2017-05-15T12:05:40-07:00 2016-12-31 Nonprofits Assistance Fund 2801 21st Ave South Suite 210 Minneapolis MN 55407 990EZ 2016-01-01 237447142 West Side Citizens Organization WEST 6512931708 209 Page Street West St Paul MN 55107 Monica Bravo Executive Director 6512931708 2017-05-15 1 Acacia Willey P01010039 6513932161 2017-05-07 50.249.119.237 2016 2021-01-29 14:40:06Z X www.wsco.org X X 122856 X 122836 0 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 122856 0 0 72503 28261 7512 4826 20510 133612 -10756 69906 0 59150 X 68865 51896 0 8000 4737 2499 73602 62395 3696 3245 69906 59150 The West Side Community Organization (WSCO) powers the people of the West Side to work together to create a vibrant, thriving neighborhood for all. Community Planning & Advocacy: As one of the City of Saint Paul's District Councils, WSCO weighs in on land use and zoning decisions in the 55107-zip code, such as building permits and variances, writes letters of support on behalf of community groups' permit and licensing requests, and funding processes effecting the West Side, such as the Capital Improvement Budget process. Further, we share information about public infrastructure projects and investments, in some cases partnering with city/county/regional/state government agencies for community engagement services. Much of this work is led by West Side residents who meet monthly in our Riverfront Development and Land Use Committee (RDLU). In addition to that ongoing work, WSCO undertook a series of community planning issues in 2016. In partnership with the City of Saint Paul's Planning and Economic Development Department, we hosted a series of events and community input sessions about a new public-private park investment coming to the West Side Flats. WSCO hosted a forum about a particularly contentious tobacco license applicant attempting to reopen their business against community will. Lastly, with support from the University of Minnesota's Center for Urban and Regional Affairs and Saint Paul's Planning and Economic Development department, WSCO began a multifaceted commercial corridor study of Stryker Avenue. The study involved resident surveys, interviews with commercial property owners, and an in-depth assessment of current land use and zoning. The Stryker Avenue study resulted in a request for the city to conduct a rezoning study of Stryker Avenue (to take place in 2017) to potentially spur development interest in the many vacant properties in this area. 0 56251 Community Engagement & Organizing: Our most crucial function as a neighborhood organization is to listen deeply to our residents and business owners and build their power through organizing and collective voice. These are the throughlines of our work. In 2016, WSCO's accomplishments in this program area include: 1) hosting creative engagement activities and conducting surveys and focus groups as part of Metro Transit's Better Bus Stop program about opportunities to improve bus shelters and overall transit service on the West Side (resulted in a new heated shelter and rich dataset for bus service improvement considerations); 2) held six listening sessions with West Side business owners' to better understand what resources or programs would benefit businesses and entrepreneurs; 3) staffing community events such as Cinco de Mayo, the West Side Farmers Market, National Night Out, Safe Summer Nights, resident board meetings of two high-density public housing developments, West Side Wednesdays with a booth of information and flyers of upcoming events; 4) hosting our annual business meeting with informational "vendors" and engagement activities and input opportunities; and 5) continuing supporting of neighborhood block clubs. WSCO demonstrated new capacity for organizing and leadership on issues concerning safety and community organizing in 2016. In our capacity as a District Council, WSCO voiced its opposition to proposed changes to the city's Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission early in the decision-making process. This action encouraged interest by other District Councils, who looked at the issue more closely. Working in partnership with other organizing entities in the Twin Cities, WSCO convened a community dialogue between our Councilmember and residents, resulting in a change in vote on the issue in a contentious city hearing. 0 28126 Economic Development and Community Wealth-Building: In May 2016, WSCO worked with the City of Saint Paul and Ramsey County Workforce Solutions to host a West Side Entrepreneur and Business Expo event. Service providers, financiers, and businesses participated. WSCO also helped organize a business mixer with city staff, and a small business Saturday event. This work fills an organizing and service gap left when the Riverfront Economic Development Association folded in 2007. 0 9376 93753 Alicia Lucio Board Member 7 0 0 0 Amelia Holcomb Secretary 7 0 0 0 Monica Bryand Board Member Ex Oficio 7 0 0 0 Matthew Bergeron Treasurer 7 0 0 0 Lewis Dixon Board Member 7 0 0 0 Armando Luna Board Member 7 0 0 0 Nancy Negrette Board Member 7 0 0 0 Nicholas Novacek Bundt Vice President 7 0 0 0 Krysten Ryba-Tures President 7 0 0 0 Carol Swenson Board Member 7 0 0 0 Pam Welisevich Board Member 7 0 0 0 Christine Shyne Former Executive Director 40 24440 0 0 Monica Bravo Executive Director 40 34448 0 0 Louis Garcia Board Member 7 0 0 0 Derek Johnson Board Member 7 0 0 0 Joanna Lowry Board Member 7 0 0 0 Graciela Mendez Board Member 7 0 0 0 Analita Silva Board Member 7 0 0 0 Tiffany Stewart Board Member 7 0 0 0 Tawala Storay Board Member 7 0 0 0 Craig Willford Board Member 7 0 0 0 Chris Karpovich Board Member 7 0 0 0 Diggit McLaughlin Board Member 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MN Michele Peine 209 Page St W St Paul MN 55107 6512931708 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NONE NONE 1 X 146351 196171 196871 164535 122836 826764 2232 50944 2126 2434 0 57736 148583 247115 198997 166969 122836 884500 710 0 710 0 0 0 710 0 710 883790 22 25 12 46 20 125 22 25 12 46 20 125 949 949 148605 247140 199958 167015 122856 885574 0.99799 0.99821 0.00014 0.00013 X Schedule A, Part III, Line 12 Miscellaneous Income RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED Form 990-EZ, Part I, Line 16 Description;Amount^Office Supplies;310|Advertising;1370|Telephone;1485|Information Technology Expenses;4720|Travel;63|Insurance;3645|Program Expenses;1112|Dues and Fees;571|Depreciation;345|Meeting Expenses;6889^Total;20510^ Form 990-EZ, Part II, Line 24 Description;EOY Amount^Accounts Receivable;2499^Total;2499^ Form 990-EZ, Part II, Line 26 Description;EOY Amount^Accounts Payable;1866|Accrued Expenses;1379^Total;3245^