Quick links: LU&T | Housing | Newspaper | Latinos En Acción | Farmers’ Market

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
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. All residents aged 18 or older, property owners and persons owning or representing businesses or agencies within the Corcoran neighborhood boundaries are eligible to vote and serve on committees or the Board, and each individual entity carries one vote. To vote at committee meetings, one must have attended two of the committee’s prior meetings in the last twelve months. To vote at General Membership meetings, one must have attended one GM meeting in the last twelve months, or have registered in person at the CNO office one month prior to the vote. CNO staff cannot vote at committee or board meetings. Board elections are held at the May General Membership meeting. CNO Executive Board listing.

Standing committees and long-term projects
+ Land Use and Transportation Committee – these residents consider matters of commercial and industrial development. Learn more.
+ Housing Committee – these residents strive to protect and improve our housing stock, and consider housing-related development and variance requests. Learn more.
+ Newspaper Team – these residents write, photograph, and edit the hand-delivered monthly newspaper The Corcoran News, which was founded in 1985. Learn more.
+ Latinos En Acción – builds cohesive and inclusive communities in partnership with the Powderhorn Park neighborhood and the Longfellow neighborhoods. 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.

CNO Goals 2008-2009
Safety and Livability
+ Engage at least 500 residents each year in direct efforts to make the Corcoran neighborhood stronger against crime.

Housing and Energy
+ Help to maintain and improve the Corcoran neighborhood's existing housing.
+ Help to resolve nuisance issues that threaten neighborhood housing.

Prostitution Project
+ Reduce the harm caused by prostitution.

Land Use and Transportation
+ Foster participation by Corcoran residents and business owners in land use issues and decisions in the neighborhood.
+ Advocate for redevelopment per the Corcoran Midtown Revival Plan (CMRP) in the Plan area. Where development occurs elsewhere in the neighborhood, promote CMRP principles.

Events
+ Connect residents by offering events that are fun and diverse, provide the opportunity to raise funds, and that promote the visibility and quality of our neighborhood; aim to raise $5,000 from events each year.

Outreach (Outreach is also covered under strategies for Housing, Land Use & Transportation, Newspaper, Latinos en Acción, and Events)
+ Diversify the CNO Executive-Board to reflect the community it serves.
+ Recruit and organize volunteers.

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

Fundraising
+ Leverage and maximize Phase II NRP funding.
+ Fund 80% of our overall budget (CNO, Market, and LEA) with non-NRP sources.
+ Increase individual giving.
+ Achieve $6000 in annual revenue from newspaper advertising.

Administration
+ Ensure that employees have clear expectations, the resources to complete their job well, feedback, flexibility, and fun.
+ Effectively manage the finances.

Latinos en Acción (LEA)
+ Conduct outreach and identify issues, and assure access to resources specific to Latino residents and business owners in our neighborhoods.
+ Ensure that Latino residents and business owners have a more prominent voice in their neighborhoods.
+ Address pertinent issues related to livability and safety issues in the Latino community.
+ Work with Latino residents and business owners on issues identified by them that will improve the quality of life.

Financial Management
+ Effectively manage the finances and fully fund LEA.