his engaging, enlightening, and practical action planning workshop called Breaking The Cycle of White Supremacy. Years ago, I took his workshop, and I found it so helpful in my equity journey. He’s currently dreaming up how to evaluate the impact of his workshops AND using that information to help finish his book. I feel so lucky to be a part of the process. He is the nicest guy and so easy to work with. Also, check out his 5K in 5 Days Fundraiser!
3. Equivolve Consulting: Creative Evaluation & Graphic Cartooning
This project is still up in the air since we are in the process of interviewing. BUT, I am so excited about the prospect of incorporating my cartooning and creative evaluation skills.
I’ve been dreaming of creating a portfolio webpage of my creative evaluation projects and cartoons. I will be pretty busy up until June. So, this will be a business development project down the road.
Other Business Updates
Flava (“Flay-va”) Café is in the News!
Y’all, Flava Café’s grand opening is so soon! As a board member, Shaunie and I have met to dream up the café’s guiding principles. I really believe in Shaunie’s vision and will keep you posted when the grand opening is scheduled. There are still some board openings. If you’re interested in learning more about being a board member, send me an email!
Which Indigenous tribes first called Minnesota home? A conversation with Anton Truer (~16 minutes)
Learn about the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) nation and its people who were in Minnesota before the Dakota and Ojibwe. They are now located in what is known as North Dakota.
Personal Update
A Visual Representation of March 2022 – A Photo Collage
Y’all. March has been a BIG month for me. I turned 32. I visited my twin sister in D.C. for a whirlwind birthday trip. I sold my first ever car (and yes, my car died…). I bought a commuter bike with the car money (yay!!!). And so much more. Here is a summary of the photo collage above.
Photo 1: My partner, Mike, checking our tapped maple trees for sap!
Photo 2: My brother and I playing one of my new favorite games, Wingspan!
Photo 3: A selfie of me, my sister, and my mom in a local park outside of Alexandria, VA.
Photo 4: My bandmate and friend, Matt, playing music to show me how he wants the contracted guitarist to go over our most current recorded track!
Let’s Stay Connected!
To keep up to date with my business news, connect or follow me on Linkedin. Don’t forget to follow our newsletter (and share with others), as well! And, of course, if you know of anyone who may benefit from our services, send them our way. Referrals are what make the world go round.
In solidarity,
Molly O’Connor (she/her/hers)
Founder, Principal Consultant, and Creative Evaluator
direct: (612) 868-0364
email: moconnor@cococanary.com
website: cococanary.com
Black Lives Matter
Period.
