About Us
Welcome to Coco Canary, a creative evaluation firm, where we believe the power of art and community can bring shared understanding, healing, and cultural change.
We are cultural workers using evaluation, community engagement, and art to keep organizations grounded in their values and held accountable to their social justice goals.
Molly C. O'Connor (she/her) is the Owner and Principal Consultant of Coco Canary, and is an artist (check out her Art Portfolio below!). She is based in St. Paul, MN, the stolen lands of the Dakota people.
A headshot of Molly C. O'Connor
"Molly is a wonderful evaluator with solid technical skills and deep empathy. She brings great energy and a fresh perspective to her work. She's not afraid of unusual or highly complex work. I enjoyed collaborating with her across several projects."
- A. Rafael Johnson, Inspire to Change (2023)
"Working with Molly was nothing but a pleasure! She brought a fresh perspective to our team and helped us uncover more nuances with our audience of private forest owners and woodland stewards. She asks provoking questions, listens to all viewpoints, and provides a research-grade level of attention to detail."
- Matthew Russell, Arbor Analytics (2023)
"Molly is intelligent, consistently demonstrating a keen analytical mind and a deep understanding of complex issues. Their thoughtful approach to decision-making is both insightful and forward-thinking, making them an invaluable asset during strategic discussions. Moreover, their unwavering commitment to equity and diversity is commendable. Molly brings a critical lens to matters of inclusivity, ensuring that our organization's initiatives are not only well-intentioned but also effectively address systemic disparities..."
- Alissa Jones, Wilder Research & fellow MN Evaluation Association board member (2023)
"... In addition to their professional prowess, Molly is a genuinely kind and approachable individual, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment within our board. Molly is the embodiment of the ideal board member – servant leadership, detail-oriented, active listener, and culturally competent. I have no doubt that she will continue to contribute significantly to the field of evaluation and the betterment of any organization she serves."
- Alissa Jones, Wilder Research & fellow MN Evaluation Association board member (2023)
Who Is Molly C. O'Connor?
A Brief Summary
Molly is a child of the marsh, born and raised in Minnesota (the stolen lands of the Dakota and Anishinaabe people). I am a queer cis-woman with white privilege who grew up curious about the natural world and a caring heart. I spent many of my younger years learning how to connect to people and the world and how not just to love others but to love myself—and let’s be honest, learning self-compassion is a lifelong journey.
In 2012, I received my B.S. in biology, with minors in chemistry and film production, from the University of Oregon. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I worked as a freelance writer and editor, youth worker, outdoor educator, and independent living specialist. These years were highly formative, professionally and personally. I learned a lot about how to work with youth, as well as with adults with disabilities. I also traveled abroad and got to meet some amazing people. And I got more involved in social justice initiatives. First with the LGBTQIA+ movement (Vote No Campaign) and then with the Black Lives Matter movement (after the murder of Jamar Clark).
In 2019, I completed my master’s in Natural Resources Science & Management from the University of Minnesota with a minor in Evaluation Studies. I graduated with my master’s bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, though after working in a nonprofit, I became aware of white-supremacy culture, not only from leadership but also within myself. I could see how I was perpetuating harm to the communities we served through my silence and using extractive education and evaluation practices to get data to appease leadership and donors.
In 2020, after a deep burnout and a COVID-19 layoff, I decided to go independent as an evaluator to: (1) Learn and practice culturally responsive, equitable, and creative evaluation approaches; (2) Build a business that breathes joy rather than toxicity; and (3) take time to dismantle systems of oppression (white supremacy, misogyny, etc.) within myself and my professional practice. This was how Coco Canary Consulting was born!
A Visual Timeline of Molly's life
The Artist
Molly is an illustrator, filmmaker, and musician. She has been illustrating and cartooning for over a decade—and, honestly, since she was a little girl! Molly minored in Film Studies during her undergraduate, focusing on documentary production. She has been making films every since, predominantly montages of her trips and cherished memories.
Lastly, Molly has been playing and writing music for a long time. She is classically trained in clarinet and is an indie vocalist. Her first band was Coco Canary—yes, the band came first!! She released her first EP in 2023.
The album cover for Coco Canary, the EP (designed and made by Molly C. O'Connor)
Click here to listen to the EP!
We are streaming on Spotify and Apple Music!
Our Guiding Principles
Coco Canary is a principles-driven organization. This means we have guiding principles, which are values translated into actionable statements. They ground our thinking, inform our decision-making, and guide our actions.
Quiet
Strength
Lead from a place of quiet strength. Allow people to more deeply access their own quiet strength.
Gentle
Healing
Offer and hold space for gentle healing grounded in love, trust, and compassion.
Joyful
Connection
Bring people together through creativity, connection, and joy.
Radical
Engagement
Reflect, learn, and meaningfully engage in dismantling harmful systems within ourselves and our communities.
Strive For
Authenticity
Strive to let go of ego and live a life with openness, vulnerability, and authenticity.
Newsletters
Learn more about Coco Canary by reading and subscribing to our newsletter!
The Coco Canary Newsletter March 2024 Summary: A Grounding, I Am The Yellow Monster, Seeking 2024 Clients, MNEA Outgoing President Letter, 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....
The Coco Canary Newsletter December 2023 Summary: A Grounding, Holiday Artwork, Creative Evaluation Video, Molly in the 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....
A Coco Canary Grounding November 2023 A Personal Reflection on What is Happening in Palestine & Israel Welcome to A Coco Canary Grounding 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...
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How To Contact Us
Email us at moconnor@cococanary.com or fill out the form below. We look forward to hearing from you!
© Copyright 2022 Coco Canary Consulting, LLC
Photography: Dejá Jendro at On Display
Photography: Clarke Sanders at Clarke Creates
Logo: Henry DeGrand Design