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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Apr 09, 2026 08:00 AM Lifestyle Medicine Community of Wellness Symposium & Gala 2026 ('lotus', 'health', 'Health', 'openbeam')
Mar 16, 2026 10:00 AM Music Therapy and Cognitive Vitality: The Role of Music in Brain Health ('lotus', 'America City for Health', 'mental health', 'aging') Music plays a crucial and unique role in supporting cognitive function, memory retention, emotional regulation, and social connection that are key areas often affected in cognitive decline. Research shows that rhythm, melody, and singing activate widespread neural networks, enhance neuroplasticity, and stimulate brain regions involved in speech, movement, and executive function.
Feb 21, 2026 10:00 AM Homeownership and Wealth Building Workshop ('NAACP', 'housing', 'Diversity') This workshop equips community members with practical tools and knowledge to pursue homeownership and build generational wealth.
Feb 17, 2026 04:30 PM Ready to Lead 2026 Spring Cohort ('diversity', 'Civic Equity', 'leadership', 'networking', 'community engagement') Ready to Lead brings together a small group of people to teach the basics of how to participate in and lead meetings
Feb 16, 2026 10:00 AM Breathing and Brain Health – Seokmun Hoheup Method ('lotus', 'mental health', 'community health') This immersive session introduces the Seokmun Hoheup method, a traditional Korean breathing practice designed to enhance mental clarity, reduce stress, and support healthy brain function, presented by Paul Min, PhD.
Feb 15, 2026 02:30 PM Chinese New Year Celebration Gala ('diversity', 'culture', 'Diversity') Chinese New Year Celebration Gala is a primary annual event of gathering in Rochester Chinese community. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the biggest Chinese holiday, carry forward the Chinese culture and promote the merge with the multiple cultures in Rochester. Usually there are about 600 people attending this event, including Chinese and other ethnics. Stage shows will feature many exciting performances such as singing, dancing, poems, sketch, dramas, instrument playing, and more, mostly with Chinese cultural and artistic style. During the stage show time, we will also have lottery to have some surprising prizes.
Feb 06, 2026 05:00 PM Pulitzer Finalist Lee Hawkins--Author of I Am Nobody’s Slave ('NAACP', 'Diversity') Join us for this year’s premier Black History Month event featuring Lee Hawkins, Pulitzer Prize finalist, former Wall Street Journal writer, and 2026 NAACP Image Awards Nominee who is coming to Rochester, Minnesota from New York. This event is free but seating is limited so free registration is required.
Feb 03, 2026 10:00 AM Feb 2026 RPS Family Engagement ('RPS', 'education', 'diversity', 'key', 'Education') Our focus for February is Supporting Parent, Caregiver, Family, and Staff Wellbeing: an Experiential Workshop, presented by Haeli Gerardy. Haeli is the Family Engagement Specialist and Certified Parenting Coach at Fernbrook, which is a partner with RPS School-Linked Mental Health.
Jan 27, 2026 12:00 PM "Let's Talk Community" Lunch and Learn Series ('Education', 'civic engagement') Our first event of the series will feature Metro State’s Cyber Clinic—a hub for community focused cybersecurity initiatives. Discover how the Cyber Clinic partners with K-12 institutions, underserved municipalities, nonprofits, and small businesses to strengthen digital safety through:
Jan 27, 2026 09:30 AM Jan 2026 Mayor's International Relations Committee Meeting ('Diversity', 'global', 'governance', 'culture', 'key', 'education') Coordinate the Sister Cities Program; support international affairs in the city; provide a welcoming and supportive climate for international residents
Jan 23, 2026 07:00 PM Poetry Night ('griot', 'Culture', 'diversity') Join us for a night in community celebrating poetry!
Jan 22, 2026 06:00 PM Ramsey County Attorney Office Townhall ('openbeam', 'governance', 'civic engagement') Asian Media Access is working with our communities to host a webinar as a follow-up event from the AAUC successful Town Hall meeting, that laid our communities' stories so well.
Jan 22, 2026 06:30 PM Panel Discussion - "IBM Rochester not only changed the city but the world" ('Education',) The panel discussion, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, will feature five current and retired IBM employees talking about everything from gaming and supercomputers to quantum computing, and disks
Jan 21, 2026 10:00 AM Rochester Area Foundation - Scholarship Information ('networking', 'civic engagement') Volunteers Needed - Rochester Area Foundation Scholarship Committee
Jan 20, 2026 12:00 PM Caregiver and Parent Empowerment ('rps', 'Education') Come together with other community members online to learn about middle school academics, social growth, and relationships while supporting students as they transition to high school and graduation.
Jan 19, 2026 08:15 AM 2026 We Have a Dream Celebration ('NAACP',) Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - We Have a Dream Celebration is an annual community event held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to commemorate the life and work of Dr. King. The morning portion of the program hosted by NAACP Rochester Branch MN in partnership with Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce will take place at the Mayo Civic Center.
Jan 17, 2026 02:00 PM Dreaming Otherwise ('griot',) Join us for a free, community-centered workshop rooted in writer Nicole “Cole” Nfonoyim-Hara’s own creative process and her current work on a speculative fiction novel reimagining ancestral pasts and legacies.
Jan 15, 2026 11:00 AM RAVA Feb 15, 2024 Meeting ('community engagement',) Join us! This is an informal opportunity to network with other professionals working in the field of volunteerism. Happy Hour specials are available for individual purchase.
Jan 14, 2026 12:00 PM Equity Alliance Equity Series Rochester Cultural Center ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement', 'Education') The Rochester Cultural Center is a premier adult daycare facility dedicated to serving the diverse needs of our community. Our mission is to provide a safe and stimulating social environment that fosters a sense of belonging and prolongs the lives of our clients. By offering a wide range of activities and programs, we aim to promote physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being among our participants.
Jan 14, 2026 10:00 AM Rochester Area Housing Alliance Jan 2026 ('RAF', 'Housing', 'housing', 'key') Topics include: 2025 End of Year Real Estate Stats Review; Olmsted County and Rochester Highlights; Coalition 2025 Investments & Impact
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October 2021 Activities

