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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
Sep 10, 2024 10:00 AM RPS September 2024 Family Engagement Meeting: Ignite Student Learning 2024 Referendum During our September meeting, RPS Superintendent, Dr. Kent Pekel, will lead an information session on the topic: "Ignite Student Learning 2024 Referendum. ('RPS', 'education', 'key')
Aug 31, 2024 05:00 PM Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs: Community Listening Session Please share within your networks! This Listening Session for the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs hosted locally by COPAL Rochester and ACHLA will take place on Saturday, August 31 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A meal will be provided for attendees. Seats are limited, so the organizers are asking attendees to register to confirm their attendance. ('Diversity',)
Aug 27, 2024 01:00 PM August 2024 Rochester Vision 2050 Community Engagement Rochester Vision 2050 Help Shape Rochester's Future Rochester Mayor Kim Norton would like to hear your vision for Rochester’s next generation. Rochester Vision 2050 seeks your input to create a collective vision for our city's future. Your perspective helps to ensure that our policies, investments, and initiatives align with the collective will and wisdom of our community. ('key', 'governance', 'community', 'openbeam')
Aug 16, 2024 10:00 AM August 16 2024 Community Co-design Welcome to the August Community Co-Design Meeting! As usual, we will offer updates on trainings and projects. We will offer an overview and considerations for funding co-design projects and then discuss how we might best support collaboration with funders to create models that better support co-design projects around the region. ('CMRC', 'key')
Aug 14, 2024 12:00 PM Youth Engagement from the Youth Perspective Discover the fundamentals of engaging with young people from the perspective of the Rochester Community Initiative (RCI), a 100% youth-led nonprofit. ('Housing', 'DMC', 'Diversity', 'key')
Aug 14, 2024 10:00 AM August, 2024 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance: Mayo Bold, Century Village, Housing Stats Developer and builders, Bob and Drew Fleming, regarding their new townhome project, Century Village A Mayo Clinic presentation, "Mayo Clinic’s Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Rochester initiative – an overview," by Ilaya Rome Hopkins ('RAF', 'housing', 'openbeam', 'key')
Jul 24, 2024 11:00 AM Women’s Foundation of Minnesota Community Connect Event Community Connect is an informal biannual gathering for community members from across the state to meet and find serendipitous connections to their next funder, accomplice, or co-conspirator. This event is not just for the outgoing and social—we’re confident it will be a meaningful and welcoming experience for extroverts and introverts alike. ('diversity', 'community')
Jul 23, 2024 01:00 PM July 2024 Rochester Vision 2050 Community Engagement Our city has undertaken a broad array of initiatives to create a bright future for her citizens and constituencies. These should be guided by a clear, optimistic, aspirational vision. 2050: Far enough for limitless possibilities; close enough to begin today to serve Rochester’s next generation and beyond. Vision 2050 Steering Committee guides this initiative A large volunteer group will put “Vision in Action”, using co-design to engage the community to share ideas and priorities for Rochester’s future. ('key', 'governance', 'community', 'openbeam')
Jul 20, 2024 04:30 PM UTSAV: The Festival of Colors 2024 Join us on Saturday, July 20th, 2024, from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM for UTSAV: The Festival of Colors, a vibrant celebration of the diverse cultural heritage of the Asian Indian community. This event is open to all, and we welcome everyone to come and have fun! Enjoy delicious food, color splash, captivating dance performances, mesmerizing music, and explore a diverse array of products available for browsing. ('youth', 'education', 'diversity', 'community')
Jul 17, 2024 12:00 PM Virtual Information Session: Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity Learn about how you can be the voice of your community and make a difference in helping to shape its future. ('Diversity', 'governance')
Jul 13, 2024 12:00 PM Farm Fest 204 The FARM Fest is an event for all of us to share the cross-cultural experience as we are building community, sharing customs and cultural connections, and increasing our overall health, ('food', 'diversity', 'community engagement')
Jul 10, 2024 12:00 PM How Organizations Can Commit to Accessibility We will explore how organizations can enhance their commitment to accessibility, ensuring inclusivity for all individuals. ('DMC', 'Diversity', 'Housing', 'key', 'CMRC')
Jul 06, 2024 03:00 PM Somali Independence Day ('youth', 'culture', 'education', 'Diversity')
Jul 04, 2024 11:00 AM Cambodian Annual Picnic You are cordially invited to join us for the Cambodian Annual Picnic, a celebration of our community's success and unity! As we gather together to share in the joy of our community's accomplishments, we extend an open invitation to all to join us for an afternoon of food, fun, friendship and story sharing of our past. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our fellow community members, make new friends, and create lasting memories. ('diversity', 'Asian', 'community')
Jun 25, 2024 04:00 PM 2024 Village Farmers Market Kickoff Farmer's Markets start on Tuesday June 25, 4 - 7 pm, and run all Tuesdays through early October. ('time-sensitive', 'Diversity', 'CMRC')
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
Restoration Glen Completion (By Invitation Only) Nov 12, 2026 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM — Retoration Glen, 1730 Restoration Road SW
2026 Weaving a Wider Community Nov 13, 2026 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM — Christ United Methodist Church
Discovery Square Innovation District Open House Nov 16, 2026 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM — One + Two Discovery Square
BioLabs Ribbon Cutting Reception Nov 16, 2026 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM — Two Discovery Square
University of Minnesota Rochester State of the Campus Nov 17, 2026 08:00 AM - 09:30 AM — Two Discovery Square, 3rd Floor
Building Rochester: Celebrating Downtown Housing & Citywalk Groundbreaking Nov 19, 2026 01:30 PM - 04:00 PM — Corner of 2nd Street SW and 6th Avenue SW Rochester, MN
2026 DMC Annual Meeting Luncheon Nov 20, 2026 11:50 AM - 01:30 PM
Nov 2026 Community & City Council Forum Nov 30, 2026 05:30 PM - 08:00 PM — Chateau Theatre
Christmas Anonymous – Rochester MN 2026 Dec 12, 2026 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM — Christ United Methodist
Upcoming events…
Community News

