You are here: Home / Community Events/News

Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Feb 10, 2025 01:00 PM Advancing Health Equity ('health', 'diversity', 'key') Empowering Immigrant and Refugee Communities
Feb 10, 2025 12:00 PM Feb 2025 Rochester Vision 2050 Community Engagement ('co-design', 'governance', 'community', 'key', 'openbeam') Our city has undertaken a broad array of initiatives to create a bright future for her citizens and constituencies. These should be guided by a clear, optimistic, aspirational vision. 2050: Far enough for limitless possibilities; close enough to begin today to serve Rochester’s next generation and beyond. Vision 2050 Steering Committee guides this initiative A large volunteer group will put “Vision in Action”, using co-design to engage the community to share ideas and priorities for Rochester’s future.
Feb 06, 2025 09:30 AM Feb 2025 DMCC Board Meeting ('DMC',)
Feb 01, 2025 10:00 AM Reflection to Action: Human Rights, Racial Justice, and Lessons from Skin Deep ('diversity', 'NAACP') Skin Deep is a PBS documentary written by Prexy Nesbitt and Marian Marzynski. The documentary examines the fight against legal, institutionalized racism in the United States and South Africa, from the 1950s through the 1990s, through interviews with the people who took their protests against segregation and inequality into the streets and beyond, forcing remarkable changes. To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. ” - Nelson Mandela
Jan 24, 2025 11:00 AM Winter Salt Week: Promoting Sustainable Winter Maintenance and Protecting Freshwater Resources ('sustainability', 'governance') This initiative is dedicated to raising awareness about the environmental impacts of salt use during winter months and promoting strategies for reducing chloride pollution in our freshwater systems. The event includes a variety of educational opportunities for community members, local leaders and environmental advocates.
Jan 30, 2025 06:30 PM Sister City Trips to Japan & Germany Conducted by Ed-Ventures Travel ('education', 'diversity') On behalf of the Mayor's International Relations Committee, the purpose of the meeting is to provide information about our Japan and Germany trips and generate interest.
Jan 27, 2025 03:30 PM Jan 2025 City Council Study Session - Strategic Planning ('Housing', 'key', 'governance') The start of the year, the completion of recent City elections, and the onset of the budget season present an opportunity to review, refine, and affirm the City's Strategic Priorities. The current priorities have been in place since 2021 and were updated in early 2023. For over a year, the City team has been guided by these refined priorities identified by the City Council in 2023: 1. Affordable Living 2. Economic Vibrancy and Growth Management 3. Quality Services
Jan 25, 2025 12:00 PM 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration ('culture', 'Diversity') Celebrate the Year of the Snake at the 2025 Lunar New Year Festival! Asia Mall invites you to join us on Saturday and Sunday, January 25th and 26th, from 12PM-5PM. This event marks the third official Lunar New Year celebration since our opening. Join us for an unforgettable day of traditional performances, cultural showcases, and community spirit.
Jan 25, 2025 01:00 PM ZVMS Street Medicine Eye Care Clinic on January 25 ('Kiwanis', 'childcare', 'YMCA', 'Conversation Y: Community Development') Following the eye care clinic at Christ United Methodist Church on January 25, we will provide eye care and glasses through regular drop-in clinics at additional locations and through street rounds.
Jan 21, 2025 06:00 PM OMC Regional Foundation: What Makes Healthcare Work Worth It – Or Not? ('health', 'community engagement') Learning objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to: • articulate and prioritize their reasons for the work they do • assess the ethical risks and rewards of healthcare work • apply identified values and ethics to interactions with patients and colleagues.
Jan 21, 2025 05:30 PM Rochester Area Foundation Racial-Healing ('youth', 'anti-racism', 'Diversity', 'Diversity Council') Please join our local National Day of Racial Healing Event (details below) 𝐂𝐨-𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐲: Olmsted County and Rochester Area Foundation
Jan 20, 2025 05:30 PM Deep Listening through 1:1s Trainings, Monday, January 20, 5:30-7:30pm ('compassion', 'community') This is a training on how to have the courage to go deeper than the weather and sports. One-to-one conversations are a fundamental organizing tool to understand each other’s experiences, discern our local issue campaign direction, and build relationships to go change things together.
Jan 20, 2025 08:30 AM January 2025 Annual MLK "We Have A Dream" Virtual Celebration ('NAACP', 'Diversity') Join us and NAACP Rochester Branch MN to celebrate Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with the annual We Have a Dream Celebration on Monday, January 20 from 8:30am to 10:30am.
Jan 18, 2025 09:00 AM Trafficking is Still Here ('youth', 'Civic Equity') 21 million people are trafficked globally every day. Women and girls account for 75% of that number. It continues in our community also. Local professionals such as law enforcement, immigration, and victim services, attempts to advance best prevention practices and keeping victims safe.
Jan 17, 2025 05:00 PM 2025 Bowling Night by Journie ('Diversity',) Discover Journie programs and network.
Jan 17, 2025 03:00 PM Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota ('diversity', 'immigrant') Policies and Practices to Expect; How to Prepare if You Do Not have Legal or Permanent Status; Overview of Immigration Court Process
Jan 17, 2025 12:00 PM Messaging Training on Race Class Gender Narrative ('community engagement', 'education', 'Diversity') Learn how to craft messages that fight back against our opposition's divide-and-conquer tactics, cultivate multiracial solidarity, and move people on issues you care about.
Jan 14, 2025 10:00 AM RPS Jan 2025 Family Engagement Meeting: Opportunities for Students to Earn College Credit in High School ('RPS', 'education', 'key') Opportunities for Students to Earn College Credit in High School
Jan 12, 2025 03:00 PM Interfaith Immigration Prayer Service ('faith', 'immigrant') When our immigrant neighbors are threatened how can we be silent?
Jan 10, 2025 07:15 AM Rochester Mayor's State of the City Address ('key', 'governance', 'community', 'openbeam') A fresh start for our best future
Document Actions
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

