The Coco Canary Newsletter
September 2023
Summary:
A Grounding, Updated Coco Canary Website, Presenting at AEA with Sully Moreno, EP Release Concert and Party at Icehouse MPLS, 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, and feel free to contact me to learn more about what I do personally!
Art drawn by Molly C. O’Connor
A Grounding
General News
- These Twin Cities churches are making reparations to Black and Indigenous communities.
- Check out Standing Up For Racial Justice’s (SURJ) new video called “Right on Time.”
- DOJ condemns pattern and practice of MPD’s discriminatory policing
- The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the findings from its investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) on June 16th and held four in-person neighborhood “Listening Sessions” in August 2023. If you are interested in the findings from these listening sessions, you can register for a virtual event from the DOJ (see link below). I’ll be there!
- Virtual Listening Session, Monday, September 18, 2023: 7:00 PM, CDT. Register Here
- You can read the 92-page report at the DOJ website.
- The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the findings from its investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) on June 16th and held four in-person neighborhood “Listening Sessions” in August 2023. If you are interested in the findings from these listening sessions, you can register for a virtual event from the DOJ (see link below). I’ll be there!
Black Lives Matter. A Non-Exhaustive List. Justice For:
O’Shae Sibley
Native-Led Movement News and Calls to Action
- Sign the Petition: Opposing Talon Metals Nickel Sulfide Ore Mine Subsidy without Indigenous Consent and Environmental Protection
- Sign the Petition. Tell USDA: Deny Loan for a new Gas Plant on Gitchi-Gami
- Sovereignty Under Attack (Native Governance Center)
A screenshot of Coco Canary’s updated website
Business Updates
1. A Freshly Updated Coco Canary Website
I am excited to announce that the Coco Canary website has gotten a much-needed update! We added a Case Studies section, Testimonials, a Creative Evaluation webpage with resources, an About page, and more!
Visit our page and let me know what you think!
Page one of Coco Canary’s Creation Evaluation Process document
We also created a downloadable Creative Evaluation Document that visualizes our process and showcases a non-exhaustive list of the arts-based approaches we can use! Click here, or the button below to download it.
2. Presenting at the American Evaluation Association Conference with Sully Moreno!
For those following this newsletter for the past year, you have heard A LOT about a Creative Evaluation and Community Engagement project I did with Public Health – Seattle & King County last year. (If you are new to this newsletter and have no idea what I am talking about, you can learn more here).
Well, my friend and colleague, Sully Moreno, and I will present at the American Evaluation Association conference this year! Our presentation is titled Advancing Equity Through Storytelling & Community Voice: A Creative Evaluation Story.
If you plan to be in Indianapolis, our presentation is on Thursday, October 12, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST. We would LOVE to see you there. <3
For those who cannot make it in-person this year, Sully and I have been discussing having a virtual presentation later this year. If you are interested, keep an eye on my newsletter and my Linkedin for registration info!
Abstract: Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) hired Sully Moreno (Culture Shift Consulting) & Molly O’Connor (Coco Canary Consulting) to conduct a community engagement and creative evaluation to help create a more accessible procurement/contracting process, specifically for small, BIPOC-led community-based organizations (CBOs). In this session, Sully and Molly will demonstrate how they used guiding principles, arts-based methods (storytelling), a community advisory committee, community feedback sessions, local artists, and a Data Playback & Art Showcase (“Evocative Playback”) to create art that became tangible recommendations and PHSKC’s equitable contracting vision.
Other Business Updates
Coco Canary, The Band – EP Release Concert & Party
It is finally happening!!! Matt and I are full circle in our music-making process, and are sunsetting our most recent music project with an EP Release Party & Concert. If you live in or near the Twin Cities, please join us for a night of music, friendship, and celebration!
Doors open at 6 pm and music starts at 8 pm. $12 advance/ $17 at door. A full food and drink menu will be available. We’ll likely end at around 10 pm. I would LOVE to see you there, and please bring/invite friends. Click here to buy tickets!
And if you haven’t listened to the music yet, check us out on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and more!
Minnesota Evaluation Association 2023 (UN)Conference
I am excited to say that the MNEA Conference reached registration capacity! This means 120 people will join us for an epic day of connection and learning. You can learn more about the conference here.
The Newly Updated Culturally Responsive & Equitable Evaluation Book is Available for Purchase!
“Culturally Responsive and Equitable Evaluation: Visions and Voices of Emerging Scholars presents an innovative evaluation paradigm that integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion in all phases of evaluation. The book spotlights the scholarly, philosophical, and best practices of emerging Black, Latino/x, Indigenous, and other scholars and practitioners from historically marginalized populations in support of culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE).”
Personal Update
Weddings, Making Music, and Being in Beloved Community
Hey all, and welcome new subscribers!
- It’s Wedding Season: In June, Mike and I spent two weeks in DC to help prepare and celebrate the marriage of my twin sister, Colleen, and her now husband, Chris. It was a fun time, especially when my older sister and I performed a song for Colleen in front of her friends and family! Mike and I also went to another wedding where a musician was getting married. So, we spent a lot of time listening to amazing live music and even getting on stage to perform ourselves!
- Making Music: Not only have I been busy getting Coco Canary’s self-titled EP out into the world, but in July, I also co-wrote a song with strangers—now friends—at the 22nd Century: Forging a People-Powered Democracy Conference. Jane Sapp and Cynthia Cohen led a workshop called Developing a Collective Poetic Voice To Address Authoritarianism Thru Songwriting, and through this process, I met four amazing women. Within 24 hours, we wrote, practiced, recorded, and then performed a song for hundreds of people at the conference. Check out our performance here!
- Being In Beloved Community: After a crazy first half of the year with Michael’s cancer, weddings, and other unexpected stuff, I wanted to prioritize resting and being in community for the rest of this year. Fortunately, I got to attend some beautiful community events, host amazing people in my commune home, and then go camping with friends old and new. Something else that I utterly love is to swim outside, and I prioritized that a lot this summer.
Until next time,
– 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 it with others)! And, of course, if you know of anyone who may benefit from our Creative Evaluation 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