FORUM  WITH INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DR. KENT PEKEL- October 21, 6:30 to 8:00:

In the City for Good will be presenting an online forum to give all in the community an opportuniy to hear from Rochester Public Schools Interim Superintendent Kent Pekel. Dr. Pekel will give an overview of his time so far in the district, along with more information on the strategic plan he will be proposing. Interested Rochester residents may submit questions ahead of time or during the meeting to be used in a Q&A time period after his primary presentation. The October 21 forum will be from 6:30 to 8.

 

Steering Committee- Tuesday, October 5, 4:00 p.m.

Topic: In the City for Good Steering Committee

Time: Oct 5, 2021 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

 Join Zoom Meeting

Contact [email protected] for Zoom info. 

 

Housing Team- Monday, October 11 7:00 p.m.

Our next In the City for Good Housing Team meeting will be on October 11 at 7 pm. We will be discussing the proposed Unified Development Code with Ryan Yetzer, Interim Deputy Director, Community Development for the City of Rochester leading the discussion along with others in the Community Development area. We will especially focus on what some of the proposed changes could mean related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and the role of ADUs in addressing the concerns around the affordability of workforce and senior housing. This will be an online meeting, with the link to be sent out later this week.

 

Age-Friendly- Oct 12th and 26th 2:30 to 4:00

Meeting Information:

Age-Friendly Olmsted County Planning Group

Tues. Oct 12 and 26

2:30pm - 4pm

 

Contact [email protected] for Zoom info

 

Social Services/Social Justice- Watch for info of upcoming November meeting

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Purpose of the site
A sub-site of Community Beam, the City4Good website is being prototyped by openBEAM.net  to help the "In the City For Good initiative" to better collaborate.
Community Status/News

This panel displays the latest community news. For a standalone view please click this LINK.



