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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
Mar 12, 2024 10:00 AM RPS March 2024 Family Engagement Meeting RPS Family Engagement CAPE @ Gage Highlights; Presentation on RPS Mental Health for Families with Sarah Clarke, RPS Mental Health Coordinator ('RPS', 'diversity', 'rps', 'community', 'key', 'education')
Mar 07, 2024 02:00 PM United Way of Olmsted County: Community Involvement Session Join other BIPOC individuals to learn about ways to get involved in our community! ('Diversity', 'compassion', 'key', 'civic engagement', 'CMRC', 'united way')
Mar 05, 2024 06:30 PM Photovoice Photography Photovoice is a photography exhibit with a twist! This project asked immigrant leaders from within the Latinx and Somali communities to document health issues they see firsthand in our communities through photographs and each make a policy recommendation based on their work. ('arts', 'diversity', 'governance', 'health', 'dashboard', 'cmrc')
Feb 26, 2024 04:30 PM CMRC Feb 2024 Meeting Improve Educational Experience for Children of Incarcerated Parents, 2024 Respect, CMRC Future ('diversity', 'openbeam', 'key', 'Diversity', 'CMRC')
Feb 17, 2024 10:30 AM Black History Month - The Arts, Virtual Story Time Bring your kiddos and virtually join us for fun and empowering stories of Black Artists. ('arts', 'diversity', 'Culture', 'key', 'NAACP')
Feb 16, 2024 10:00 PM Feb 2024 Bi-Monthly Community Co-Design Meeting (By Invitation) We will be 1) offering updates on co-design projects and training, 2) sharing guidance and tools for co-design project preparation (what questions to ask, how much will it cost, how long will it take, etc), and 3) discuss future co-design opportunities, barriers, and ways we might be able to support them/you. ('DMC', 'diversity', 'openbeam', 'key', 'co-design')
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 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 04, 2024 11:45 AM 2024 Lunar New Year Celebration at Asia Mall ('culture', 'culture center')
Feb 03, 2024 11:00 AM From "Waste to Wealth" to "African Nouveau" NAACP 2024 Black History Speaker Series ('diversity', 'NAACP', 'community')
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',)
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
Rochester's Sister City - German Trip Jun 12, 2026 - Jun 22, 2026
2026 Juneteenth Jubilee Breakfast Jun 19, 2026 09:30 AM - 11:30 AM — Empire Event Center.
Bike to Work (or Anywhere!) Day Returns June 23 Jun 23, 2026 06:30 AM - 09:00 AM
ROCHESTERFEST 2026 Jun 23, 2026 - Jun 27, 2026 — Soldiers Field
Bush Fellowship Information Session Jun 23, 2026 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM — United Way of Southeast Minnesota Services Building at 903 West Center St, Suite 100, Rochester, MN
Olmsted County CarePortal Active Community Gathering Jun 23, 2026 06:15 PM - 08:00 PM — Calvary E-free Church 5500 25th Ave NW
S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K Workshop SMIF & A Chance to Grow Jul 14, 2026 - Jul 16, 2026
Healthy Brain Workshop 4: Sound Bowl Healing and Stress Management Jul 20, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM — 125 Live
Disability Summit Jul 24, 2026 09:00 AM - 12:30 PM — Commons Area at the Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) Heintz Center
6th Annual Rochester Community Back-to-School Party Aug 15, 2026 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM — Soldiers Field
Upcoming events…
Community News

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



Housing Program DevCo Rochester

Adopting a Resolution adopting the Housing Program, the issuance of Conduit Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds and the execution of related documents relating to the DevCo Rochester Apartments Project.

Last Updated June 14, 2026



Economic Development News

2026: Health tech firms status

2023 Highlights: 1. 2Q 2023  Economic Report ;  2. Tawonda Burks has joined the RAEDI staff full-time as Director of Operations. In addition to managing the RAEDI Economic Development Center; 3, SBDC 1H 2023 performance report

Last Updated June 13, 2026



Healthy Brain Workshop Series

 2026 Summer Workshop Series 

 

Last Updated June 08, 2026



University of Minnesota Expansion Funding Considerations

Jun 2026: City Council Voted to Approve the funding

May 2026: UMR DMC: Funding Request to contribute to Talent Development Infrastructure

Apr 27, 2026: UMR discussion at City Council Study Session Sales Tax Request

Last Updated June 05, 2026



RPS Proposed Budget Reductions

Jun 2, 2026: School Board 2026 budget

April 21, 2026: School Board Meeting Revised Proposed Leadership Changes 

April 7, 2026: Budget Reduction Impact

Sep 12, 2023 RPS Board Study Session video recording; Proposed Equity Policy; PB Reporting

Last Updated June 04, 2026



1Q 2026 Announcements

Jun 2, 2026: #RochMNTogether Yard Sign Campaign

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 June 02, 2026



Sports Complex Phase Two Indoor Recreation Option and Next Steps

Jun 1, 2026 City Council Meeting: PB reporting

Apr 27,  2026 City Council Study Session

Last Updated May 31, 2026



Home Innovation Lab - Aging in Place

May 2026: Home Innovation Lab Open House

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 May 31, 2026



Sherman Mixed Housing Mayo Civic Center Parking Lot

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

June 3, 2024 City Council Meeting 

Council action is requested to continue development negotiations with Sherman Associates and conditionally approve development assistance of up to $13,000,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance and up to $3,000,000 in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid.  

Last Updated May 24, 2026



Mayflower mixed housing project

May 2026:DMCC Board Meeting, Mayflower Project Update

Jul 2025 Mayflower mixed housing project summary; North side of Second Street Southwest across the street from Ronald McDonald House.

Feb 2025 DMCC Board Meeting 2nd Street Public Realm and Mayflower

Last Updated May 24, 2026



United Way Studies of Financial Hardship

2025 ALICE Info: United Way 2025 Study

2024 ALICE Info: Post Bulletin Reporting; United Way 2024 ALICE  (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report 

Last Updated May 24, 2026



West Transit Village Housing Development

May 2026 DMCC Board Update

April 1 2026 AEON Affordable Housing Townhall

May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Report

Feb 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Memo

PB reporting re Jan 6 City Council Meeting

"A final plan for dividing a 14.1-acre Mayo Clinic parking lot into developable sections is expected to be reviewed Monday by the Rochester City Council. The site, being dubbed “West Transit Village,” sits between Second Street Southwest and Cascade Lake. It is currently used as a Mayo Clinic employee shuttle lot, and Mayo Clinic plans to construct a 2,500-stall parking structure."

Last Updated May 24, 2026



Loom Apartments (Onward)

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

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 May 24, 2026



DMC Interim Wayfinding

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated May 23, 2026



Discovery Square Biolbab In Rochester

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Biolabs Status

December 2025 DMCC Board Meeting:

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

Last Updated May 22, 2026



Discovery Walk

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting Discovery Walk Update - Completion

March 2021 DMCC approval for Bid

Last Updated May 22, 2026



DMC STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

May 2026: Consider a recommendation to approve up to $3 million in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid (GSIA)

Last Updated May 22, 2026



Healthy Home Helpers

City of Rochester Launches “Healthy Home Helpers” Program to Support Healthier, More Efficient Homes

Last Updated May 22, 2026



RPS 2030 Strategic Plan Reviews

May 19. 2026 RPS Board Voting

Apr 12, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: High School 

Mar 17, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: Middle School

Mar 3, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: Elementary School & Early Childhood 

Last Updated May 20, 2026



Does Rochester need a new entertainment venue?

A feasibility study is underway for a performing arts center, but what does the city already have?

Last Updated May 18, 2026