Ensuring a better world to grow up in.
Meeting Our Communities Where They Are
Ideas are only as good as their real-world impact.
Cyrus Community Development is the research implementation division of CYRUS. We take what we have learned, the things we’ve noticed don’t work, and the systems that need improvement to then apply our theories of change. Our goal is to improve unjust conditions that have been normalized and make the world a better place to call home.
We believe in providing vital, hands-on help to the people who need it—ensuring they have food, clothes, and safe, accessible spaces right now—while simultaneously working to fix the environment around them at the root.
As a social enterprise, our profits are reinvested right back into our programming and our workforce—ensuring we take care of the people who help us take care of the community.
Our Initiatives
Isabella’s Closet
Community care for mothers and children who need access to clothing, diapers, books, toys, and parenting essentials. It is designed to relieve the financial burden of raising children by providing a reliable supply of donated new and gently-used goods directly to the families who need them most.
Spatial Equity
We partner directly with businesses to audit and transform their physical layouts to ensure that public spaces are physically and socially accessible to families with children. Through our tiered certification system, we help to ensure families can navigate their communities with dignity.
Sedona’s Studio
A creative community workshop for children and caregivers to connect, learn, and create together. It is an educational environment where families practice upcycling and environmental stewardship, turning repurposed materials into new projects to foster a love for Mother Earth.
Our Commitments
Sustainability
Leaving behind a healthier earth with stronger communities.
Taking care of our children means taking care of the Earth. We integrate green standards into our work and use our community workshops to teach children and caregivers the creative art of upcycling and protecting the planet.
Support
Building pathways that help families, small businesses, and organizations.
We bring immediate, dignified relief to families where they live, shop, and gather. Whether it’s easing the stress of public parenting through spatial audits or ensuring children have basic necessities, we meet families exactly where they are at.
Systems Change
Creating equitable improvements to society with families at the center.
We think in systems and want to shine a light on collective injustices. We use our applied research to challenge the status quo, advocate for families, and fix the root causes of systemic issues, ensuring a better world to grow up in.
About
CYRUS (Center for Youth, Research, and Unified Systems)
CYRUS is our parent organization and our home base for connecting the pieces. Right now, academic research, public health data, and urban design operate in completely separate worlds. We bring them together, blending official research with real, lived experiences to map out exactly how public and government systems can improve to help families. Our ultimate goal is to use these insights to advocate for real policy changes that normalize family-inclusive and child-centered design.
How We’re Helping Our Communities
Addressing Social Determinants of Health
Creating systems that unify communities and improve maternal-child outcomes.
Applied Public Health Research
Studying the built environment’s impact on maternal mental health and child development.
Community Directory for Families
Mapping Twin Cities local places with and without private nursing areas, changing tables, and other family-inclusive amenities.
Advocating for Environmental Justice
Reducing systemic disparities so all mothers can access dignified, hygienic spaces to breastfeed, regardless of race or income level.
Explore Business Insights
Explore Our Research & Impact
Partner with us
We welcome anyone who resonates with our mission of ensuring a better world to grow up in to reach out and connect with us.
Cyrus Community Development 