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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Feb 26, 2025 10:00 AM A View of Black History ('Diversity',) Remembering the Past to Create a Better Future
Feb 25, 2025 05:00 PM Cradle to Career Plan Review Due ('youth', 'c2c', 'education', 'key') Please review the attached slide deck and then complete the Google Form link below to share feedback. They asked that you please complete the form with your feedback by Tuesday, February 25th.
Feb 20, 2025 07:00 PM History Center: Seeking A New Understanding of MN's Role in the Underground Railroad ('education',) Hear about the recent discovery of documentation
Feb 15, 2025 05:30 PM UMR Black Student Union: Ebony Night ('diversity', 'Education', 'NAACP', 'UMR') Harlem Nights Roaring 20s
Feb 12, 2025 10:00 AM Rochester Housing Alliance Feb 12, 2025 ('RAF', 'housing', 'openbeam', 'key') HEAR & HOMES Programs - Dave Reichart & April Sutor; Onward Civic Center Drive Presentation by Chris Osmundson; Olmsted County Building; HUD 515 Properties Data
Feb 12, 2025 12:00 PM Safe Spaces at Work: Creating a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement') In today’s evolving workplace landscape, fostering a culture of safety and inclusion is more critical than ever. With ongoing conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), employees and organizations alike are navigating challenges in creating environments where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered.
Feb 11, 2025 06:30 PM When Driving is Not an Option ('transportation', 'community') Join author Anna Zivarts in a presentation and discussion of what Rochester can gain by creating a community accessible to all! Over 30% of our country cannot drive. Here in Rochester, that number is even higher.
Feb 11, 2025 10:00 AM RPS Feb 2025 Family Engagement Meeting: RPS Chemical Health Counseling ('RPS', 'youth', 'key', 'addiction', 'education') During this session, our team of RPS Chemical Health Counselors will share insights into their work and its connection to families. This is a valuable opportunity to learn how they support students, access helpful resources for families, and partner with family-facing staff.
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.
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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.



Olmsted County Health Focus Topics

1Q 2026 HAPP Meeting:

Overdose SPIKE, Mental Health Club House

Last Updated March 17, 2026



DMC Private Investment Status

 Annual Report to DEED Prep 

  • Mar 2026 DMCC Exec Committee Meeting - Video Recording, PB Reporting - Private Investment Status
  • Mar 2025: DMCC Exec Committee Briefing " Overall private investment related to the Destination Medical Center initiative bounced back in 2024, but non-Mayo Clinic development continued to decline in the DMC district for the sixth year."

Last Updated March 15, 2026



Rochester Learning Center Mural Night

UMR and ALC Collaboration Research Study Introduction

The Artist Mindset Research Study

 

Last Updated March 14, 2026



City SUPPORTING TRANSFORMATION - BOLD. Forward. Unbound.

City Council Study Session:

Mar 2026 Video Recording, Presentation

Feb 2025 Video Recording Link, Presentation, Collaboration Commitment

Last Updated March 10, 2026



America's City for Heath and Older Adults Needs

Mar 2026: Tech Enabled Aging In Place Talks Postings

Oct 2025 AI Summary of Dave Beal's PB Op Ed: "Include older adults in Rochester's Plans"

Last Updated March 09, 2026



Braver Angels News

Listen to (and learn from) the other side

  • 2026 - Mar 6 Volunteer Opportunities, Feb Citizens Commission on Immigration Outreach
  • 2025, 24 - Mar 2025 Newsletters: End birthright citizenship? Apr 2024 Braver Angels Newsletter: 2024 National Convention; National Debate: Should we be colorblind?

 

Last Updated March 06, 2026



2025-26 RPS Superintendent Goals Check

Feb 3 2026 Midyear Review: 

  • Video Clip
  • Talking Points 

Last Updated March 04, 2026



Development Assistance Agreement Relating to the Citywalk Apartments for Tax Increment Financing

Mar 2, 2026: Rochester Economic Development Authority 

Approving and Authorizing the Execution of Development Assistance Agreement (Citywalk Project)

Last Updated March 03, 2026



Downtown Mobility Network

Mar 2 2025 City Council: Memo, Video, Presentation

Sep 2025 Press Release: City of Rochester Launches “Reimagining Sixth Avenue W” to Reconnect Downtown Mobility Network

Last Updated March 03, 2026



RPS 2030 Strategic Plan Design

Mar 3, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: Background Memo, Video Clip, Presentation 

Last Updated March 03, 2026



Public Office Candidate Trainings

Two sets of candidates training programs: 

1. Ready to Run: Community Partners Training: March 11, March 25, April 1

2. Chamber of Commerce Sponsored Training: March 7, March 28 

Last Updated February 28, 2026



City Council and Mayor-Better Public Hearing Meeting

Feb 9, 2026 Study Session: Report, Video, Presentation

Summarizing interviews, survey responses, scorecard and public forum 

Last Updated February 27, 2026



Hope at Home

Nearly $60,000 has been distributed to help prevent evictions

The Hope at Home Fund, created by Family Promise Rochester

Last Updated February 26, 2026



2026 and 2025 Action Plan Updates

Feb 2026 Action Plan Update

Jan 2025 City of Rochester’s Action Plan, first implemented in 2021, serves as our roadmap for success. It outlines current initiatives aimed at advancing City Council's Strategic Priorities. 

Last Updated February 26, 2026



Downtown Historic District Investment

Feb 23, 2026 City Council Study Session 

DMCC Board Meeting Dec 10, 2025

  • Request Memo
  • Video Recording
  • Presentation 

Last Updated February 26, 2026



Olmsted County Press Release:

We are Water MN Traveling Exhibit Feb 25 thru Apr 20, 2026: A statewide partnership that deepens connections between Minnesotans

and the water we rely on.

Last Updated February 19, 2026



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



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