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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 24, 2025 05:00 PM Rochester's Statue for Equality Join us for a special evening celebrating Rochester's Statue for Equality with local educator and author Virginia Wright-Peterson ('Diversity',)
Apr 16, 2025 09:30 AM DMC 2025 Real Estate Development and Investment Summit (4/16/25) Leveraging tech-enabled housing to deliver better health and better healthcare outcomes. The 2025 Real Estate Development and Investment Summit, presented by Destination Medical Center and ULI Minnesota is a one-day event highlighting the demand and opportunity for development in Rochester, MN. ('housing', 'dmc', 'key', 'Entrepreneurship')
Apr 14, 2025 06:00 PM Disability Townhall (4/14/25) This event will offer an opportunity for community members to discuss important issues impacting individuals with disabilities ('diversity', 'compassion', 'disability', 'civic equity', 'CMRC')
Apr 10, 2025 07:00 PM Oral histories Oral histories & stories of the descendants of abolitionists ('culture', 'diversity')
Apr 09, 2025 12:00 PM Addressing Student and Family Homelessness through Collaborative Partnerships During the 2024-2025 school year to date, Rochester Public Schools has identified 387 students experiencing homelessness. Learn how Olmsted County, Rochester Public Schools and others are addressing youth and family homelessness in RPS and across Olmsted County by aligning goals, leveraging resources and expertise to respond to this complex community challenge. ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement', 'Education')
Apr 08, 2025 10:00 AM RPS Apr 2025 Multilingual Learning We are excited to welcome Natalia Benjamin, RPS Director of Multilingual Learning, who will share valuable information about RPS MLL programs, initiatives underway to support student outcomes, and best practices for fostering strong school-family partnerships. ('RPS', 'Education', 'diversity', 'key')
Mar 25, 2025 05:00 PM Collider Cup & Expo 2025 The Collider Cup is a business pitch competition, celebrating the graduation of our latest Co-Starters at Collider cohort. ('commerce', 'diversity', 'workforce', 'Entrepreneurship', 'collider')
Mar 24, 2025 12:00 PM Community Family Well-Being Event Planning A meeting to brainstorm creative ways to shape the upcoming Family Well-Bing event. Key discussion points include: Activities that your group may be able to organize; Cultural displays (art, dance, games); Music and food contributions; Volunteer coordination ('culture', 'diversity')
Mar 22, 2025 01:00 PM Road to Home Ownership (3/22/25) Black History & Homeownership; Preparing to get a mortgage loan; Homebuyer resources; Looking for a home & making offer; Importance of Insurance ('Housing', 'education', 'Diversity', 'governance')
Mar 13, 2025 07:30 AM 1Q 2025 County Health Assessment and Planning Partnership (HAPP) CHAP Quality Improvement (QI) Project ('CHNA', 'Health', 'key')
Mar 12, 2025 12:00 PM Family Unity and DEIA in Our Current Climate In this episode, our presenter will focus on family unity and the importance of supporting our immigrant neighbors in the current climate of fear and uncertainty. We will also continue to learn more about Creating Safe Spaces at Work, a theme we began to investigate during our February episode. This ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement')
Mar 12, 2025 10:00 AM Rochester Housing Alliance Mar 12, 2025 The focus of the meeting will be on housing accessibility also an update regarding the Coalition's 2024 investments and progress to goals. ('RAF', 'housing', 'openbeam', 'key')
Mar 11, 2025 09:00 AM RPS March 2025 Family Engagement Meeting: Respectful Conversations Workshop In-person workshop called Respectful Conversations, facilitated by Amy Anderson, Executive Director for Youth Voice, from the YMCA in the twin cities. ('RPS', 'youth', 'key', 'addiction', 'education')
Mar 01, 2025 12:00 PM BLACK EXCELLENCE EXPO Come see and support Black and Minority businesses in the local and surrounding areas ('diversity', 'NAACP', 'Entrepreneurship')
Mar 01, 2025 11:30 AM Common Cause: Community Townhall Directly ask your state legislators what they're doing to improve you everyday life! ('diversity', 'housing', 'governance', 'Culture', 'health', 'key', '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
Winona State Adult & Continuing Education Jul 15, 2026 12:00 PM - 12:40 PM — Virtual
Healthy Brain Workshop 4: Sound Bowl Healing and Stress Management Jul 20, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM — 125 Live
In the City for Good: Rochester Mayor Candidate Forum Jul 21, 2026 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM — Christ United Methodist Church
Disability Summit Jul 24, 2026 09:00 AM - 12:30 PM — Commons Area at the Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) Heintz Center
6th Annual Rochester Community Back-to-School Party Aug 15, 2026 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM — Soldiers Field
Upcoming events…
Community News

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



City of Rochester Seeks Proposals for Sale and Redevelopment of Parcels

Jun, 2026 Planning commission supports planned infill project

Apr, 2026 The City of Rochester is now accepting proposals for the sale and redevelopment of two City-owned residential parcels located in the Durand Subdivision and Hilmer’s High View Acres.

