West Side Citizens Organization

THE WEST SIDE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SUSTAINS THE PEOPLE OF THE WEST SIDE TO BUILD COMMUNITY POWER AND TO ADVANCE MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITY. WSCO ALSO SERVES AS THE PLANNING COUNCIL FOR ST. PAUL'S DISTRICT 3 (ZIP CODE 55107). WSCO ENVISIONS A JUST, UNITED, SELF-RELIANT WEST SIDE WHERE ALL OF OUR PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED, SAFE, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL.

SEE SCHEDULE O."WEST SIDE VITALITY, CONTINUED TO HOLD MONTHLY FORUMS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON WITH OVER 30 PARTICIPANTS AT EACH VIRTUAL FORUM. ACTION CIRCLES CONSIST OF HOUSING JUSTICE, COMMUNITY CARE, LAND USE, AND HEALTH & ENVIORMENTAL JUSTICE. WSCO SUPPORTED LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS WITH PROVIDEING FUNDING FOR A MURAL ON THE NW FACING WALL DEPICTING A VIBRANT FIELD OF BIRGHTLY COLORED FLOWERS AND BUTTERFLYS, INTERTWINING THE STORY WITH IMMIGRATION. THIS IS LOCATED AT 429 SOUTH ROBERT STREET. WSCO SUPPORTED SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH PROVIDING LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR STAR GRANTS TO THE CITY OF ST. PAUL, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, PROVIDING PROMOTION AND PUBLIC FORUMS WITH COMMUNITY FOR LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT. WSCO CONVEANED LOCAL BUSINESS WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND RESOURCES FOR EXTERIOR & INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS, AND MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES. WSCO ORGANIZED WS PARTNERS TO HOST A CULTURAL SPECIFIC CELEBRATION OF DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. THROUGH COMMUNITY CARE ACTION CIRCLE, CONSISTENTLY HOSTED A COMMUNITY SPACE TO BUILD CONNECTIONS THROUGH VARIOUS ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS, MUSIC, DANCE, VISUAL ART, DRUMMING, AND CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES OF MENTAL HEALTH, HOUSING, & OTHER SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS. INCLUDING TRAINING AND PRACTICES OF MIND/BODY HEALING AND HEALTH.IN SPRING OF 2021 - APRIL 20TH WSCO GATHERED WITH A YOUTH LED, BIPOC SPACE FOR COMMUNITY CONVENING TO CENTER, YOUTH, ART, CONNECTEDNESS AND POSITIVITY ON TH EVENING OF THE GEORGE FLOYD TRIAL VERDICT. WSCO PARTNERED WITH 5 LOCAL ARTIST GROUPS FOR THIS EVENT. " EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT SCORECARD: WSCO CONTINUED WORKING WITH A RESIDENT TEAM OF SCORECARD REVIEW MEMBERS TO INTERFACE WITH DEVELOPERS IN VETTING NEW DEVELOPMENT COMING TO THE WEST SIDE. CENTERING THE QUESTION OF WHO BENEFITS?, WHEN DEVELOP COMES INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UTILIZING THE WEST SIDEEQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT SCORECARD THE TEAM VETTED 4 MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS ON THE WEST SIDE, INCLUDING A SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WITH DEEP AFFORDABLITY AT 30-50% OF THE AMI. ADDITIONALLY, WSCO HAS WORKED TO SECURE THE INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC ART AND PLACE KEEPING IN THE WEST SIDE CULTURAL CORRIDOR WITH DEVELOPMENT TO SECURE 4 LARGE SCALE PUBLIC FACING MURALS IN THE GATEWAY OF THE WEST SIDE. TENANT ORGANZIZING: WSCO WORKED IN COALITION PARTNERSHIP, AND WITH RESIDENTS ACROSS THE WEST SIDE TO ORGANIZE AND LAUNCH THE KEEP ST. PAUL HOME CAMPAIGN TO SECURE THE RENT STABIIZATION ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF ST. PAUL, ENGAGING OVER 800 WEST SIDE RENTAL HOUSEHOLDS. WSCO HELD KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CONVEANINGS, AND CONNECTED RENTERS TO LEGAL AND HOUSING RESOURCES AND SERVICES. HEALTH & ENVIORMENTAL JUSTICE: WSCO REGISTERED OVER 30 RESIDENTS INTO SOLAR CO OP, WITH 50% OF THE FAMILIES IDENTIFYING AS BIPOC. THE HEJ TEAM, OF WSCO CONVEANED A ENERGY JUSTICE FORUM WITH PANELISTS REPRESENTING GREEN ENERGY EMPLOYMENT, AND SOLAR COOPERATIVE MODELS.