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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
Jun 24, 2024 04:30 PM CMRC June 2024 Meeting CMRC Updates, ISAIAH; Three Rivers Community Actions on Housing; Mobilizing Olmsted County Voices for Equity; Vision 2050 ('diversity', 'disability', 'community', 'c2c', 'key', 'CMRC', 'united way')
Jun 23, 2024 12:00 PM 2024 Walk Around the World In partnership with IMAA, Walk Around the World celebrates the multicultural diversity that represents Olmsted County and celebrates the contributions that refugees and immigrants bring to the community. The event also recognizes World Refugee Day that occurs on June 20th. Join us for cultural performances, ethnic food, vendors, and cultural and community agency booths. This fun, FREE family event is on June 22, 2024, from 12-4pm with a rain date of June 23, 2024. There will be plenty of activities to keep your kids active and entertained! ('diversity', 'imaa', 'youth', 'Culture', 'education')
Jun 21, 2024 10:00 AM June 2024 Community Co-design We will offer a presentation to focus on the development and implementation of co-design projects (what happens after the formal co-design sessions). Then we will discuss your own experiences, challenges, and hopes for co-design development and implementation. ('CMRC', 'key')
Jun 20, 2024 05:00 PM PossAbilities: The Art of Theatre - Skills Class Skilled actress and theater director Amanda Leyawiin is partnering with PossAbilities for a fun night of improv and learning theatrical skills. ('diversity', 'disability', 'art', 'community')
Jun 19, 2024 02:00 PM NAACP: Juneteenth 2024 Virtual Edition – Launches Tomorrow at 2 PM ROCHESTER, Minn. — The Rochester Branch of the NAACP is excited to announce that it will be launching a virtual Juneteenth edition tomorrow on June 19th at 2 PM. This virtual edition that will be live on Rochester NAACP’s website provides an opportunity for all community members, and well as those who may have missed last Saturday’s 19th annual community celebration due to weather related concerns. ('diversity', 'community engagement')
Jun 19, 2024 09:30 AM Juneteenth Jubilee Breakfast Come join us for a morning of celebration and unity at the Empire Event Center. Start your day off right with a delicious breakfast spread. Juneteenth or “Freedom Day” is a day of recognition, restoration and celebration. ('diversity',)
Jun 16, 2024 01:00 PM Punch 9 for Harold Washington Feature Documentary Supported by the Office of the Mayor, Rochester City DEI, in partnership with the NAACP ('diversity', 'community', 'civic engagement', 'Diversity', 'NAACP')
Jun 15, 2024 12:00 PM Juneteenth 2024 Freedom Day-Love Wins Join us and the community for a fantastic fun filled family event with the community, sponsors, and community collaborators. Juneteenth is very important to the African American community and is a day to honor the emancipation of slavery back in 1865. ('diversity', 'Culture', 'NAACP')
Jun 13, 2024 06:00 PM Homes for Our Neighbors - What if we treated housing like a human right? In 2020, Olmsted County was forecast to need 18,000 additional units of housing by 2030. With higher growth due to Mayo Clinic’s expansion, the need will be even greater. Olmsted County is a leader in Minnesota for its commitment to locally-owned and -controlled housing. On June 13, come learn more about how Olmsted County is leading, and call on our county commissioners and local partners to dream even bigger to address our community’s urgent need for affordable, healthy, and climate-friendly homes. ('Housing', 'ISAIAH', 'key')
Jun 13, 2024 01:00 PM 2Q 2024 June Health HAPP Meeting Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity (M.O.V.E.) Update, LGBTQIA+ Co-Design Work Discussion, 2024 CHAP Satisfaction Survey, Community Announcements and Sharing ('CHNA', 'community', 'Health/Wellness', 'Health', 'public sector work product', 'key', 'health work product')
Jun 13, 2024 08:00 AM 2024 Next Level Conference: TOGETHER, FASTER AND STRONGER Welcome to REIMAGINE, the annual gathering of professionals, experts, business owners, and thought leaders in the business sector. Our conference is a unique platform where people come together to exchange ideas, build networks, and foster lasting partnerships. This year’s inaugural event promises to be bigger and better than other events you’ve been to thus far, with an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and ending with an expo. ('Education', 'Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Jun 12, 2024 12:00 PM Investing in Community: Equitable Planning and Design Strategies in the Twin Cities and Beyond As Rochester continues to grow, how can equitable design and planning strategies be utilized to help communities realize the benefits of improvements that are happening in their communities? This presentation will speak to anti-displacement strategies being utilized in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, MN, through the Reconnect Rondo initiative; equitable engagement strategies in Rochester and El Paso, and the way that culture and context can shape park design in Denton, TX. The presentation is intended to start a conversation about how Rochester can learn from these projects and other initiatives to achieve equitable and restorative development. ('DMC', 'Diversity', 'Housing', 'key', 'CMRC')
Jun 12, 2024 10:00 AM June, 2024 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance Topics: Opportunities the IRA has for home remodeling & building; City of Rochester goals, priorities, and Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funding initiatives; Local Case Study: John Hardy’s House ('RAF', 'housing', 'openbeam', 'key')
Jun 04, 2024 04:00 PM June 2024 United Way BIPOC Leaders Panel and Small Group Conversation Join other BIPOC individuals to learn about ways to get involved in our community! BIPOC Leaders Panel and Small Group Conversation ('Diversity', 'compassion', 'key', 'civic engagement', 'CMRC', 'united way')
May 30, 2024 04:30 PM CMRC May 2024 Meeting Confirmed Topics CMRC Updates, PossAbilities DEI Outreach; C2C free FAFSA CBO support, United Way DEI Panel Convening; Potential Topic: Olmsted County Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity (M.O.V.E.) ('diversity', 'disability', 'community', 'c2c', 'key', 'CMRC', 'united way')
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