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All Civic Engagements

Skill building to inspire and grow deep listening to learn and enhance understanding of different viewpoints

 

The following are Upcoming and Past Beam-Aware Civic Engagements

 

 

 

 


 

Title Start Date Description Tags
NCRC - Faith & Community Expos Oct 29, 2026 02:00 PM Join us on Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Rochester International Event Center for an afternoon of connection, collaboration, and community impact. ('civic engagement',)
Finding Community in Our Differences - Rochester Oct 13, 2026 06:30 PM In a time of deep ideological and political divides, building community across differences is challenging. In this 90-minute interactive Braver Angels session, participants will explore the sources of today's polarization and learn skills for respectful dialogue and finding common ground. ('community engagement', 'civic engagement')
Depolarizing Ourselves Oct 13, 2026 03:30 PM Polarization is fueled by how we talk about those on the other side of an issue. Too often, we ridicule, dismiss, or stereotype our fellow citizens. When Braver Angels addresses “polarization,” we are not referring to healthy disagreements over issues or philosophy. We are addressing how we regard and talk about large groups of people -- people who happen to be on the other side of the political aisle. ('community engagement', 'civic engagement')
Skills for Disagreeing Better - Rochester Oct 13, 2026 01:00 PM In this polarized time, we lack basic understanding of why people on the other political side hold their beliefs. We don’t see them as they see themselves–their core values and central concerns–but instead as we choose to see them. We are tempted to regard our own side as principled and the other side as self-interested. ('community engagement', 'civic engagement')
Managing Difficult Conversations with Constituents - Rochester (For Elected Officials and Admin Staff) Oct 13, 2026 09:00 AM A Braver Politics workshop that lowers the stress of difficult conversations with constituents across divides and helps you find common ground. (For elected officials and administrative staff in Olmsted and surrounding counties) ('community engagement', 'civic engagement')
AARP Election 2026 - What Voters Need to Know Oct 07, 2026 11:30 AM AARP and the League of Women Voters of Rochester have teamed-up to provide you information about two timely topics: the issues at stake in the upcoming midterm elections, and staying safe from the scourge of consumer fraud targeting Americans every day. ('civic engagement',)
Table Talk Oct 02, 2026 03:00 PM The Power & Participation Initiative: Community Conversations, Power & Participation Survey, Community Voices & Speakers, Civic Engagement & Next Steps ('civic engagement',)
25 Years After 9/11: Documentary Screening and Community Engagement Discussion Sep 10, 2026 07:00 PM The City of Rochester Mayor’s Office will host a screening of 9/11: Reclaiming Ground Zero – Why Community Engagement Matters ('civic engagement',)
International Relations Committee RochesterFest Parade Jun 27, 2026 01:15 PM ONE NATION MANY STORIES ('community engagement', 'civic engagement')
Jun 2026 Coming to the Table Jun 10, 2026 05:30 PM The topic for June's Coming to the Table will be belonging — what does it mean? How do we create it our community? ('diversity', 'civic engagement')
Braver Angels Minnesota: Common Ground Workshop Jun 06, 2026 01:00 PM The workshop aims to produce a document called Points of Agreement that outlines shared values, concerns, and potential policy ideas ('community engagement', 'civic engagement')
Citizens Commission on Immigration Ambassadors Immigration Discussion Mar 02, 2026 07:00 PM Reflect on how immigration connects to our own family and community stories; Examine the Constitution’s framework for the roles of Congress, the executive branch, and the courts; Connect to real-world experiences in Minnesota ('networking', 'diversity', 'civic engagement')
"Let's Talk Community" Lunch and Learn Series Jan 27, 2026 12:00 PM 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: ('Education', 'civic engagement')
Ramsey County Attorney Office Townhall Jan 22, 2026 06:00 PM 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. ('openbeam', 'governance', 'civic engagement')
Rochester Area Foundation - Scholarship Information Jan 21, 2026 10:00 AM Volunteers Needed - Rochester Area Foundation Scholarship Committee ('networking', 'civic engagement')
December 2025 Coming to the Table Dec 10, 2025 05:30 PM Coming to the Table's mission is "working together to create a just and truthful society that acknowledges and seeks to heal from the racial wounds of the past from slavery to the many forms of racism it spawned." Coming to the Table supports 50+local affiliate groups across eighteen states, including Rochester, MN. ('networking', 'diversity', 'civic engagement')
Coming to the Table 2025 National Gathering Jun 12, 2025 08:00 AM ('compassion', 'Diversity', 'civic engagement')
507 Experience Day May 07, 2025 08:00 AM Intentional Conversations that enhance relationships ('compassion', 'civic engagement')
Re-launch Coming to the Table Apr 28, 2025 05:30 PM Coming to the Table's mission is "working together to create a just and truthful society that acknowledges and seeks to heal from the racial wounds of the past from slavery to the many forms of racism it spawned." Coming to the Table supports 50+local affiliate groups across eighteen states, including Rochester, MN. ('networking', 'diversity', 'civic engagement')
Mental Health 101 Free Workshop Apr 17, 2025 06:00 PM Class Description: Learn about mental wellness, mental illnesses, diagnostic assessments and treatment plans. This one and a half to two-hour workshop is presented in English and is designed for African-American, Somali and Latinx communities interested in learning more about mental health. ('mental health', 'community engagement', 'governance', 'civic equity', 'civic engagement')
Document Actions

