The Coco Canary Monthly Newsletter
November 2022
Summary:
A Grounding, A Personal Arts-Based Embodiment Story, Big Life Updates, News, Calls to Action, and More.
Welcome to Coco Canary!
Hello from Molly C. 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. Learn how to go beyond a land acknowledgment by reading this guide by the Native Governance Center or my personal LandBack story.
Art drawn by Molly C. O’Connor
A Grounding
News, Learnings, Opportunities for Growth, and Calls to Action:
- ThanksTAKING or Thanksgiving? Listen to this All My Relations podcast episode that talks with Wampanoag (“Wam-pah-nog”) scholars Paula Peters and Linda Coombs, who tell us the real story of Thanksgiving from an Indigenous Perspective.
- In addition, in my Nov 2021 newsletter, I wrote a reflection and brief “Thanksgiving” history. You can read it here.
- ‘This needs to happen yesterday’: Advocates push for swift passage of bill to protect Afghan refugees.
- Support The Fields at Rootsprings, a liberating space for BIPOC artists, activists, healers, and community-centering LGBTQ folx, by donating or by buying items for them from their registry! They are doing important work to help fill the hearts and bodies of our BIPOC & Queer community organizers. <3
Black Lives Matter. Justice For:
Buffalo Mass Shooter Gets Life In Prison
“A White man who traveled to a Buffalo grocery store in May and killed 10 African Americans, including Black Press writer Katherine Massey, pled guilty to 25 criminal counts on Monday, Nov. 28, and will spend the rest of his life in prison.”
Keep Georgia Blue: Help Reverend Raphael Warnock!
- Volunteer or donate directly to the Reverend Raphael Warnock campaign
- Phone Bank or Donate to SURJ. They are prioritizing moving more white voters for the Georgia Runoff Election!
- Write and Send Letters ASAP through Vote Forward
Native-Led Movement Calls to Action
- “Rethinking Thanksgiving: From Land Acknowledgment to LANDBACK” — A fantastic webinar and fundraiser I attended. Watch the recording here and donate here. All donations will be split among three Indigenous-led groups: Tonatierra, American Indian Law Alliance (AILA), and Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.
- Buy wild rice (“manoomin”) as a holiday gift and to support Honor the Earth & water protectors at the same time!
- Sign the petition to the House of Representatives: Seat the Cherokee Nation Delegate
- Sign the Petition to Change the name of Indian Head Highway and the Town of Indian Head
Business Updates
American Evaluation Association 2022 Conference Reflections & Feeling Deep Embodiment During an Arts-Based Session
In early November, I had the privilege to travel to New Orleans, LA, to attend the 2022 American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference. Some folks who read this newsletter may already be familiar with AEA, but if you are unfamiliar, here’s a summary of AEA and my connection to them.
The American Evaluation Association is the professional association for evaluators in the USA—but it has members from all over the world. It offers a vessel for people who identify as evaluators to fit within, and opportunities for connections and learning. I’m a member of AEA, and, similarly, I’m a member and on the board of the Minnesota Evaluation Association, which is a local affiliate of AEA here in MN.
The theme of this year’s conference was (re)Shaping Evaluation Together, and this was my first time going to an AEA conference in person (I went to the virtual one last year). Below are a few highlights (conference-related and touristy fun) from my time in New Orleans.
- Making New Friends: I met some rad people while at the conference. I met local Minnesota evaluators who I had yet to meet. I met evaluators IRL with whom I’ve been in a virtual community for over two years. I also got to explore and be a tourist with two fellow evaluators, which was so fun. It reminded me of my solo female traveler days, when I didn’t have a plan but a destination and met cool people along the way.
- Attending Arts-Based Conference Sessions, Meeting my Fellow Art Evaluators, and Feeling True Embodiment: My favorite sessions had an art component and a playful and embodiment focus. One was led by my friends and colleagues, Chantal Hoff and Susan Putnins. They led two arts-based methods: Found Poetry and a Movement Exercise. The one that I still reflect on is the movement exercise. We started by sitting and visualizing a beach scene. We imagined the water, the air, the sand, and the clouds. We were then invited to move our bodies like the water would move, how the air would move, and how the clouds would move. First in our chairs, then around our chairs, and then around the room. A brave few of us got up and utilized the space—with eyes open—and were invited to non-physically interact with the room and with others. By the end of the exercise, I was on the floor, stretching on what I imagined as a warm, beautiful day at the beach. As I was enjoying this quiet moment, a colleague approached with a smirk and began to move like he was vigorously splashing water at me as a child would. It surprised me how my instinct was to splash back, which I did without hesitation. And we ended up laughing and splashing each other, and the room laughed along with us. At that moment, I felt deep child-like joy. And honestly, that is something I haven’t felt in a long time. I’ve felt joy, but I hadn’t felt like a literal child playing in the water since, well, I was a kid. And I didn’t realize how much I needed that. It may sound cliché, but that exercise helped me feel what true embodiment feels like, and how fleeting, how healing, and how powerful it can be.
Other Business Updates
Coco Canary — The Band: Getting pumped for the album release in early 2023.
Molly has been working hard designing and making the cover for the soon-to-be-released album: Tell My Mother That I’m Coming Home! I’ve had close friends and family help me do the initial edits. Keep an eye and ear out for more news.
Personal Update
My Partner’s Proposal And Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Hey all, it feels important to share some exciting and scary things happening in my personal life. <3
A (Half) Engagement: Yes, that’s right, Michael, my amazing partner, officially proposed to me. It was a complete surprise, and it was cute AF (see hand-drawn map above). Though, something we agreed upon early in our relationship (five years ago; WAH??) is if we ever decided to get married, we both would have to propose to each other. One, because feminism. Two, because both partners deserve a cute AF proposal! So, watch out world (and Michael), you’re gonna get a proposal sometime soooooon. <3 <3 <3
A Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Over a week ago, we got the news that Michael has prostate cancer—he’s only 39 years old, FYI. And it’s not the “clear-cut” kind. It is inside his prostate and outside, and we won’t know until it’s taken out if it is Stage 1, Stage 2, or Stage 3 (meaning, if it has spread to his fatty tissue and/or lymph nodes). The plan is for him to get surgery in early 2023 at Mayo Clinic, but nothing is scheduled as I type today. The things to be grateful for are that the MRI and CT Scan don’t show visible lesions anywhere else in his body and that it was caught relatively early. So, we’re hoping it’s pretty localized.
My Requests And Ways To Support Me (and Michael)!
- A note for anyone with a prostate: if you have African ancestry and/or a family history of prostate, breast, ovarian, colon, pancreatic, and some other cancers, start screening for prostate cancer in your 40s. Mike is 39, but that is a very rare case. Ask to have your PSA tested (via a blood test) when you are 40 to get a baseline and keep an eye on it as you get older. Early detection is key! In Mike’s case, if this was found five years from now, his likelihood of living to 50 would have reduced significantly.
- If you are a client or volunteer with me: You will hear from me that I will be less available for 2-3 weeks in early 2023. This is because I will be the primary caretaker for Michael while he heals from his prostatectomy (complete removal of his prostate). Please respect the time I will need to be present for Mike while also taking the time to rest between caretaking.
- If you are a friend, family, or acquaintance: Sending love and thoughts is welcome and encouraged. If I don’t respond immediately, or only with an emoji, or do not respond at all, know that I received your message, and it is deeply appreciated. A dear friend will be starting a Mealtrain for us. If you’re interested in getting notified about it, you can email her at tabutelx@gmail.com.
Sending so much love.
– Molly
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
