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Key DEI Events

 

This is a collection of what is deemed to be events having impacts on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  

 

See the Diversity Beam for notable DEI projects. 

 

Start Date Title Description Tags
Apr 25, 2026 10:00 AM 2026 Cambodian New Year Celebration On behalf of the Board of Directors of The Buddhist Society, Inc., Watt Dhamma Visudhi Karam, it is our great honor to respectfully invite Your Excellency to attend our Cambodian New Year Celebration. ('Culture', 'diversity')
Mar 13, 2026 06:30 PM Sketches Minnesota by HMC/Danger Boat Productions Sketches of Minnesota is a traveling program designed to increase understanding and encourage conversations among people who might not know each other ('diversity', 'education', 'art')
Mar 13, 2026 04:30 PM RALC Mural Night Through a partnership with the University of Minnesota, we are excited to host Artist Mindset Week (March 9-March 13) at the Rochester ALC! Ten professional artists will be traveling in from all over Minnesota ('mental health', 'art', 'UMR', 'key', 'Education')
Mar 12, 2026 07:30 AM 1Q 2026 County Health Assessment and Planning Partnership (HAPP) 2024 -2026 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Updates Derrick Fritz, CHAP Coordinator3. Mental Health Clubhouse Model Laura Sutherland, SE MN Adult Mental Health Initiative and Michelle Cross, Community Member4. Overdose Spike Response Team Abby Tricker, OCPHS5. Core Agency Updates CHAP Core Group6. Community Announcements and Sharing ('CHNA', 'Health', 'key')
Mar 11, 2026 10:00 AM Rochester Area Housing Alliance March 2026 Legislative Update – Minnesota Housing Partnership; TABLE Initiative Overview ('RAF', 'Housing', 'housing', 'key')
Mar 10, 2026 10:00 AM Mar 2026 RPS Family Engagement Our March meeting will focus on RPS Student and Family Wellbeing, with a presentation by Koni Grimsrud, RPS Director of Student Wellbeing, and Sarah Clarke, RPS Coordinator of Mental Health. They will share an overview of the programs, staff positions, initiatives, and resources currently supporting RPS students and families. We will also include brief highlights from RPS Family Engagement and share relevant announcements. ('RPS', 'education', 'diversity', 'key', 'Education')
Mar 03, 2026 06:00 PM Town Hall: Using Advanced Technology in Policing Mayor Norton Partners with Rochester Police Department to Host Town Hall on Advanced Policing Technology ('public safety', 'key', 'governance')
Mar 02, 2026 07:00 PM Citizens Commission on Immigration Ambassadors Immigration Discussion 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')
Feb 28, 2026 12:00 PM Black Excellence Expo For the Rochester Branch of the NAACP, achieving economic stability is a strategic priority. Initiatives like the Black Excellence Expo directly support this goal by uplifting local entrepreneurs, expanding opportunity, and strengthening our regional economy. ('diversity', 'education', 'NAACP', 'Entrepreneurship')
Feb 21, 2026 05:30 PM Ebony Night 2026: Once Upon A Night | Rochester Branch of the NAACP presents UMR Black Student Union The third event in the Black History Month Series, Ebony Night, is an all-student-led production by the University of Minnesota Rochester’s Black Student Union. ('NAACP', 'Diversity', 'UMR')
Feb 21, 2026 10:00 AM Homeownership and Wealth Building Workshop This workshop equips community members with practical tools and knowledge to pursue homeownership and build generational wealth. ('NAACP', 'housing', 'Diversity')
Feb 17, 2026 04:30 PM Ready to Lead 2026 Spring Cohort Ready to Lead brings together a small group of people to teach the basics of how to participate in and lead meetings ('diversity', 'Civic Equity', 'leadership', 'networking', 'community engagement')
Feb 15, 2026 02:30 PM Chinese New Year Celebration Gala 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. ('diversity', 'culture', 'Diversity', 'key')
Feb 11, 2026 12:00 PM When Calendars Reflect Community Faith, Equity, and Public Education Are you seeking to enhance engagement in your school or organization? Discover how Hopkins Public Schools broke down barriers to full participation by creating and adopting an equitable calendar. ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement', 'Education')
Feb 11, 2026 10:00 AM Rochester Area Housing Alliance Feb 2026 Topics include: Natural Gas Franchise Fee --The City of Rochester is looking at whether to create a natural gas franchise fee. This fee could help fund programs that support the community and help the City make smart, long-term investments. ('RAF', 'Housing', 'housing', 'key')
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
Lotus Health Foundations at Kiwanis Day Maker Mar 17, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM — Charlie's Eatery and Pub, Hillcrest Shopping Center
Music Therapy and Cognitive Vitality: The Role of Music in Brain Health Mar 23, 2026 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM — 125 Live
Community Listening Session on Mental Health Clubhouse Mar 25, 2026 12:25 PM - 03:00 PM — Rochester Public Library
Candidate Training Program Session 2 by Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce Mar 28, 2026 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM — Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce [220 Broadway Ave S. Suite 100 Rochester, MN 55904]
Lifestyle Medicine Community of Wellness Symposium & Gala 2026 Apr 09, 2026 - Apr 10, 2026 — Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Drive SE, Rochester, MN 55904
RAVA 2026 Annual Spring Volunteer Fair Apr 15, 2026 09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2026 Cambodian New Year Celebration Apr 25, 2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM — 4462 29th ST SE | Rochester, MN 55904
Rochester's Sister City - German Trip Jun 12, 2026 - Jun 22, 2026
Upcoming events…
Community News

