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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Jan 11, 2023 10:00 AM January 11, 2023 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance (By Invitation) ('RAF', 'Housing', 'housing') Topics Include: Race & Racism as a Public Health Issue; BIPOC Home Ownership Report; Area Housing Report; Member Updates
Jan 10, 2023 10:00 AM RPS: January 2023 Monthly District Family Engagement Meeting ('rps', 'education', 'diversity', 'youth', 'openbeam', 'Education', 'cmrc') Topics: Family Engagement Success Sharing; Perspectives on RPS Family Engagement from a Latinx Parent; ACHLA and Family Engagement Minnesota Family Engagement Model
Jan 07, 2023 09:00 AM Global Market (Cooking Class, Small Business Training, Food & Deserts) ('food', 'Diversity', 'openbeam', 'Entrepreneurship') Rochester's cultural communities hosting family friendly winter activities. Come to experience authentic flavors and vibrant traditions.
Jan 07, 2023 10:00 AM Culturally Responsive Business Startup Workshop ('Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Funding Your Business - Loans and Grants
Jan 07, 2023 08:00 AM How to be an Effective Board Member ('npc', 'governance') This training is designed to be an introduction to Board service for those joining a new board or those considering doing so. It is also a perfect refresher course for current nonprofit Board members.
Jan 06, 2023 12:00 PM MLK Jr Youth Poetry Contest Submission Deadline ('youth', 'Education', 'Diversity', 'Diversity Council') Each year Diversity Council hosts the MLK Youth Poetry Contest in southeastern Minnesota. Students from all over the region are invited to submit poems celebrating Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. This is the 14th year of Diversity Council's poetry contest, and the theme for this year’s contest is Dr. King’s quote: “People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”
Dec 21, 2022 08:30 AM Salvation Army Volunteers 2022 Toy & Joy Shop ('youth', 'community engagement') As you know, The Salvation Army is best known this time of year for ringing bells at the Red Kettles, but we have another very important program that runs this time of year. We call it our Toy and Joy Shop.
Dec 15, 2022 04:30 PM CMRC December 2022 Meeting ('diversity', 'Diversity Council', 'CMRC', 'openbeam', 'Diversity', 'cmrc') Topics include: RPS Family Engagement; Olmsted County: Statewide Health Improvement Partnership and DEI Community Corrections Services
Dec 14, 2022 10:00 AM December 14, 2022 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance ('RAF', 'Housing', 'housing') Topics Include: Community and Member Updates; Future Role of Alliance-Continued
Dec 13, 2022 05:30 PM 2022 Luther College Rochester Semester Seminar Project Presentations ('diversity', 'openbeam', 'community') Luther College Students: We are preparing our final presentations in which we will share our ideas about how to create a more equitable city in Rochester.
Dec 13, 2022 10:00 AM RPS: December 2022 Monthly District Family Engagement Meeting ('rps', 'education', 'diversity', 'youth', 'openbeam', 'Education', 'cmrc') Topics include: Introduction to Beam
Dec 10, 2022 08:00 AM Christmas Anonymous – Rochester MN 2022 () Helping families in need via our ‘store’ where parents can shop without paying for new and gently-used toys; teen gifts; boys and girls new clothing; new hats, gloves, and knitwear; and new or used shoes, boots, and skates.
Dec 09, 2022 11:00 AM Community Vaccination Clinic ('diversity', 'Health', 'covid') Get vaccinated and receive $50 for 1st, 2nd dose AND ALSO FOR BOOSTER DOSE!
Dec 09, 2022 10:00 AM December 2022 Rochester Area Foundation: Winter DEI Practitioner Convening and Luncheon (By Invitation) ('RAF', 'Diversity', 'openbeam') RAF’s DEI Committee has committed to supporting area DEI practitioners by providing space where relationships can be strengthened, wisdom can be shared, opportunities to collaborate and maximize limited resources can be identified, and current and new DEI efforts can be built, improved, and promoted.
Dec 08, 2022 02:30 PM Discover Discovery Square ('EDA', 'community engagement', 'openbeam') You are cordially invited to Discover Discovery Square – an event to celebrate the completion of phase 1 of the next signature public space in the DMC District, Discovery Walk, and to recognize the continued progress in the Discovery Square subdistrict.
Dec 08, 2022 07:30 AM 4Q 2022 December HAPP Meeting ('CHNA', 'community', 'CHAP', 'Health', 'openbeam') Quarterly Olmsted County Health Asessment & Planning Meeting. The purpose of the health assessment and planning partnership is to engage and inspire all sectors of the community to continually improve our community’s health through assessment, planning, and implementation efforts.
Dec 07, 2022 04:30 PM Human Library Team Celebration (Members Only) ('Diversity', 'openbeam', 'Human Library') Diversity Council Human Library Books Get Together.
Dec 03, 2022 12:00 PM Covid-19 VAX at Winter Market ('diversity', 'Health', 'covid') Get vaccinated and receive $50 for 1st, 2nd dose AND ALSO FOR BOOSTER DOSE!
Dec 03, 2022 09:00 AM Global Market (Cooking Class, Small Business Training, Food & Deserts) ('food', 'Diversity', 'openbeam', 'Entrepreneurship') Rochester's cultural communities hosting family friendly winter activities. Come to experience authentic flavors and vibrant traditions.
Dec 03, 2022 04:00 PM YourClassical MPR and Rochester Civic Music: Bring the SING ('operations', 'Diversity Council') YourClassical MPR's fun, free event Bring the Sing is returning to Rochester! Minnesota Public Radio, Rochester Civic Music, Rochester Downtown Alliance and Threshold Arts are partnering to invite everyone in Rochester and Southeast Minnesota to join in YourClassical MPR’s Bring the Sing at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in the Peace Plaza. Join with friends, family and neighbors in singing along with local musicians LaSonya Natividad, Dianna Parks, Mitch Stevenson, Eric Straubmuller and Chris Wessel in a mass rendition of many festive, well-known winter and holiday favorites.
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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.



