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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
Feb 16, 2024 10:00 AM AAPI Economic Development Summit, Part II Join us for our 2nd Blue LineExtension Summit. We will explore and discuss the opportunities for business and cultural developments along the Blue Line, in order to meet the needs of our growing communities. ('transportation', 'transit', 'Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Feb 14, 2024 12:00 PM How We Rise: Lessons from Rochester’s Black History What can Rochester's local Black history teach us about how to center equity and racial justice today? What role does history play in how we understand and confront current issues of equity? Andre Crockett Sr. and Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara explore lessons from the new traveling exhibit Still We Rise: Rochester's Black Legacy. The exhibit is a showcase of the key leaders and events that have shaped the local community and its history. ('DMC', 'Diversity', 'CMRC', 'key')
Feb 14, 2024 10:00 AM Feb 14, 2024 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance (By Invitation) Senior Housing Presentation: Harvestview West Townhome Development; Housing Preservation Presentation: Residents of Old Town Hall Purchase & Plans ('RAF', 'Housing', 'openbeam', 'key', 'housing')
Feb 13, 2024 10:00 AM RPS Feb 2024 Family Engagement Meeting School Counseling and Family Engagement, with a presentation from Alex Higano, Lead School Counselor, and perspectives from RPS school counselors. ('RPS', 'diversity', 'rps', 'community', 'key', 'education')
Feb 12, 2024 08:00 AM Rochester's Black Legacy: A Traveling Exhibit - Still We Rise Nationwide, Black History Month will be celebrated in February 2024. This presents a rich opportunity for the Rochester community to honor its local and regional Black history and to celebrate the vibrant and dynamic community that makes up Rochester today. ('NAACP', 'Diversity')
Feb 10, 2024 11:00 AM Black History Month - Renaissance of Black Arts in Rochester ('diversity', 'education', 'NAACP')
Feb 10, 2024 10:00 AM Introducing You to You A Free Self Discovery Workshop ('mental health', 'Diversity', 'MN Compass', 'Health', 'CMRC')
Feb 03, 2024 11:00 AM From "Waste to Wealth" to "African Nouveau" NAACP 2024 Black History Speaker Series ('diversity', 'NAACP', 'community')
Feb 01, 2024 09:30 AM Feb 1, 2024 DMCC Board Meeting Five year DMC Plan Heads Up, Shared Lab Spaces, Riverfront Small Area Plan 2.0, UMR developing human potential for healthcare industry, Bioech Hub, West Transit ('EDA', 'key', 'Entrepreneurship')
Jan 25, 2024 06:00 PM Financial Wellbeing: Strategies for building black wealth The Black Wealth Community Education Series is a free, virtual, and live resource for all while centering Black people and Black experiences. This series will cover topics such as economic justice, housing, health and healing, and more! This is a Black-centered space where the Open Road Fund prioritizes uplifting Black voices and safety. ('Diversity',)
Jan 19, 2024 05:30 PM 2024: The Year of Respect--Mission: Kick-Off We have two REMARKABLE guests plus a GREAT evening planned that will both bless and INSPIRE YOU. George Thompson back in the day was not allowed to attend High School with white students. Today George is one of Rochester's most respected citizens. To know George is to love the man...He is an INSPIRATION. Israel Rocha has an equally inspiring story. Within the past two years Israel went from a life long drug addict who was homeless to DRY, marrying his girl friend, uniting their family and 7 year old son PLUS gaining sobriety. His presence exudes valuing people of all kinds. The Rocha's now have an apartment and bless others. Other guests will lift your spirit as we talk about what will happen this year in 2024 Year of RESPECT. ('networking', 'key', 'civic engagement')
Jan 19, 2024 11:00 AM CMRC Interlock Meeting with RAEDI and SBDC/Rochester Introduce CMRC Purpose, Explore business case for CMRC and future collaboration potentials, ('CMRC', 'key')
Jan 17, 2024 03:30 PM City Council Study Session: Future Transformation in the city Potential for transformation throughout the city will be the topic of a two-part Rochester City Council discussion starting Wednesday. With Mayo Clinic planning a $5 billion investment with its “Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Rochester” initiative, city staff will be asking the council for direction amid continuing change in the city. ('key', 'governance')
Jan 15, 2024 08:30 AM January 2024 Annual MLK "We Have A Dream" Virtual Celebration The Rochester Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is hosting a slate of NAACP programming on Monday, January 15th, 2024, for MLK Day, and we invite the Rochester community to join us in celebrating the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ('NAACP', 'Diversity', 'Diversity Council')
Jan 10, 2024 12:00 PM Advancing Equity in the Built Environment 1. An overview of the City of Rochester’s and Destination Medical Center's adopted targeted business and workforce participation goals for 2024; 2. Equity in the Built Environment Program ('DMC', 'Diversity', 'Housing', 'key', 'CMRC')
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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
Black Excellence Expo Feb 28, 2026 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM — 125 Live
Town Hall: Using Advanced Technology in Policing Mar 03, 2026 06:00 PM - 06:30 PM — Heintz Center, Commons Area (enter through Door H8) 1926 Collegeview Road East
SE MN MDH Regional Listening Session Mar 05, 2026 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM — Olmsted County Community Services (01 161 Multipurpose Room)
Candidate Training Program by Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce Mar 07, 2026 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM — Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce [220 Broadway Ave S. Suite 100 Rochester, MN 55904]
Mar 2026 RPS Family Engagement Mar 10, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM — Virtual
City of Rochester & RCTC Community Engagement Mar 11, 2026 04:30 PM - 06:30 PM — Sports Center (851 30 Ave SE)
1Q 2026 County Health Assessment and Planning Partnership (HAPP) Mar 12, 2026 07:30 AM - 09:00 AM
RALC Mural Night Mar 13, 2026 04:30 PM - 06:30 PM — Rochester ALC - 37 Woodlake Dr. SE
Music Therapy and Cognitive Vitality: The Role of Music in Brain Health Mar 16, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM — 125 Live
Lifestyle Medicine Community of Wellness Symposium & Gala 2026 Apr 09, 2026 - Apr 10, 2026 — Assisi Heights
Upcoming events…
Community News