Two types of event information being shared in the following:

1. A list of Beam aware upcoming community events of all types. 

2. A list of noteworthy past events that have one or more of the following contents: presentation slides, video recordings as well as takeaways. 

Upcoming Events
Oct 2026 RPS Family Engagement Oct 06, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM — Virtual
2026 Rochester General Election City Council and Mayor Candidate Forum Oct 06, 2026 06:30 PM - 09:00 PM — Christ United Methodist Church
AARP Election 2026 - What Voters Need to Know Oct 07, 2026 11:30 AM - 01:30 PM — Cascade Meadows Wetlands & Environmental Science Center, 2900 19th Street Northwest, Rochester, MN, 55901
Managing Difficult Conversations with Constituents - Rochester (For Elected Officials and Admin Staff) Oct 13, 2026 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM — Rochester Public Utilities 4000 East River Road Northeast, #2813
Skills for Disagreeing Better - Rochester Oct 13, 2026 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM — RCTC Heintz Center, 1926 Collegeview Road East, Rochester, MN 55904
All Things SBDC - 2026 Oct 13, 2026 02:00 PM - 02:45 PM — Virtual
Depolarizing Ourselves Oct 13, 2026 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM — RCTC Heintz Center, 1926 Collegeview Road East, Rochester, MN 55904
Congressional Debate Oct 13, 2026 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM — KAAL Digital Platforms
Finding Community in Our Differences - Rochester Oct 13, 2026 06:30 PM - 08:00 PM — RCTC Heintz Center, 1926 Collegeview Road East, Rochester, MN 55904
Work Smarter with AI Oct 14, 2026 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM — Virtual
Upcoming events…
Community News

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



Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations

  • 2027 Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations; Video Recording, Presentation 
  • 2026 Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations; Video Recording, Presentation 

Last Updated September 20, 2026



Sherman Mixed Housing Mayo Civic Center Parking Lot

Sep 18, 2026: Ground Breaking

July 6, 2026: City Council Meeting - Extension of agreement

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

June 3, 2024 City Council Meeting 

Council action is requested to continue development negotiations with Sherman Associates and conditionally approve development assistance of up to $13,000,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance and up to $3,000,000 in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid.  

Last Updated September 18, 2026



Momentum 30

Four pillars to drive Momentum 30

Case for Investment

Last Updated September 17, 2026



2027 Olmsted County Tax Levy

Sep 16, 2026 Press Release: Preliminary 2027 Olmsted County levy: $151,350,166, Preliminary 2027 Olmsted County billed levy: $149,769,949 (amount to be billed to taxpayers due to 2026 levy overpayment being applied to 2027).

Last Updated September 16, 2026



Braver Angels News

  • 2026 - Oct events: Sep 2026 Newsletter; Aug 2026 Newsletter, Mar 6 Volunteer Opportunities, Feb Citizens Commission on Immigration Outreach
  • 2025, 24 - Mar 2025 Newsletters: End birthright citizenship? Apr 2024 Braver Angels Newsletter: 2024 National Convention; National Debate: Should we be colorblind?

