Quick links: Corcoran GROWS | Housing | Land Use & Transportation | Midtown Farmers Market
| Mujeres en Accion y Poder | Newspaper

The Corcoran neighborhood
The Corcoran Neighborhood is situated in the heart of south Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is bounded by East Lake Street to the north, East 36th Street to the south, Hiawatha Avenue to the east, and Cedar Avenue to the west. Learn more.

The Corcoran Neighborhood Organization
The Corcoran Neighborhood Organization (CNO) was founded in 1975 around a single issue: residents wanted a park on the site of the former Corcoran Elementary School, and they got it. Since then, the organization has improved the look and feel or our neighborhood and provided opportunities for everyone to get involved. CNO remains strong and the neighborhood continues to be a unique place to live, work, and raise families.

CNO Purpose
CNO exists to address community issues that affect the Corcoran neighborhood. CNO is a non-partisan information source, spokesperson and advocate for the community on civic affairs, and strives to alert community members to items of particular interest which may have either a positive or negative impact on the community.

CNO Mission
We, the Corcoran residents, in all our diversity, will strive to strengthen, improve and protect the unique character, livability, and social fabric of our neighborhood. We endeavor to encourage and empower all residents, business and property owners to unite in addressing our common issues.

Take Root in Your Neighborhood
Share your talents and ideas to improve your neighborhood. Volunteering can take as much or as little time as your schedule allows. You can sit on a committee, work on an event, translate or interpret, write for the Corcoran News, attend a community meeting, volunteer at the farmers' market, or let our staff help you find the best fit for your interests, talents, and schedule.

CNO Structure and participation
Committees, which meet monthly, make recommendations to CNO's Executive Board, a group of volunteers elected from the neighborhood. At its monthly meetings the Board reviews and votes on these recommendations and thus determines policy for the organization. Decisions relevant to the entire neighborhood are discussed at CNO's quarterly General Membership meetings. Everyone is welcome to attend CNO meetings. Corcoran residents aged 18 or older are eligible to vote and serve on committees or the Board. In order to vote at a General Membership meeting, a Member must be registered with the CNO. An individual may register with the CNO office prior to a General Membership meeting, or may register at a General Membership meeting, by providing proof of residency. Committee voting requirements are specific to each committee and are defined by its members—attend a committee meeting or contact CNO staff to learn more. CNO staff cannot vote at committee or board meetings. Board elections are held at the May General Membership meeting. View the CNO Executive Board listing. View the CNO bylaws.

Standing committees and long-term projects
+ Corcoran GROWS – these residents believe tough environmental problems can be addressed when neighbors unite to learn, share, and support one another using the Transition Town framework. Learn more.
+ Housing Committee – these residents strive to protect and improve our housing stock, and consider housing-related development and variance requests. Learn more.
+ Land Use and Transportation Committee – these residents consider matters of commercial and industrial development. Learn more.
+ Midtown Farmers Market – a community supported and community run seasonal farmers market at Lake Street and 22nd Ave S, serving and welcoming participation from residents of the Twin Cities metro area. Learn more.
+ Mujeres en Accion y Poder – builds cohesive and inclusive communities in partnership with the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association. Learn more.
+ Newspaper Committee – these residents write, photograph, and edit the hand-delivered monthly newspaper The Corcoran News, which was founded in 1985. Learn more.

CNO Goals 2010-2011 View a detailed version of the goals summarized below.
Outreach
+ Build and diversify the volunteer pool for CNO board, committees, and other efforts to protect and improve the neighborhood.
+ Note: there are additional strategies that further our outreach goal. View a detailed version of the goals to learn more.

Sustainability
+ CNO’s sustainability statement: As we aspire to move toward a truly sustainable urban community, the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization will mindfully put the principles of seventh generation thinking into practice in order to create a more socially, economically and culturally vibrant urban neighborhood. Our aim is to create within the city of Minneapolis an urban village that is connected to nature and the cycles of the seasons, restorative by design, thoughtful and compassionate in use of natural and social capital, and conscious of its stewardship for future generations.
+ Note: there are additional strategies that help build a more sustainable neighborhood. View a detailed version of the goals to learn more.

Safety and Livability
+ Engage at least 500 residents each year in direct efforts to make the Corcoran neighborhood stronger against crime.
+ Provide a venue for community members to raise concerns and questions, and interact with CNO board and staff members.

Land Use & Transportation / Housing
+ Help to resolve nuisance issues that threaten neighborhood housing.
+ Attract prospective new home buyers to the Corcoran neighborhood and help shorten the vacancy period for foreclosed housing.
+ Help to maintain, improve, and make more energy efficient the Corcoran neighborhood's housing stock.
+ Foster participation by Corcoran residents and business owners in land use and housing issues and decisions in the neighborhood.
+ Advocate for redevelopment per the Corcoran Midtown Revival Plan (CMRP) in the Plan area, and advocate for redevelopment of other blighted neighborhood properties. Where development occurs elsewhere in the neighborhood, promote CMRP principles.

Communications
+ Provide timely, useful information on all news, activities, and issues affecting the Corcoran neighborhood.

Mujeres en Accion y Poder
+ Conduct outreach to Latino residents and identify issues in the community, especially those impeding a higher quality of life.
+ Continue and expand Mujeres en Accion y Poder at Corcoran and Powderhorn Parks.

Midtown Farmers Market
+ Improve the utilization of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Electronic Benefits Transfer (SNAP-EBT) at the farmers market, at least doubling use compared to the 2009 season.
+ Strengthen the market’s brand identity.
+ Effectively manage all aspects of the market.