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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
Nov 13, 2024 10:00 AM Nov 2024 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance The non-profit housing provider Aeon, and their proposed local project at Mayo's West Transit Village. ('RAF', 'housing', 'openbeam', 'key')
Nov 12, 2024 10:00 AM RPS November Family Engagement Meeting: Students in Transition Information Session The focus for this meeting is a Students in Transition Information Session, featuring a presentation by Nicole Wibstad, RPS Students in Transition Coordinator, and Connie Cohen ('RPS', 'education', 'key')
Nov 08, 2024 08:00 AM FREC 2024 Annual Overcoming Racism Conference Morning keynote speakers: Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs and Rev. Pamela Ngunjiri Afternoon breakout workshops ('rps', 'community engagement', 'openbeam', 'key', 'Diversity')
Nov 02, 2024 05:00 PM Rochester Branch of the NAACP, 2024 Freedom Fund Banquet - Let Freedom Ring Featured Entertainment and Performers: • Patricia Lacy-Aiken Renowned vocalist Patricia Lacy-Aiken, who is a seasoned vocalist with Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness, and who had a decade – long global tour with Luther Vandross as a backup singer. • LaSonya Natividad and Madison Parish Ensemble Rochester’s own LaSonya Natividad accompanied by the Madison Parish Ensemble will grace the stage, captivating audience with unique blend of jazz, blues, and a sprinkle of R&B, reflecting deep musical roots and diverse influences. • Heart & Soul Drum Academy The talented youth of the Heart & Soul Drum Academy will deliver an energetic performance of African Djembe drumming and dance, led by founder Baba Jesse Buckner. Their captivating performance showcases the beauty of culture and the power of the arts in empowering young people and community. ('diversity', 'NAACP', 'openbeam')
Nov 02, 2024 02:00 PM Journie: Selma Movie Screening and Discussions Join us for a film exploring the history of voting rights, followed by a panel discussion featuring representatives from the DFL and GOP. It's a great opportunity to learn and engage in important conversations about this vital topic. Don't miss it! Journie is a nonpartisan organization committed to educating our communities about historical facts, youth development through lived experience, political agendas, resources, and the advancement of marginalized groups. ('diversity', 'governance')
Nov 01, 2024 05:00 PM Journie: Selma Movie Screening and Discussions Join us for a film exploring the history of voting rights, followed by a panel discussion featuring representatives from the DFL and GOP. It's a great opportunity to learn and engage in important conversations about this vital topic. Don't miss it! Journie is a nonpartisan organization committed to educating our communities about historical facts, youth development through lived experience, political agendas, resources, and the advancement of marginalized groups. ('diversity', 'governance')
Oct 30, 2024 05:30 PM Financial Liberation Workshop Financial Literacy, Credit Counseling, Leadership, Coaching, Personal Finance ('NAACP', 'education', 'Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Oct 29, 2024 02:00 PM Free Speech vs. Hate Speech: Understanding the Boundaries and Building Resilient Communities Cohosts: Winona State, RCTC: This timely event will feature two key sessions aimed at exploring the balance between free speech and hate speech, as well as the impacts of hate on marginalized communities. We will be moderating the discussions. ('diversity', 'civic engagement')
Oct 26, 2024 01:00 PM Juneteenth Reckoning with Slavery MN African American History ('diversity',)
Oct 22, 2024 12:30 PM Cradle to Career: High School Graduation Network Check-in, Announcements and Updates, Workgroups, Share, Checkout ('youth', 'c2c', 'education', 'key')
Oct 18, 2024 04:00 PM Asian Pacific Minnesotans Leadership Awards Dinner We the People: 40 Years of empowering Asian Pacific Minnesotans ('diversity', 'Asian')
Oct 17, 2024 12:00 PM Vision 2050 at Kiwanis Club of Rochester 20 minutes session with Kiwanis Day Makers: Introduction and Conversations to obtain inputs ('Kiwanis', 'vision', 'key')
Oct 15, 2024 09:00 AM Vision 2050 at Kiwanis Day Makers 20 minutes session with Kiwanis Day Makers: Introduction and Conversations to obtain inputs ('Kiwanis', 'openbeam', 'key')
Oct 14, 2024 12:00 PM Indigenous Peoples Day ('diversity',)
Oct 11, 2024 10:00 AM Oct 11, 2024 Community Co-design Setting Context: Equitable engagement and collaboration (Wafa & Chao) 15 minutes  Forms of equity  Co-design is not beginning or end of any project  Role of co-design in equity and systems approaches What ways have you seen co-design meet the semi-explicit and implicit levels of change? Describe how. What criteria/principles must be followed to ensure equity? o What ways have you seen co-design not practiced in equitable ways? What specifically was missed in that opportunity? o What strategies, approaches, and/or tools (other than co-design) help us meet the semi-explicit and implicit levels ('CMRC', 'key')
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Filed under: key