Last Updated June 27, 2026



Rochester International Relations Committee

2026 NewsSpring, Winter Newsletters; Apr 2026 Siheung, Korean Newsletter;  Sister City Visits Germany Visit

2025 News: Sister City Trips: Japan; Rochester Sister City Application (Roles and Responsibilities)

General Info: Sister Cities Relationship Logs; IRC Meeting Logs

Last Updated June 22, 2026



Curriculum Development

Jun 2026: Social Studies Curriculum Three Shifts in the New Standards

Ethnic Studies Strand, Disciplinary Literacy Practices. Centering Student Inquiry

Last Updated June 18, 2026



Housing Program DevCo Rochester

Adopting a Resolution adopting the Housing Program, the issuance of Conduit Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds and the execution of related documents relating to the DevCo Rochester Apartments Project.

Last Updated June 14, 2026



Economic Development News

2026: Health tech firms status

2023 Highlights: 1. 2Q 2023  Economic Report ;  2. Tawonda Burks has joined the RAEDI staff full-time as Director of Operations. In addition to managing the RAEDI Economic Development Center; 3, SBDC 1H 2023 performance report

Last Updated June 13, 2026



Healthy Brain Workshop Series

 2026 Summer Workshop Series 

 

Last Updated June 08, 2026



University of Minnesota Expansion Funding Considerations

Jun 2026: City Council Voted to Approve the funding

May 2026: UMR DMC: Funding Request to contribute to Talent Development Infrastructure

Apr 27, 2026: UMR discussion at City Council Study Session Sales Tax Request

Last Updated June 05, 2026



RPS Proposed Budget Reductions

Jun 2, 2026: School Board 2026 budget

April 21, 2026: School Board Meeting Revised Proposed Leadership Changes 

April 7, 2026: Budget Reduction Impact

Sep 12, 2023 RPS Board Study Session video recording; Proposed Equity Policy; PB Reporting

Last Updated June 04, 2026



1Q 2026 Announcements

Jun 2, 2026: #RochMNTogether Yard Sign Campaign

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 June 02, 2026



Sports Complex Phase Two Indoor Recreation Option and Next Steps

Jun 1, 2026 City Council Meeting: PB reporting

Apr 27,  2026 City Council Study Session

Last Updated May 31, 2026



Home Innovation Lab - Aging in Place

May 2026: Home Innovation Lab Open House

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 May 31, 2026



Sherman Mixed Housing Mayo Civic Center Parking Lot

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 May 24, 2026



Mayflower mixed housing project

May 2026:DMCC Board Meeting, Mayflower Project Update

Jul 2025 Mayflower mixed housing project summary; North side of Second Street Southwest across the street from Ronald McDonald House.

Feb 2025 DMCC Board Meeting 2nd Street Public Realm and Mayflower

Last Updated May 24, 2026



United Way Studies of Financial Hardship

2025 ALICE Info: United Way 2025 Study

2024 ALICE Info: Post Bulletin Reporting; United Way 2024 ALICE  (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report 

Last Updated May 24, 2026



West Transit Village Housing Development

May 2026 DMCC Board Update

April 1 2026 AEON Affordable Housing Townhall

May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Report

Feb 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Memo

PB reporting re Jan 6 City Council Meeting

"A final plan for dividing a 14.1-acre Mayo Clinic parking lot into developable sections is expected to be reviewed Monday by the Rochester City Council. The site, being dubbed “West Transit Village,” sits between Second Street Southwest and Cascade Lake. It is currently used as a Mayo Clinic employee shuttle lot, and Mayo Clinic plans to construct a 2,500-stall parking structure."

Last Updated May 24, 2026



Loom Apartments (Onward)

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

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 May 24, 2026



DMC Interim Wayfinding

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated May 23, 2026



Discovery Square Biolbab In Rochester

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Biolabs Status

December 2025 DMCC Board Meeting:

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

Last Updated May 22, 2026



Discovery Walk

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting Discovery Walk Update - Completion

March 2021 DMCC approval for Bid

Last Updated May 22, 2026



DMC STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

May 2026: Consider a recommendation to approve up to $3 million in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid (GSIA)

Last Updated May 22, 2026