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



Record Mayo Clinic DMC investment seen as other private development drops

 Annual Report to DEED Prep 

  • Mar 2026 DMCC Exec Committee Meeting - Video Recording, PB Reporting - Private Investment Status
  • Mar 2025: DMCC Exec Committee Briefing " Overall private investment related to the Destination Medical Center initiative bounced back in 2024, but non-Mayo Clinic development continued to decline in the DMC district for the sixth year."

Last Updated March 15, 2026



Rochester Learning Center Mural Night

UMR and ALC Collaboration Research Study Introduction

The Artist Mindset Research Study

 

Last Updated March 14, 2026



City SUPPORTING TRANSFORMATION - BOLD. Forward. Unbound.

City Council Study Session:

Mar 2026 Video Recording, Presentation

Feb 2025 Video Recording Link, Presentation, Collaboration Commitment

Last Updated March 10, 2026



America's City for Heath and Older Adults Needs

Mar 2026: Tech Enabled Aging In Place Talks Postings

Oct 2025 AI Summary of Dave Beal's PB Op Ed: "Include older adults in Rochester's Plans"

Last Updated March 09, 2026



Braver Angels News

Listen to (and learn from) the other side

  • 2026 - 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 March 06, 2026



2025-26 RPS Superintendent Goals Check

Feb 3 2026 Midyear Review: 

  • Video Clip
  • Talking Points 

Last Updated March 04, 2026



Development Assistance Agreement Relating to the Citywalk Apartments for Tax Increment Financing

Mar 2, 2026: Rochester Economic Development Authority 

Approving and Authorizing the Execution of Development Assistance Agreement (Citywalk Project)

Last Updated March 03, 2026



Downtown Mobility Network

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 March 03, 2026



RPS 2030 Strategic Plan Design

Mar 3, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: Background Memo, Video Clip, Presentation 

Last Updated March 03, 2026



Public Office Candidate Trainings

Two sets of candidates training programs: 

1. Ready to Run: Community Partners Training: March 11, March 25, April 1

2. Chamber of Commerce Sponsored Training: March 7, March 28 

Last Updated February 28, 2026



City Council and Mayor-Better Public Hearing Meeting

Feb 9, 2026 Study Session: Report, Video, Presentation

Summarizing interviews, survey responses, scorecard and public forum 

Last Updated February 27, 2026



Hope at Home

Nearly $60,000 has been distributed to help prevent evictions

The Hope at Home Fund, created by Family Promise Rochester

Last Updated February 26, 2026



2026 and 2025 Action Plan Updates

Feb 2026 Action Plan Update

Jan 2025 City of Rochester’s Action Plan, first implemented in 2021, serves as our roadmap for success. It outlines current initiatives aimed at advancing City Council's Strategic Priorities. 

Last Updated February 26, 2026



Downtown Historic District Investment

Feb 23, 2026 City Council Study Session 

DMCC Board Meeting Dec 10, 2025

  • Request Memo
  • Video Recording
  • Presentation 

Last Updated February 26, 2026



Olmsted County Press Release:

We are Water MN Traveling Exhibit Feb 25 thru Apr 20, 2026: A statewide partnership that deepens connections between Minnesotans

and the water we rely on.

Last Updated February 19, 2026



Rochester Area Volunteer Administration

2026: April 15 Volunteer Fair

2023: RAVA October 19 2023 Meeting Notes; RAVA Meeting Notes: 6/15/2023 featuring inclusive language and use of pronouns; 2. 2021 survey announcement 

2021: Survey

Last Updated February 18, 2026



DMC 2025 5 Year Plan Updates

Feb 5, 2026 DMC Board Meeting: Final DMC Plan Update

Dec 15, 2025 DMC Board Meeting  :Request for Action; Video Recording; Presentation';2025 5-year plan draft

References: Nov 2025 City Council Study Session Materials; Feb 2026 DMCC Annual Report

Last Updated February 10, 2026



MDH 2026 Announcements

MDH Regional Listening Sessions March 5, 2026 

Feb 2026 MDH Minnesota Health Equity Networks Newsletter

 

Last Updated February 07, 2026



Rochester as a Compassionate City

Feb 2, 2026 City Council Meeting

Council Initiated Action - Reaffirming Rochester as a Compassionate City

Last Updated February 03, 2026



2025 YE Housing Statistics

Jan 2026 Housing Alliance:

2025 Real Estate SEMN Marketing Data

2025 Coalition Investments

 

Last Updated February 02, 2026