Help
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.



DMC 2025 5 Year Plan Update

DMC 2025 5 Year Plan Draft Dec 2025 DMC Board Meeting

  • Request for Action
  • 2025 5-year plan draft

Last Updated December 07, 2025



City of Rochester, MN Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2025 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2024 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2023 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients; Mayor Norton Honors 2022 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Last Updated December 06, 2025



Looking Back Equity Alliance Series Topics

Collection of Topics from alliance start to Dec 2025 to offer "a grounded reflection on our collective progress and the work still ahead to strengthen equity across our community."

Last Updated December 06, 2025



City of Rochester Internship Program

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 December 05, 2025



RPS Balanced Budget Model

2026 Review and 2027 Enhancements: 

 Phase I of the Balanced Budget Model (BBM), launched across all learning sites and select special education programs, served as both a starting point and a critical learning stage.

AI Summary of PB ePaper Article

Last Updated December 04, 2025



Rochester International Relations Committee

2026 Sister City Visits Germany Visit

2025 Sister City Trips: Japan

Rochester Sister City Application (Roles and Responsibilities)

Sister Cities Relationship Logs

IRC Meeting Logs

Last Updated December 03, 2025



2026 Property Tax Levy and Other Budget Items

Dec 1, 2025 City Council Meeting Materials

  • Background
  • Video Recording
  • Presentation

PB Reporting

 

Last Updated December 02, 2025



RPS Strategic Plan Review

Dec 2 2025: Strategic Plan Review Part 1

  • Background
  • Presentation Slides
  • Part 1 Goals

Last Updated December 01, 2025



Downtown Building Energy Transition Initiative

City of Rochester Launches Minnesota’s First Operational Thermal Energy Network Through Downtown Building Energy Transition Initiative

Last Updated December 01, 2025



RPS 5 Year Budget Reduction Strategy

2025-11-21 RPS Reducing 2026 budget cut

RPS Board Presentation July 15, 2025 

AI generated summary of budget reduction strategy 

Last Updated November 21, 2025



Cradle to Career 4Q/3Q 2025 News

2025-11-20 C2C Connection StriveTogether 

2025-10-29  C2C 2025 Summit 

2025-6-2014 2025 Summer Financial Aid Sessions: Locations: RCTC, Rochester Public Library; Information for CBO hosting Financial Aid Sessions

Last Updated November 20, 2025



Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness

Fall (November) 2025:

  • Background Information
  • Video Recording
  • Presentation Slides

Last Updated November 18, 2025



Senior Housing Transition Mentorship

2025-11-14 Post Bulletin ePaper Abstract - "Assist older adults navigate all aspects of housing transitions,”

2025-11-14 AI summary of PB ePaper reporting

Last Updated November 14, 2025



UMR Expansion Plan

 PB ePaper Reporting: 2 new campus buildings are planned to accommodate student growth

AI Summary of PB Reporting

Last Updated November 13, 2025



About Rochester Community Initiative (RCI)

Oct 2025 C2C Summit: Cross-Sector Collaboration: Civic Engagement

Oct 2024 C2C Summit: Students Decoded: The Mental Health Database

Aug 2025 Equity Alliance Series RCI Introduction

 

Last Updated November 11, 2025



Rochester Public Library - Master Plan

Master Plan Approval 11/3/2025

Rochester City Council Study Session 4/14/2025 

Post Bulletin Reporting

References: 2024 Usage Data, Community Survey Request

Last Updated November 08, 2025



National Small Business Initiative & National 311 Day

November 6, 2025 - Rochester Selected as One of Six Cities for National Small Business Initiative

March 11, 2025 – ROCHESTER, MINN. – The City of Rochester is excited to celebrate National 311 Day. 

Last Updated November 07, 2025



Opioid Settlement-Funded Initiatives

November 4, 2025 Olmsted County Board of Commissioners Meeting; 

- Video Recording; Credible Mind Tool

PB ePaper Reporting
Last Updated November 06, 2025



Rochester Public Utilities

2026 Rate Increase

2019 Residential Rate Structure Survey 

Last Updated November 05, 2025



Rochester-Olmsted County 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program

Application Open

Background: The current Rochester-Olmsted County 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program application is for the Tax Assessment Year 2025 - Tax Payable Year 2026, the tax savings for this application will not be realized until the Tax Payable Year 2026.

 

Last Updated November 03, 2025