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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Oct 10, 2025 08:30 AM Weaving a Wider Community ('diversity', 'Diversity', 'workforce') 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
Oct 09, 2025 06:00 PM SBDC - Foundations of Effective Marketing Part 1 ('diversity', 'health', 'Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Marketing Success starts with clarity. Brand Identity.
Oct 08, 2025 04:30 PM Ready to Lead 2025 Fall Cohort ('networking', 'leadership', 'community engagement') Ready to Lead brings together a small group of people to teach the basics of how to participate in and lead meetings, what to expect and how to contribute in a meaningful way, and the roles and responsibilities of board/committee volunteers. You’ll graduate feeling confident with your new skills; have a community mentor, and an expanded network of friends.
Oct 08, 2025 12:00 PM From Cradle to Career: Driving Lasting Change for Rochester's Youth ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement', 'Education') 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.
Oct 08, 2025 10:00 AM Rochester Housing Alliance October 2025 ('RAF', 'housing', 'governance', 'openbeam', 'key') Cumulative Impacts & Housing Rulemaking Process: Upcoming Opportunity for Community Input ; Presentation on City of Rochester Audit of Vacant Land
Oct 07, 2025 12:00 PM 2025 Co-design Leadership Training Session 1 Option 1 ('diversity', 'dmc', 'co-design') 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.
Oct 07, 2025 10:00 AM Oct 2025 RPS Family Engagement ('RPS', 'Education', 'diversity', 'key') Preparing Each and Every RPS Student for Success: Essential Information for Families, led by Heather Hogen (RPS Director of Academic Supports) and Alex Higano (Lead School Counselor).
Oct 05, 2025 04:00 PM ICAM - Garba & Dandiya Night ('Culture', 'arts') Get ready to dance the night away with Anushka Pandit and Bhargav Upadhyay and their group at the Garba and Dandia night at the Dance Festival of India!
Oct 04, 2025 09:00 AM Sensory-Friendly Vaccination Clinic ('health', 'community engagement') Olmsted Medical Center is partnering with RT Autism Awareness Foundation and the Autism Society of Minnesota to vaccinate individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other sensory needs against the flu.
Oct 02, 2025 04:30 PM Journie Inc.’s Fall Open House ('RPS', 'Education', 'mentoring') • D.A.P. (Data Advocacy Policy): Amplifying Black voices, addressing inequities, and advocating for just policies. • 8 Steps to Promotion: An 8-week workshop series equipping youth with essential life skills, mentorship, and advocacy.
Oct 01, 2025 08:00 AM 2025 EduTech Outlook ('education', 'tech', 'umr') With the rise in new technologies, the 2025 EduTech Outlook will include a keynote from Andre Tost, IBM Distinguished Engineer and Worldwide IBM AI Engineer, as well as speakers on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence
Sep 30, 2025 07:00 PM Aging Gracefully ('aging', 'housing') The pros and cos of staying put or relocation - Discussion led by Jim Miner
Sep 30, 2025 03:00 PM RAF - Community Grant Reviewer Orientation ('RAF',) Learn about the inspiring impacts of our local nonprofit organizations as you assist with reading and scoring grant applications in a selected focus area.
Sep 27, 2025 11:00 AM Oktoberfest 2025 Presented by DBS Group ('culture',) Location: In the Heart of the City, on 1st Avenue between 4th Street and 2nd Street SW (Just like Thursdays Downtown). This event will be a great boost for our downtown businesses following this summer’s construction.
Sep 27, 2025 12:30 PM Chalk the Block ('community',) This free event celebrates art and positive community-building by inviting local artists to create incredible chalk murals and the public to attend and enjoy, while making connections.
Sep 25, 2025 06:00 PM Get Amped: The Basics of Electrifying Your Home By Electrify Everything MN ('sustainability', 'community') Learn about the steps to electrifying your home and the resources available to help at this City of Rochester-sponsored workshop.
Sep 25, 2025 09:30 AM Sep 2025 DMCC Board Meeting ('DMC', 'key', 'community') 2026-2027 DMC Work Plan and Budget: 1. 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Plan, 2. 2026-2027 DMC EDA & City Staff Workplan and Budget, 3. 2026 DMCC Budget, 4. Working Capital Loan; Action: Discovery Square Infrastructure: Shared Lab; LINK BRT Contingency Funding Criteria;
Sep 23, 2025 06:00 PM (Spanish) How to Start a Business from Scratch ('networking', 'diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Training Topics: Accounting/Budget, Business Plan, Business Start-up/Preplanning, Legal Issues, Managing a Business, Marketing/Sales, Tax Planning Description: How to Start a Business from Scratch - Part 1: In the first two classes, you will learn the fundamentals of starting a business from scratch, including conceptualizing viable business ideas and initial strategic planning. The focus will be on generating innovative ideas and evaluating their market potential using tools like the Business Model Canvas and SWOT analysis.
Sep 23, 2025 10:30 AM German Delegation Visits Rochester ('culture', 'global', 'key', 'governance') The City of Rochester and Olmsted County will host a delegation from Germany, led by the Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Oliver Krischer, on Tuesday,
Sep 23, 2025 09:30 AM Sep 2025 Mayor's International Relations Committee Meeting ('Diversity', 'global', 'governance', 'culture', 'key', 'education') Coordinate the Sister Cities Program; support international affairs in the city; provide a welcoming and supportive climate for international residents
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October 2021 Activities

FORUM  WITH INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DR. KENT PEKEL- October 21, 6:30 to 8:00:

In the City for Good will be presenting an online forum to give all in the community an opportuniy to hear from Rochester Public Schools Interim Superintendent Kent Pekel. Dr. Pekel will give an overview of his time so far in the district, along with more information on the strategic plan he will be proposing. Interested Rochester residents may submit questions ahead of time or during the meeting to be used in a Q&A time period after his primary presentation. The October 21 forum will be from 6:30 to 8.

