You are here: Home / Community Activities / Key DEI Events

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 15, 2025 05:00 PM NAACP 2025 Freedom Fund Banquet The 2025 Freedom Fund Banquet will feature two trailblazing leaders as keynote speakers: Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Mayor Hollies Winston of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the first Black mayors in their respective cities. Their historic achievements serve as powerful examples of progress and inspiration for our Rochester community. ('diversity', 'NAACP')
Nov 15, 2025 12:00 PM November 2025 Rochester – Headscarf Story Circle The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) is excited to host Headscarf Story Circle – a series of offerings that recognize the strength and resiliency of women. Join us for our first of three offerings in Rochester as we gather together through the shared connection of the headscarf and its complexity. ('education', 'diversity')
Nov 12, 2025 12:00 PM Meeting the Moment: Community Led Systems Change This session centers on translating community priorities into actionable systems change by activating state decision makers, partners, and advocates. ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement', 'Education')
Nov 12, 2025 10:00 AM Rochester Housing Alliance November 2025 Feature Presentation — Navigating Housing Development Challenges: Restoration Glen Speakers from Bear Creek Development & Three Rivers Community Action ✅ Spotlight — Inventory of Affordable & Accessible Rental Housing Presented by The Arc Minnesota Southeast Region ('RAF', 'housing', 'governance', 'openbeam', 'key')
Nov 11, 2025 09:30 AM Nov 2025 RPS Family Engagement Spotlight on Host Site: Overland Elementary Introductions and Welcome (10:00–10:10) • Highlight Topic: RPS Language Access, Interpretation Services, and Culturally Sustaining Family Engagement ('RPS', 'Education', 'diversity', 'key')
Oct 28, 2025 09:30 AM Oct 2025 Mayor's International Relations Committee Meeting Coordinate the Sister Cities Program; support international affairs in the city; provide a welcoming and supportive climate for international residents ('Diversity', 'global', 'governance', 'culture', 'key', 'education')
Oct 24, 2025 05:30 PM IMAA Pearl Gala Annual Fundraiser 2025 United for Humanity: Building Bridges to Belonging ('imaa', 'diversity')
Oct 22, 2025 06:00 PM How to Start a Business - In English Training Topics: Accounting/Budget, Business Financing, Business Plan, Business Start-up/Preplanning, Legal Issues, Managing a Business, Marketing/Sales, Tax Planning Description: How to Start a Business from Scratch - Part 2: In the final classes, you will dive into the practical implementation of your business idea, addressing key aspects such as legal and financial structure, initial marketing strategies, and preparing to launch your venture into the market. Additionally, you will learn to establish basic accounting systems and financial management to ensure operational soundness from the outset. ('diversity', 'community engagement', 'Entrepreneurship')
Oct 21, 2025 01:00 PM 2025 Co-design Leadership Training Session 1 Option 2 We will cover how to evaluate co-design processes, share back insights from the mini-design sprint, and building on those insights discuss how to initiate a co-design project. ('diversity', 'dmc', 'co-design')
Oct 16, 2025 06:00 PM SBDC - Foundations of Effective Marketing Part 2 Marketing Success starts with clarity. Brand Identity. ('diversity', 'health', 'Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Oct 10, 2025 08:30 AM Weaving a Wider Community Seeing and countering racism in our own backyard -- Key note speakers via Zoom: Jenna Grey Eagle, Dr. Ron Ferguson; Rochester Site Guest Speaker: Justin Terell ('diversity', 'Diversity', 'workforce')
Oct 09, 2025 06:00 PM SBDC - Foundations of Effective Marketing Part 1 Marketing Success starts with clarity. Brand Identity. ('diversity', 'health', 'Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Oct 08, 2025 12:00 PM From Cradle to Career: Driving Lasting Change for Rochester's Youth Cradle 2 Career is a community-wide initiative focused on improving educational outcomes for every child and young adult in Rochester by reimagining how organizations work together. Through data-driven strategies and cross-sector partnerships, we bring together schools, nonprofits, businesses, and families to work collectively toward measurable results. In this talk, I’ll share how our initiative functions, highlight the dedicated work groups driving our progress, and explore the impact of our collaborative approach. ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement', 'Education')
Oct 08, 2025 10:00 AM Rochester Housing Alliance October 2025 Cumulative Impacts & Housing Rulemaking Process: Upcoming Opportunity for Community Input ; Presentation on City of Rochester Audit of Vacant Land ('RAF', 'housing', 'governance', 'openbeam', 'key')
Oct 07, 2025 12:00 PM 2025 Co-design Leadership Training Session 1 Option 1 We will cover how to evaluate co-design processes, share back insights from the mini-design sprint, and building on those insights discuss how to initiate a co-design project. ('diversity', 'dmc', 'co-design')
Document Actions
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
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
RAVA 2026 Annual Spring Volunteer Fair Apr 15, 2026 09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Upcoming events…
Community News

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



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



Del Webb Senior Housing

Jan 5, 2025 City Council Meeting: Request for Actions: Adopting a Resolution approving Major Land Subdivision No. CD2025-042PLAT, by Pulte Homes of Minnesota LLC, to subdivide approximately 141 acres into 300 residential lots and six outlots.

AI Summary 

Last Updated January 07, 2026



1Q 2026 Announcements

Jan 5, 2026: Resolution: Reaffirming Rochester’s Support for its Somali Community and Commitment to Inclusion.

2026 Summer Paid Internship Positions: City Clerk, community Development, Communications & Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Legislative Affairs, Library Communications, Office of the Mayor, Parks & Recreation , Public Music, Rochester Public Utilities Safety, and Transit & Parking.

 

 

Last Updated January 05, 2026