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



Hope at Home

Nearly $60,000 has been distributed to help prevent evictions

Last Updated February 26, 2026



Olmsted County Press Release:

We are Water MN Traveling Exhibit Feb 25 thru Apr 20, 2026

Last Updated February 19, 2026



Rochester Area Volunteer Administration

2026: April 15 Volunteer Fair

2023: RAVA October 19 2023 Meeting Notes; RAVA Meeting Notes: 6/15/2023 featuring inclusive language and use of pronouns; 2. 2021 survey announcement 

2021: Survey

Last Updated February 18, 2026



DMC 2025 5 Year Plan Updates

Feb 5, 2026 DMC Board Meeting: Final DMC Plan Update

Dec 15, 2025 DMC Board Meeting  :Request for Action; Video Recording; Presentation';2025 5-year plan draft

References: Nov 2025 City Council Study Session Materials; Feb 2026 DMCC Annual Report

Last Updated February 10, 2026



MDH 2026 Announcements

MDH Regional Listening Sessions March 5, 2026 

Feb 2026 MDH Minnesota Health Equity Networks Newsletter

 

Last Updated February 07, 2026



Braver Angels News

Listen to (and learn from) the other side

  • Feb 2026 Citizens Commission on Immigration Outreach
  • Mar 2025 Newsletter: End birthright citizenship?
  • Apr 2024 Braver Angels Newsletter: 2024 National Convention; National Debate: Should we be colorblind?

 

Last Updated February 04, 2026



Rochester as a Compassionate City

Feb 2, 2026 City Council Meeting

Council Initiated Action - Reaffirming Rochester as a Compassionate City

Last Updated February 03, 2026



2025 YE Housing Statistics

Jan 2026 Housing Alliance:

2025 Real Estate SEMN Marketing Data

2025 Coalition Investments

 

Last Updated February 02, 2026



RPS Family Engagement Opportunities

Jan 2026 Announcements

Family Engagement, Caregiver and Parent Empowerment 

Last Updated January 30, 2026



Community Health Improvement Plan Update

2026 CHNA Info: Jan 2026 Newsletter

2025 Community Health Needs Info: Admin Message, Oct 2025 Newsletter 

Ref: PB Report

Last Updated January 29, 2026



Black History Month Series of Events

Black History Month Press Releases: 

2026, 2025, 2024,

2023, 2022, 2021 

Last Updated January 28, 2026



Rochester Announcements

Jan 2026 Immigration Enforcement Updates

Jan 2024: The City of Rochester welcomes applications for the Community Building Fund.  This fund is all about supporting projects, programs, and events in the city that actively promote equity and inclusion.

Last Updated January 28, 2026



RPS Strategic Plan and Goals Review

Strategic Plan Goals Review  

  • Background
  • Presentation Slides
  • Part 1 Goals and Part 2 Goals

Last Updated January 23, 2026



Collider Foundation Updates

Jan 2026 Newsletter: Notes from the Executive Director; Thanks to Our Supporters; Our events; What's New

Last Updated January 18, 2026



Lifestyle Wellness

2026 Healthy Brain Community Workshops: strengthen memory and cognitive health

March 2020: Rochester Mayor Proclamation  

Last Updated January 18, 2026



Restorative Justice Circle Collaboration with RPS

RPS Family Engagement Jan 2026 Intro

Gemini Perspectives of PB Op Ed

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

2024 Project Legacy Collaboration

 References: About Restorative Justices; 

Last Updated January 17, 2026



Chateau Theatre Upkeep

Jan 2026 City Council Study Session

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting

Feb 2025 DMCC Board and  City Council Proceedings

References: AI summary of PB Reporting  

Last Updated January 13, 2026



Public Transit Sustainability

Jan 2026 City Council Study Session

Rochester Public Transit (RPT) is currently operating under financial conditions that are not sustainable over the long term.

Last Updated January 13, 2026



Community Education Connector Wanted

Connector Description and Application:

A stipend of $2,000 is available to individuals (age 17+) or organizations who are selected
Last Updated January 13, 2026



Rochester Cultural Center Grand Opening

Announcement

Grand Opening Flyer

Photos

 

Last Updated January 10, 2026