 

Steering Committee- Tuesday, October 5, 4:00 p.m.

Topic: In the City for Good Steering Committee

Time: Oct 5, 2021 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

 Join Zoom Meeting

Contact [email protected] for Zoom info. 

 

Housing Team- Monday, October 11 7:00 p.m.

Our next In the City for Good Housing Team meeting will be on October 11 at 7 pm. We will be discussing the proposed Unified Development Code with Ryan Yetzer, Interim Deputy Director, Community Development for the City of Rochester leading the discussion along with others in the Community Development area. We will especially focus on what some of the proposed changes could mean related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and the role of ADUs in addressing the concerns around the affordability of workforce and senior housing. This will be an online meeting, with the link to be sent out later this week.

 

Age-Friendly- Oct 12th and 26th 2:30 to 4:00

Meeting Information:

Age-Friendly Olmsted County Planning Group

Tues. Oct 12 and 26

2:30pm - 4pm

 

Contact [email protected] for Zoom info

 

Social Services/Social Justice- Watch for info of upcoming November meeting

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Purpose of the site
A sub-site of Community Beam, the City4Good website is being prototyped by openBEAM.net  to help the "In the City For Good initiative" to better collaborate.
Community Status/News

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



Sports Complex Phase 2 - Indoor Facilities

Jul 13, 2026: City Council Study Session - Funding Options

Apr 27, 2026 City Council Study Session Community Engagement Rochester Regional Sports Center, Stadium & Sports Fields

Last Updated July 14, 2026



RPS Long Term Technology Plan

July 7, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: The Long Range Technology Plan (LRTP) serves as a comprehensive roadmap, defining the strategic direction for technology deployment and technical support within the district over the next three to five years.

Last Updated July 10, 2026



America's City for Health (ACH)

Jul 2026 PB Op Ed on America's City for Health and Wellness 

May 2026: DMC University Trademark Handling -The DMCC holds several DMC-related trademarks, including “Destination Medical Center,” “Discovery Square,” and “America’s City for Health.” 

References: Reimagine what can be done to fulfill the vision of ACH -- info LINKS

Last Updated July 09, 2026



Silver Lake Stadium Concept

The Rochester City Council has unanimously approved a six-month exclusive negotiation agreement with Madison-based Landmark Development to explore a potential sports-focused redevelopment of the Silver Lake Power Plant site.

Last Updated July 08, 2026



Mayo Clinic Bold. Forward. Unbound.Grainger Linear Park

Jul 6, 2026 City Council Lourdes Grainger Linear Park The project involves the construction of a 30-foot linear park

Last Updated July 07, 2026



Peace Plaza paver adjustment plan

Jul 6, 2026 City Council Meeting Paver Improvement

2025: City Council Study Session PB Reporting; DMCC Board Meeting Proceedings; Public Media Reporting: Post Bulleting, Star Tribune

 

Last Updated July 07, 2026



Sherman Mixed Housing Mayo Civic Center Parking Lot

July 6, 2026: City Council Meeting - Extension of agreement

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 July 06, 2026



Rochester Transit Contract Award

Jul 6, 2026 City Council Meeting: Action Requested: Adopting a Resolution awarding a contract and facilities lease with Via Transit Twin Cities LLC for operating Rochester's public transportation system.

Last Updated July 06, 2026



Co-design Information

Jun 20, 2026 Co-Design as Civic Infrastructure Video Recording and Presentation

Co-Design as Structural Accountability White Paper

 

Last Updated July 02, 2026



City of Rochester Housing Enablement

Jun, 2026 Planning commission supports planned infill project

Apr, 2026 The City of Rochester is now accepting proposals for the sale and redevelopment of two City-owned residential parcels located in the Durand Subdivision and Hilmer’s High View Acres.

Reference: AI Analysis of Infill Strategy

Last Updated June 27, 2026



Rochester International Relations Committee

2026 NewsSpring, Winter Newsletters; Apr 2026 Siheung, Korean Newsletter;  Sister City Visits Germany Visit

2025 News: Sister City Trips: Japan; Rochester Sister City Application (Roles and Responsibilities)

General Info: Sister Cities Relationship Logs; IRC Meeting Logs

Last Updated June 22, 2026



Curriculum Development

Jun 2026: Social Studies Curriculum Three Shifts in the New Standards

Ethnic Studies Strand, Disciplinary Literacy Practices. Centering Student Inquiry

Last Updated June 18, 2026



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