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



Rochester-Olmsted County 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program - Rental property owners

Nov 5, 2026: Applications open for Rochester-Olmsted County 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program

Nov 3, 2025 Application Open:  Application Open The current Rochester-Olmsted County 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program application is for the Tax Assessment Year 2025 - Tax Payable Year 2026, the tax savings for this application will not be realized until the Tax Payable Year 2026.

 

Last Updated November 05, 2026



Reimagining 6th Ave West - Project Update

Nov 2026 Press Release 6th Ave. Design Open House

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 October 29, 2026



October 2026 City Council Study Session

Downtown Employee Parking 

Prevailing Wages for City Projects

Last Updated October 28, 2026



Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Strategic Management & Policy Considerations

Oct 26 City Council Study Session

Last Updated October 26, 2026



Council Initiated Action - City Council Civility Pledge

Oct 19, 2026 City Council Meeting Pledge

LMC - Civility Pledge

Last Updated October 24, 2026



RPS 2030 Strategic Plan Finalization

RPS Board Meeting: Oct 20, 2026 Board Finalization

RPS Board Briefings: Oct 6, 2026; Sep 15, 2026

Last Updated October 21, 2026



Co-design Information

Oct 19, 2026 Community Co-Design Leadership Training

October 2, 2023 City Council Study Session; September Co-design Meeting (Co-Design Preparation Guide, Pilot Co-Design Dashboard) 

Last Updated October 19, 2026



Graham Park Exhibition Center

Oct 14, 2026: Lodging Tax 0.5% increase proposal

Apr 24, 2026: Oak View Group to run exhibition center.

Aug 2025: 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 October 14, 2026



Housing Alliance Meeting Log

2025 Notable 

Maxfield Housing Report

Environmental Justice; 

 

Last Updated October 12, 2026



City for Good 2026 Candidates Forum Proceedings

RPS Board Candidate Forums: C4G Forum: Written responses to City for Good Questions:; League of Women Voters Video

C4G: City Council Candidates and Mayoral Candidate Video Recordings

Last Updated October 12, 2026



Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) Publications

2026, 2023, 2021, 2019 Olmsted County Housing Profiles By Minnesota Housing Partnership 

2026 MN State Profile

Last Updated October 09, 2026



2026 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) Data

healthwellnessyouth

Oct 6, 2026 School Board Meeting 

Gemini AI: Breakdown of how individual schools within Rochester Public Schools MCA test data; How did Southeast Minnesota schools do on the MCAs?

 

Last Updated October 07, 2026



RPS Balanced Budget Model

Oct 6, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: Levy

2026 Review and 2027 Enhancements: 

 Phase I of the Balanced Budget Model (BBM), launched across all learning sites and select special education programs, served as both a starting point and a critical learning stage.

AI Summary of PB ePaper Article

Last Updated October 07, 2026



Sports Complex 2026 Updates

Sep 29, 2026: Press Release - City and Altra Federal Credit Union partnership

Jul 13, 2026: City Council Study Session - Funding Options for Indoor Phase 2 

Apr 27, 2026 City Council Study Session Community Engagement Rochester Regional Sports Center, Stadium & Sports Fields

Last Updated September 29, 2026



DMC Strategic Development Proposal

Sep 2026: Strategic Priorities and Funding Framework

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

Last Updated September 27, 2026



Second Street LINK Transit Construction

Sep 24, 2026 DMCC Board Meeting

City, DMC PSA: Beginning September 22, traffic on 2nd Street SW will shift to maintain one lane in each direction between 18th Avenue SW and 23rd Avenue SW Affected areas

Last Updated September 26, 2026



America's City for Heath and Older Adults Needs

Sep 2026: DMCC Board Meeting

Jul 2026: AARP Tech and Aging

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 September 24, 2026



CHATEAU THEATRE OPERATING ANALYSIS UPDATE

Sep 24, 2026 DMCC Board Meeting; 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 24, 2026



Downtown and Public Realm Investment

Sep 24, 2026 DMCC Board Meeting 

City of Rochester Launches Minnesota’s First Operational Thermal Energy Network Through Downtown Building Energy Transition Initiative

Last Updated September 24, 2026



Home Innovation Lab - Aging in Place

Sep 2026: Tech-Enabled Housing Update at DMCC Board

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 September 23, 2026