 

Last Updated September 16, 2026



RPS Family Engagement Opportunities

Sep 2026: Care Giver & Parent Empowerment (CAPE); Supporting Youth: Mental Health  

Apr 2026 Family Engagement Policy Meetings

Jan 2026 Announcements: Family Engagement, Caregiver and Parent Empowerment 

Last Updated September 11, 2026



Reimagining 6th Ave West - Project Update

Sep 9, 2026 City Council Update

Mar 2 2025 City Council: Memo, Video, Presentation

Sep 2025 Press Release: City of Rochester Launches “Reimagining Sixth Avenue W” to Reconnect Downtown Mobility Network

Last Updated September 10, 2026



CHATEAU THEATRE OPERATING ANALYSIS UPDATE

Sep 9, 2026 City Council Action Chateau Strategy

Aug 10, 2026 City Council Study Session  Council to review planning-level capital investment needs identified through both the City’s facility assessment and the Legends Global operating analysis.

Last Updated September 08, 2026



Director of Equity & Organizational Development Introduction

 Sep 2026: Introducing Crystal Fairchild, Director of Equity & Organizational Development

 

Last Updated September 06, 2026



6th Street Bridge RAISE grant

Aug 2026: Revised to "Up to $19.9 million from USDOT." 

Aug 2022: The City of Rochester has been awarded a $19.9 million dollar United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant.

Last Updated August 24, 2026



Rochester Public Transit

Aug 23, 2026 City Council Study Session: Transit Financial Sustainability - Rochester Public Transit (RPT) is currently operating under financial conditions that are not sustainable over the long term.

Last Updated August 24, 2026



Rochester, MN Supplemental Budget

2026 Aug 23 City Council Study Session, Apr 13 City Council Study Session on 2027 Supplemental Budget

2022-08-22 City Council Study Session on 2023 Supplemental Budget

Last Updated August 23, 2026



Economic Vibrancy & Growth Management

Aug 24, 2026 City Council Study Session: Economic Mobility Updates

Sep 2024 City Council Study Session: City teammates providing an update on this work, specifically regarding legacy public infrastructure projects, Unbound, infrastructure investments and regulatory milestones.  

Last Updated August 23, 2026



OpenBeam events log

Sep 2026: Metrics LINKS

Aug 2026: Tech related info

Aug 2026 Notable Beam Events Log: Topics Include: Q2 Real Estate Stats; Workforce Housing & Regional Workforce Trends; Building Trust in an Age of Skepticism; Land Use Revenue Analysis; Tax Increment Financial Studies

Last Updated August 21, 2026



Broadway 309-317 Appeal of Certificate for Appropriateness

Aug 17, 2026 City Council Meeting: In a 4-3 vote, the Rochester City Council overturned a decision by the Heritage Preservation Commission to reject a redevelopment proposal for five historic buildings on the 300 block of South Broadway Avenue.

Aug, 2026  PB reporting

Last Updated August 20, 2026



Transportation: ROCOG Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

2027-2030: Transportation Improvement Plan, Press Release

2024 - 2027 Transportation Plan 

2023 - 2026 Transportation Plan: The Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG) has released a draft of the 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), for a 30-day public comment period. 

Last Updated August 18, 2026



National Community Survey

2026 City Survey: Open to residents responses

2024 and 2022 NCS Surveys: Presentation/Reports

2018 City Survey.: June 2018 Resident Survey Summary

Last Updated August 17, 2026



SBDC Rochester, Spring 2025

Sep 2026: Small Business Support Series

SBDC Apr 2025 Business Workshops...SBDC Day and workshop opportunities: "If you have an upcoming business event or celebration, please let us know! We would love to stop by for a RIBBON CUTIING for any of your business." milestones:

 

Last Updated August 14, 2026



Homelessness Dashboard, Street Medicine, The TABLE and Any Path Home Info

Aug 14, 2026:Homeless Info: Any Path Home Dashboard; Mayo Clinic Street Medicine

Mar 2026 Rochester Area Housing Alliance: Any Path Home and The TABLE

 

Last Updated August 14, 2026



Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Barriers Study

Aug 10, City Council Study Session: Equitable Economic Development

Apr 2025 City Council Study Session:  (1) DBE Study Session to City Council April 17, 2023 , (2) Memo to DMCC Board; 

Last Updated August 13, 2026