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
Nov 2025 RPS Family Engagement Back to School Nov 11, 2025 09:30 AM - 11:00 AM — Overland Elementary School
Introduction to Restorative Justice - Circle Training Nov 11, 2025 04:00 PM - 08:00 PM — Christ United Methodist Church
Rochester Housing Alliance November 2025 Nov 12, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM — Rochester Area Foundation- 12 Elton Hills Drive
Meeting the Moment: Community Led Systems Change Nov 12, 2025 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM — Virtual
Introduction to Restorative Justice - Circle Training Nov 13, 2025 08:00 AM - 03:00 PM — Christ United Methodist Church
November 2025 Rochester – Headscarf Story Circle Nov 15, 2025 12:00 PM - 02:30 PM — Rochester Area Economic Development Inc (RAEDI) 221 1st Ave SW, Suite 600 Rochester, 55902
ZMVS Presents Heartreach Clinic Nov 15, 2025 12:30 PM - 03:30 PM — Christ United Methodist Church, Rochester, MN
NAACP 2025 Freedom Fund Banquest Nov 15, 2025 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM — HILTON ROCHESTER MAYO CLINIC AREA
World Cafe - Uplifting Parent Voices for Multilingual Leaners Nov 19, 2025 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM — Edison Building 615 7th St SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Hot Stuff: Electrifying Water Heating, Cooking, and Clothes Drying Nov 20, 2025 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM — 4001 West River Parkway NW Suite 100 Rochester, MN 55901
Upcoming events…
Community News

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



Rochester Public Library - Master Plan

Master Plan Approval 11/3/2025

Rochester City Council Study Session 4/14/2025 

Post Bulletin Reporting

References: 2024 Usage Data, Community Survey Request

Last Updated November 08, 2025



National Small Business Initiative & National 311 Day

November 6, 2025 - Rochester Selected as One of Six Cities for National Small Business Initiative

March 11, 2025 – ROCHESTER, MINN. – The City of Rochester is excited to celebrate National 311 Day. 

Last Updated November 07, 2025



Opioid Settlement-Funded Iniatives

November 4, 2025 Olmsted County Board of Commissioners Meeting; 

- Video Recording; Credible Mind Tool

PB ePaper Reporting 

Last Updated November 06, 2025



Rochester Public Utilties

2026 Rate Increase

2019 Residential Rate Structure Survey

Last Updated November 05, 2025



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

Application Open

Background: 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 03, 2025



Restorative Justice Circle Collaboration with RPS

2025 Restorative Justice Circle Training; RPS Collaboration to improve school attendance

2024 Project Legacy Collaboration

 References: About Restorative Justices

Last Updated October 26, 2025



DMC 2026 Budget and Workplan

2026 Budget and Workplan September DMCC Board Meeting

Reference(s): Concurring City Council Oct 6 2025 Approval Request 

 

Last Updated October 26, 2025



America's City for Heath and Older Adults Needs

AI Summary of Dave Beal's PB Op Ed:

"Include older adults in Rochester's Plans"

 

Last Updated October 23, 2025



HOME OWNERSHIP CREATION PROGRAM – LONDON BROOK PONDS

City Council Meeting Approval of Housing Support: Housing Funding Allocations; TIF approval

PB reporting

Last Updated October 21, 2025



Seneca Property Plan Shelved

2025: PB reporting: Plan to develop vision for former Seneca site shelved

2022: (1) RAEDI partners with Olmsted County to solicit Statements of Interest (SOI) for former Seneca property; (2) Olmsted County signs agreement with RAEDI to solicit development proposals for former Seneca property

Last Updated October 16, 2025



Mayor and City Council Launch ‘Democracy Innovations for Better Public Meetings’

Press Release and focuses: Civic Engagement Scorecard, Civic Infrastructure Scan

References: AI summary of project, Community Forum

Last Updated October 15, 2025



DAP Funding Justification

Oct 15, 2025 D.A.P. Meeting Info Sharing - Building a community-owned data repository

 

 

Last Updated October 15, 2025



DMC 2015-2025 Review and Next 5 Years

DMC Board Sep 2025 Meeting: Next 5 Year Plan Update Briefing

July 2025 Reflections: DMC’s next decade will focus on deepening its impact—through infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and community engagement—while continuing to support Rochester’s evolution into a vibrant, health-focused destination.

Last Updated October 12, 2025



Discovery Square Shared Lab Infastructure

Sep 2025 Update Presentation

May 2025: Biolabs as shared space partner: A shared lab space for a community of like-minded entrepreneurs associated with one or more academic research partners, PB reporting

Nov 2023 DMCC Board Presentation

Last Updated October 12, 2025



Rochester Sports and Recreation Complex

Oct 6, 2025 City Council Meeting

July 28, 2025 City Council Study Session 

Sample of community feedbacks on Facebook

Last Updated October 11, 2025



Community Health Improvement Plan Update

Availability of 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment

  • Admin Message
  • Oct 2025 Newsletter 

PB Report

Last Updated October 07, 2025



2026 Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations

  • 2026 Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations
  • Video Recording, Presentation 

Last Updated October 06, 2025



Local Sales Tax Update

  • City Council Study Session:
  • Sales Tax Renewal Projects - Utilization of Sales Tax: Street Reconstruction. Flood Control and Water Quality, Economic Vitality, Home Ownership
  • AI summary of PB Reporting  

Last Updated October 02, 2025



Destination Medical Center (DMC) Plan Status Reports

2025 Report: Videos, 10 year reflection

2016 Report: In addition to the December 2016 status report, DMC EDA shows a useful diagram that positions the relationships of various studies going on within Rochester.

Last Updated October 01, 2025



September 2025 Charter Commission

  • City Governance Work Item
  • Application for replacement member

Last Updated September 28, 2025