At June's West Side Business Coalition meeting, WSCO's Interim Associate Director Coco Elizabeth shared a presentation introducing the City of Saint Paul's new Commercial Corridor Organization Assistance Program. Business owners had the chance to learn about the program and give their input on how the limited funds should be used to support the West Side’s economic growth. Watch the video below to hear the ideas shared by local business owners.

As part of the 2025 budget, the Saint Paul City Council set aside $1.4 million in Economic Development STAR funds to jumpstart this initiative. The goal is to provide streamlined funding to partner organizations—like WSCO—that have a strong track record of supporting local corridors.

WSCO has been selected to manage the West Side’s allocation, which must be spent within one year. Eligible uses for the funding include:

• Corridor beautification and public art

• Marketing campaigns to promote the corridor

• Planning and development efforts that can be implemented within 2-3 years

• Business sub-grants and community events to boost local visibility

• Strategic property acquisition for economic development

To stay up to date on future West Side Business Coalition meetings and events, sign up for the newsletter at mnwsbc.org

WSCO has heard from hundreds of West Side residents, workers, and community members about the future of Robert Street. We’re proud to release the Robert Street Survey Report, a community-driven effort that captures the priorities, concerns, and everyday experiences of those who live and work along this vital corridor. With 226 responses collected between January and May 2025, this report reflects the voices of people who use Robert Street every day—for commuting, shopping, school drop-offs, and more.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW FOR THE FULL REPORT

We’re thrilled to welcome Elizabeth Coco as our Interim Associate Director. Coco brings a wealth of experience in community organizing and a deep-rooted commitment to social justice that will strengthen our work during this important time. We’re also excited to announce that Miguel Brito, former WSCO Board member, will be joining our staff as an Organizer in Training. Miguel will support a variety of campaigns across focus areas including land use, housing justice, youth empowerment, environmental justice, immigrant rights, and more.

What drew you to WSCO? 

COCO: I first learned about WSCO in 2014 as a community grantmaker with the Headwaters Foundation for Justice— it was the first ever grant I approved! Since then, I have grown to love and deeply believe in the power of place-based work, which ultimately has shaped my professional journey. I have seen first-hand how anchoring in place allows for a unique set of strategies and relationships to take shape that drive real impact—change that folks can feel day to day. WSCO is leading powerful work here on the West Side—as a "builder" I am thrilled to contribute to enhancing WSCO's role!

MIGUEL: I first got involved with WSCO at 16 after a neighbor encouraged me to try community organizing. Once I joined, I met many community leaders who helped me grow as a person and a leader. Now, it's an honor to be part of the team doing this work full-time.

What excites you most about this role?

COCO: The Associate Director position is an exciting new role for WSCO as an organization. I see it as a great opportunity to strengthen organizational infrastructure so that WSCO can live into and amplify its important role as a powerful connector, organizer and hub for social change on the West Side and the City of Saint Paul! As interim, I am committed to ensuring the permanent hire and WSCO have the tools and systems in place for this team structure to be successful!  

MIGUEL: I'm excited to support others who are interested in community work, just like others supported me. I'm also excited to commit my time to being deeply engaged with my own community. There is a lot of very important work happening in our community and being able to get others involved is extremely exciting!

Can you share a bit about your background and experience?

COCO: I was born and raised in Velletri, Italy and relocated to Minnesota in 2008. I'm bringing over a decade of experience working in the nonprofit and philanthropic space. Most recently, I served as Deputy Director of the Rondo Community Land Trust, before jumping back into my consulting work full-time in fall 2024. Prior to this, I was Program Director of Economic Ecosystem Grantmaking at The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation. When I am not working, you can catch me cycling around the lakes or searching for the best "caffe macchiato" in town!  

MIGUEL: I'm a lifelong West Sider, born and raised here. I started as a volunteer with WSCO, then worked as a Recreation Leader at El Rio Vista, organizing activities for local youth. Most recently, I was a Public Engagement Coordinator at NewPublica, focusing on transportation projects and working closely with BIPOC communities.

Time is running out to catch Upstream, the world-premiere immersive play that’s brought audiences together for an unforgettable journey into climate resilience and justice. This 60-minute participatory performance leads audiences across the OWL campus on a search for the river’s missing daughter — a moving metaphor for the collective action needed in our fight for a livable future. Featuring collaboration with OWL students and over a dozen community organizations, Upstream is more than a show — it’s a call to action.

🗓️ Final Performances:

• Friday April 25, 7:00 pm

• Saturday, April 26, 10:00 am

• Saturday April 26, 12:30 pm

🎟️ Tickets are FREE thanks to Mixed Blood’s Radical Hospitality model. Click here to reserve in advance.

🧠 Sensory Friendly Show: Friday, April 25 at 7:00 PM
😷 Masks Required: Saturday matinee (4/26) at 12:30 PM

The West Side Community Organization (WSCO) is growing—and we’re looking for a passionate, experienced Senior Organizer to help lead bold, community-driven work on St. Paul’s West Side.

If you're ready to organize for housing justice, environmental equity, land use, and more—with a strong team and deep community roots—this might be the role for you.

You'll be building power with West Siders through hands-on outreach, strategic campaigns, and leadership development, all while working toward a just and joyful neighborhood.

Details:

• Full-time | $65,000–$70,000/year

• Full healthcare + 403b retirement + generous PTO

• Based in St. Paul’s West Side

• Requires 3–7 years of community organizing experience

Fluency in Spanish, Hmong, or Somali is a big plus. We're especially excited to hear from applicants who share our deep commitment to racial, economic, and environmental justice.

📍 Click Here for the Full Job Description and Application Details

Come build with us!