Collider Foundation Updates

Jan 2026 Newsletter: Notes from the Executive Director; Thanks to Our Supporters; Our events; What's New

Last Updated January 18, 2026



Lifestyle Wellness

2026 Healthy Brain Community Workshops: strengthen memory and cognitive health

March 2020: Rochester Mayor Proclamation  

Last Updated January 18, 2026



Restorative Justice Circle Collaboration with RPS

RPS Family Engagement Jan 2026 Intro

Gemini Perspectives of PB Op Ed

2025 Restorative Justice Circle Training; RPS Collaboration to improve school attendance

2024 Project Legacy Collaboration

 References: About Restorative Justices; 

Last Updated January 17, 2026



Chateau Theatre Upkeep

Jan 2026 City Council Study Session

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting

Feb 2025 DMCC Board and  City Council Proceedings

References: AI summary of PB Reporting  

Last Updated January 13, 2026



Public Transit Sustainability

Jan 2026 City Council Study Session

Rochester Public Transit (RPT) is currently operating under financial conditions that are not sustainable over the long term.

Last Updated January 13, 2026



Community Education Connector Wanted

Connector Description and Application:

A stipend of $2,000 is available to individuals (age 17+) or organizations who are selected
Last Updated January 13, 2026



Rochester Cultural Center Grand Opening

Announcement

Grand Opening Flyer

Photos

 

Last Updated January 10, 2026



Del Webb Senior Housing

Jan 5, 2025 City Council Meeting: Request for Actions: Adopting a Resolution approving Major Land Subdivision No. CD2025-042PLAT, by Pulte Homes of Minnesota LLC, to subdivide approximately 141 acres into 300 residential lots and six outlots.

AI Summary 

Last Updated January 07, 2026



1Q 2026 Announcements

Jan 5, 2026: Resolution: Reaffirming Rochester’s Support for its Somali Community and Commitment to Inclusion.

2026 Summer Paid Internship Positions: City Clerk, community Development, Communications & Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Legislative Affairs, Library Communications, Office of the Mayor, Parks & Recreation , Public Music, Rochester Public Utilities Safety, and Transit & Parking.

 

 

Last Updated January 05, 2026



Loom Apartments (Onward)

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting: Request for Extension Authorize an extension of the $4 million GSIA allocation to this project until August 15, 2026.

May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated December 20, 2025



Civic Center North (Sherman)

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Request 

 May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated December 19, 2025



2026 County Property Tax

Press Release: Olmsted County’s 2026 budget was approved by the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners on December 16, 2025.

Olmsted County Truth in Taxation Info

Last Updated December 17, 2025



DMC Home Innovation Lab - Aging in Place

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting: The Home Innovation Lab will combine research, technology, and design to create and evaluate “tech-enabled age-in-place” living environments that improve health, comfort, and independence for older adults.

Apr 2025 DMC Real Estate Summit: Aging in place talk

Last Updated December 15, 2025



Discovery Square Biolbab In Rochester

December 2025 DMCC Board Meeting:

  • Request for Action Memo
  • Business Development Quarterly Review about Biolabs

Last Updated December 14, 2025



10 Year Housing Units

2025 Downtown and All Housing Units

Last Updated December 13, 2025



Riverfront Small Area Plan

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Report

November 2023 DMCC Board:

  • Presentation Slides
  • Video Clips

 

May 19, 2023 Report to DMC

Nov 20 City of Rochester Study Session

Last Updated December 11, 2025



UMR Expansion Plan

2025-12-10 Talent as infrastructure presentation to DMC 

PB ePaper Reporting: 2 new campus buildings are planned to accommodate student growth

AI Summary of PB Reporting

Last Updated December 11, 2025



DMC 2025 5 Year Plan Update

DMC 2025 5 Year Plan Draft Dec 15, 2025 DMC Board Meeting

  • Request for Action; Video Recording; Presentation
  • 2025 5-year plan draft

References: City Council Study Session Materials

Last Updated December 11, 2025



Downtown Historic District Investment

 DMCC Board Meeting Dec 10, 2025

  • Request Memo
  • Video Recording
  • Presentation 

Last Updated December 11, 2025



DMC Equitable Economic Development

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Report

May 2025 DMC Board Meeting Report

Feb 2025 DMC Board Meeting Report: Community Co-design, Equity Alliance Topics, Community Connection & Capacity Building, Pitch Event, Targeted Business Metrics, Affordable Housing

Last Updated December 10, 2025