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All 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 28, 2026 12:00 PM Black Excellence Expo For the Rochester Branch of the NAACP, achieving economic stability is a strategic priority. Initiatives like the Black Excellence Expo directly support this goal by uplifting local entrepreneurs, expanding opportunity, and strengthening our regional economy. ('diversity', 'education', 'NAACP', 'Entrepreneurship')
Feb 21, 2026 05:30 PM Ebony Night 2026: Once Upon A Night | Rochester Branch of the NAACP presents UMR Black Student Union The third event in the Black History Month Series, Ebony Night, is an all-student-led production by the University of Minnesota Rochester’s Black Student Union. ('NAACP', 'Diversity', 'UMR')
Feb 21, 2026 10:00 AM Homeownership and Wealth Building Workshop This workshop equips community members with practical tools and knowledge to pursue homeownership and build generational wealth. ('NAACP', 'housing', 'Diversity')
Feb 17, 2026 04:30 PM Ready to Lead 2026 Spring Cohort Ready to Lead brings together a small group of people to teach the basics of how to participate in and lead meetings ('diversity', 'Civic Equity', 'leadership', 'networking', 'community engagement')
Feb 15, 2026 02:30 PM Chinese New Year Celebration Gala Chinese New Year Celebration Gala is a primary annual event of gathering in Rochester Chinese community. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the biggest Chinese holiday, carry forward the Chinese culture and promote the merge with the multiple cultures in Rochester. Usually there are about 600 people attending this event, including Chinese and other ethnics. Stage shows will feature many exciting performances such as singing, dancing, poems, sketch, dramas, instrument playing, and more, mostly with Chinese cultural and artistic style. During the stage show time, we will also have lottery to have some surprising prizes. ('diversity', 'culture', 'Diversity')
Feb 06, 2026 05:00 PM Pulitzer Finalist Lee Hawkins--Author of I Am Nobody’s Slave Join us for this year’s premier Black History Month event featuring Lee Hawkins, Pulitzer Prize finalist, former Wall Street Journal writer, and 2026 NAACP Image Awards Nominee who is coming to Rochester, Minnesota from New York. This event is free but seating is limited so free registration is required. ('NAACP', 'Diversity')
Feb 03, 2026 10:00 AM Feb 2026 RPS Family Engagement Our focus for February is Supporting Parent, Caregiver, Family, and Staff Wellbeing: an Experiential Workshop, presented by Haeli Gerardy. Haeli is the Family Engagement Specialist and Certified Parenting Coach at Fernbrook, which is a partner with RPS School-Linked Mental Health. ('RPS', 'education', 'diversity', 'key', 'Education')
Jan 27, 2026 09:30 AM Jan 2026 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')
Jan 23, 2026 07:00 PM Poetry Night Join us for a night in community celebrating poetry! ('griot', 'Culture', 'diversity')
Jan 14, 2026 12:00 PM Equity Alliance Equity Series Rochester Cultural Center The Rochester Cultural Center is a premier adult daycare facility dedicated to serving the diverse needs of our community. Our mission is to provide a safe and stimulating social environment that fosters a sense of belonging and prolongs the lives of our clients. By offering a wide range of activities and programs, we aim to promote physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being among our participants. ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement', 'Education')
Jan 13, 2026 10:00 AM Jan 2026 RPS Family Engagement RPS 5Essentials Survey; Helping Students Thrive: Supporting Positive Behavior Together ('RPS', 'education', 'diversity', 'key', 'Education')
Dec 17, 2025 05:00 PM Holiday Potluck Hosted by Pata de Perro and ACHLA Join us with your family and be part of our holiday celebration and check out our state-of-the-art bike repair facility. If you can bring a dish to share, please sign up using the link below. ('ACHLA', 'diversity')
Dec 16, 2025 09:30 AM Dec 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')
Dec 10, 2025 05:30 PM December 2025 Coming to the Table Coming to the Table's mission is "working together to create a just and truthful society that acknowledges and seeks to heal from the racial wounds of the past from slavery to the many forms of racism it spawned." Coming to the Table supports 50+local affiliate groups across eighteen states, including Rochester, MN. ('networking', 'diversity', 'civic engagement')
Dec 10, 2025 12:00 PM Equity Alliance Equity Series Looking Back, Moving Forward: Equity Series Reflections In this year-end Equity Series episode, organizations share the key insights that shaped their equity work over the past year. ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement', 'Education')
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
Feb 2026 RPS Family Engagement Feb 03, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM — Virtual
Pulitzer Finalist Lee Hawkins--Author of I Am Nobody’s Slave Feb 06, 2026 05:00 PM - 08:00 PM — Hilton Rochestere - Downtown Mayo Clinic Area
Rochester Area Housing Alliance Feb 2026 Feb 11, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM — Virtual Meeting
Chinese New Year Celebration Gala Feb 15, 2026 02:30 PM - 05:30 PM — Lourdes High School Auditorium
Breathing and Brain Health – Seokmun Hoheup Method Feb 16, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM — 125 Live
Ready to Lead 2026 Spring Cohort Feb 17, 2026 04:30 PM - 07:30 PM — Rochester Area Foundation
Homeownership and Wealth Building Workshop Feb 21, 2026 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM — RAEDI Offices Downtown | 221 1st Ave SW Suite 600, Rochester MN
Ebony Night 2026: Once Upon A Night | Rochester Branch of the NAACP presents UMR Black Student Union Feb 21, 2026 05:30 PM - 09:30 PM — Hilton Rochester Mayo Clinic Area (Rochester, MN) 10 East Center Street, Rochester, Minnesota 55904
Black Excellence Expo Feb 28, 2026 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM — 125 Live
Music Therapy and Cognitive Vitality: The Role of Music in Brain Health Mar 16, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM — 125 Live
Upcoming events…
Community News

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



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



Loom Apartments (Onward)

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting: Request for Extension Authorize an extension of the $4 million GSIA allocation to this project until August 15, 2026.

May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated December 20, 2025



Civic Center North (Sherman)

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Request 

 May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated December 19, 2025



2026 County Property Tax

Press Release: Olmsted County’s 2026 budget was approved by the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners on December 16, 2025.

Olmsted County Truth in Taxation Info

Last Updated December 17, 2025



DMC Home Innovation Lab - Aging in Place

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 December 15, 2025



Discovery Square Biolbab In Rochester

December 2025 DMCC Board Meeting:

  • Request for Action Memo
  • Business Development Quarterly Review about Biolabs

Last Updated December 14, 2025



10 Year Housing Units

2025 YE Housing Development Metrics: 2025 Downtown  All Housing Units

2025 Maxfield Report

Last Updated December 13, 2025