Community Upstanding - Townhall One

Press Release

Rochester, Minnesota – November 19, 2024

The Rochester Branch of the NAACP and Mayo Clinic African Descendants Mayo Employees Resource Group (AD MERG) invite the Rochester and Olmsted County communities to join us this Saturday at the Rochester Civic Theatre from 1:30 to 3:30 PM for an important townhall on community upstanding. This townhall is part of the Love Wins: Community Empowerment Initiative, a pilot program running from now until the end of 2024. This initiative, supported by Mayo Clinic’s ongoing Commitment Against Racism, aims to provide educational support and resources to uplift the local Black/African American community as well as equipping the community with vital information and training on how to become an upstander—equipping community members with important tools to succeed and thrive.

This week’s program effort is focused on Community Upstander Training and will feature Tom Thibodeau, Distinguished Professor of Servant Leadership from Viterbo University. Thibodeau is the founder of the Master of Arts in Servant Leadership, the first master’s degree of its kind in the nation, and a founding member of hospitality and fellowship resource. Thibodeau is a popular professor, talented public speaker, and an extremely active community member focused on ethical life, serving the common good, and addressing homelessness.

Walé Elegbede, President of the Rochester Branch of the NAACP, shared:
" The Love Wins initiative is more than just a response to hate—it’s about creating a foundation for empowerment, education, and opportunity at both the systemic and individual levels. To overcome the historical barriers that continue to plague society, everyone needs to lean in and make a demonstrable commitment. At the NAACP, we envision an inclusive community rooted in liberation where all can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination. This initiative is another example of Mayo Clinic’s commitment against racism to make lasting change. We’re excited, and together we can build on good work that is being done.”

The initiative is a timely response to recent incidents in Rochester that targeted Black and Brown community members, underscoring the need for systemic change and proactive community engagement. By addressing issues like financial literacy, housing access, and personal development, while at the same time building upstanding resilience in the community, the Love Wins initiative seeks to uplift and unite the community.

African Descendants Mayo Employees Resource Group (AD MERG), an affinity group within Mayo Clinic, plays a critical role in supporting staff, employees, and patients of African descent. AD MERG strives to advance diversity and inclusion in clinical practice, education, and research, while also extending its impact into the broader Rochester community through partnerships like the one with the Rochester Branch of the NAACP.

In speaking about AD MERG's mission to the community, Cleo Pearson, Chair of AD MERG, said:
"AD MERG is deeply committed to optimizing the experience of Mayo Clinic employees and patients of African descent, but our mission goes beyond the workplace. We also believe in creating opportunities for professional growth, personal development, and community empowerment. Through collaborations like the Love Wins initiative with the Rochester Branch NAACP, which is part of largest and oldest civil rights organization in the nation, we aim to extend the impact of our work to uplift and empower the broader Rochester community."

The Rochester Branch of the NAACP recognizes that building strong, empowered communities requires a holistic approach, and this initiative seeks to meet those needs by delivering critical resources and education directly to the community. Community members interested in participating or learning more should visit the Rochester Branch of the NAACP.

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