City of Rochester 2026-2027 Budget Planning

Sep 3, 2025 Study Session;  Aug 25, 2025 Study Session; Press Release; 

June 23, 2025 Study Session: 2026 Capital Improvement Plan & Outside Agency Funding Budget Update

May 27, 2025 City Council Study Session ; Apr 28, 2025 City Council Study Session Materials

Press Release: The City of Rochester is beginning its 2026-2027 budget process and invites residents to learn more about the factors shaping the City’s financial outlook.

Last Updated September 01, 2025



2024-2025 RPS Data Analysis

2024-25 Fastbridge Data Analysis and Literacy Plan Update

PB reporting on MCA

Last Updated August 30, 2025



RPS 2025 Strategic Planning Updaters

Superintendent Goals

Strategic Planning Updaters

"Rochester Public Schools kicks off rebranding effort to gain an edge in a ‘competitive environment”

Last Updated August 30, 2025



SBDC Training Fall 2025

SBDC Admin Message

More About SBDC

Trainings: How to start a business, Financial Planning, Marketing

Last Updated August 29, 2025



2025 Maxfield Report and 2024 Housing Coalition Investments

2025 Maxfield Report and Reporting

May 2025 Reporting on 2024 Investments:

$8,491,000 supporting 11 projects totaling over $77M

Last Updated August 20, 2025



Democracy Innovation Engagement Study

Aug 18, 2025 City Council Meeting Passed Resolution: Improve civic engagement and recognize the National Civic League's "Better Public Meetings" project as a valuable opportunity for the community to explore a diverse set of ways to connect with residents.  

Last Updated August 19, 2025



Aug 18, 2025 City Council Study Session and Council Meeting Topics

2040 City Action Plan

DMC Plan 5 Year Plan Update

Democracy Innovation 

Last Updated August 18, 2025



PS2 Comprehensive Plan - Five-Year Update

Aug 2025 P2S Public Review

Apr 14, 2025 City Council Study Session: PS2 Comprehensive Plan - Five-Year Update

Last Updated August 18, 2025



Rochester Mayor Communications

Aug 2025 Videos; Apr 2025 Mayor's YouTube Rochester Voices Channel ;  Mar 2025: City of Rochester Mayor Kim Norton to attend the National League of Cities (NLC) 2025 Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C. from March 8-12, 2025.; City of Rochester Mayor Kim Norton to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) 93rd Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Last Updated August 08, 2025



LINK - Bus Rapid Transit New Budget Increase

DMCC Special Board Meeting July 22, 2025 Approving Budget Increase

City Council July 20, 2025 New Budget Increase: A nearly $73.2 million contract for construction of key elements of Rochester’s Link Bus Rapid Transit project is spurring a call for added transit aid.

2025-08-08 Updated to include PB articles

Last Updated August 08, 2025



2025 Race to Lead Survey

Building Movement 2025 Race to Lead Survey Announcement:

This survey is intended for individuals who currently work for pay at nonprofit organizations based in the U.S. or U.S. territories. Those in unpaid, volunteer or advisory roles will not meet eligibility. 

Last Updated August 06, 2025



2024-25 RPS Positive Behavior Data Review

July 15, 2025 RPS Board Updates

AI Summary of data

PB Editorial

Last Updated August 02, 2025



Graham Park Exhibition Center Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking Construction began Wednesday on a $48.7 million project at Graham Park, Rochester. The centerpiece is an 80,000-square-foot exhibition center with a performance arena seating 1,500 people.

Last Updated August 01, 2025



Rochester Sports and Recreation Complex

July 28, 2025 City Council Study Session 

Sample of community feedbacks on Facebook

Last Updated July 26, 2025



RPS 5 Year Budget Reduction Strategy

RPS Board Presentation July 15, 2025 

AI generated summary of budget reduction strategy 

Last Updated July 16, 2025



Future Development of Graham Park

OLMSTED COUNTY Commissioners to review exhibition center construction contracts

PB Editorial - Need to include Seneca Site and County/City planning together

PB Reporting on background of the project including engaging local governments 

 

Last Updated July 15, 2025



Mayflower mixed housing project

Mayflower mixed housing project summary 

North side of Second Street Southwest across the street from Ronald McDonald House.

Last Updated July 12, 2025



Life Style Medicine Podcasts

Energy Medicine

Rochester Clinic featured on The Exam Room podcast by Chuck Carroll alongside Rochester's Mayor Kim Norton.

 

Last Updated July 05, 2025



DMC 2015-2025 Review and Next 10 Years

DMC’s next decade will focus on deepening its impact—through infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and community engagement—while continuing to support Rochester’s evolution into a vibrant, health-focused destination.

Last Updated July 01, 2025



Mayo Clinic Platform 2025 Conference

June 3–4 in Minneapolis, PlatforMed 2025 Proceedings

Featuring: leaders from Google, Thrive Global, Mount Sinai, Nvidia, and the Gates Foundation. 

Last Updated June 27, 2025