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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Jun 19, 2024 09:30 AM Juneteenth Jubilee Breakfast ('diversity',) Come join us for a morning of celebration and unity at the Empire Event Center. Start your day off right with a delicious breakfast spread. Juneteenth or “Freedom Day” is a day of recognition, restoration and celebration.
Jun 16, 2024 01:00 PM Punch 9 for Harold Washington Feature Documentary ('diversity', 'community', 'civic engagement', 'Diversity', 'NAACP') Supported by the Office of the Mayor, Rochester City DEI, in partnership with the NAACP
Jun 13, 2024 10:00 AM Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration ('veterans',) Vietnam-era Veterans and their families, allies of the United States during the Vietnam War and all Minnesotans who wish to thank our Veterans.
Jun 15, 2024 12:00 PM Juneteenth 2024 Freedom Day-Love Wins ('diversity', 'Culture', 'NAACP') Join us and the community for a fantastic fun filled family event with the community, sponsors, and community collaborators. Juneteenth is very important to the African American community and is a day to honor the emancipation of slavery back in 1865.
Jun 13, 2024 08:00 AM 2024 Next Level Conference: TOGETHER, FASTER AND STRONGER ('Education', 'Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Welcome to REIMAGINE, the annual gathering of professionals, experts, business owners, and thought leaders in the business sector. Our conference is a unique platform where people come together to exchange ideas, build networks, and foster lasting partnerships. This year’s inaugural event promises to be bigger and better than other events you’ve been to thus far, with an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and ending with an expo.
Jun 13, 2024 06:00 PM Homes for Our Neighbors - What if we treated housing like a human right? ('Housing', 'ISAIAH', 'key') In 2020, Olmsted County was forecast to need 18,000 additional units of housing by 2030. With higher growth due to Mayo Clinic’s expansion, the need will be even greater. Olmsted County is a leader in Minnesota for its commitment to locally-owned and -controlled housing. On June 13, come learn more about how Olmsted County is leading, and call on our county commissioners and local partners to dream even bigger to address our community’s urgent need for affordable, healthy, and climate-friendly homes.
Jun 13, 2024 05:30 PM June Valuing Others Together Thursday Night Lights ('civic engagement',) Digging Deeper...Awesome Questions to discuss with a new friend
Jun 13, 2024 03:00 PM June 2024 Rochester Vision 2050 Community Engagement ('governance', 'community', '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.
Jun 13, 2024 01:00 PM 2Q 2024 June Health HAPP Meeting ('CHNA', 'community', 'Health/Wellness', 'Health', 'public sector work product', 'key', 'health work product') Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity (M.O.V.E.) Update, LGBTQIA+ Co-Design Work Discussion, 2024 CHAP Satisfaction Survey, Community Announcements and Sharing
Jun 12, 2024 12:00 PM Investing in Community: Equitable Planning and Design Strategies in the Twin Cities and Beyond ('DMC', 'Diversity', 'Housing', 'key', 'CMRC') As Rochester continues to grow, how can equitable design and planning strategies be utilized to help communities realize the benefits of improvements that are happening in their communities? This presentation will speak to anti-displacement strategies being utilized in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, MN, through the Reconnect Rondo initiative; equitable engagement strategies in Rochester and El Paso, and the way that culture and context can shape park design in Denton, TX. The presentation is intended to start a conversation about how Rochester can learn from these projects and other initiatives to achieve equitable and restorative development.
Jun 12, 2024 10:00 AM June, 2024 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance ('RAF', 'housing', 'openbeam', 'key') Topics: Opportunities the IRA has for home remodeling & building; City of Rochester goals, priorities, and Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funding initiatives; Local Case Study: John Hardy’s House
Jun 10, 2024 05:00 PM Community Memorial Service for Our Unhoused Neighbors ('housing', 'social services') June 10 5 p.m. at Rochester Civic Theater; Community Meal to follow at The Landing. Sponsored by local faith leaders and nonprofit service providers.
Jun 06, 2024 05:15 PM MPR Connects Presents MPR News with Angela Davis ('community engagement', 'MPR') June 6th, MPR Connects Presents MPR News with Angela Davis. 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, The Chateau Theatre.
Jun 04, 2024 04:00 PM June 2024 United Way BIPOC Leaders Panel and Small Group Conversation ('Diversity', 'compassion', 'key', 'civic engagement', 'CMRC', 'united way') Join other BIPOC individuals to learn about ways to get involved in our community! BIPOC Leaders Panel and Small Group Conversation
May 30, 2024 04:30 PM CMRC May 2024 Meeting ('diversity', 'disability', 'community', 'c2c', 'key', 'CMRC', 'united way') Confirmed Topics CMRC Updates, PossAbilities DEI Outreach; C2C free FAFSA CBO support, United Way DEI Panel Convening; Potential Topic: Olmsted County Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity (M.O.V.E.)
May 30, 2024 11:00 AM 2025 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study ('Diversity', 'key', 'governance') Igbal Mohammed Office of Equity in Procurement - Manager 50 Sherburne Avenue, Suite 112 Saint Paul, MN 55155 (651) 201-2421 [email protected]
May 29, 2024 12:30 PM Star Tribune Minnesota Matters Rochester ('networking', 'listening', 'key') Star Tribune journalists and editors are coming to Rochester to learn from you.
May 23, 2024 06:30 PM C4G: MENTAL ILLNESS AND HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS ISSUES ('compassion', 'mental health', 'Homelessness') Sarah Knispel and Lee Formella will join us to discuss the relationship between mental illness and housing and homelessness presented with facts and legislative actions. Additionally they will share how we can approach, respect and treat our brothers and sisters around us suffering from mental illness. Sarah started as a Mental Health Specialist working with social well-being in the streets of Brooklyn.
May 23, 2024 12:00 PM 2024 DMC Collaborative Session ('EDA', 'key', 'Entrepreneurship') Joint gathering of the DMCC board, DMCC EDA board, Rochester City Council & Mayor, and Olmsted County board, along with their respective staff. Goals for the meeting: Allow organizations to share ideas: Learning each group’s priorities,
May 23, 2024 09:30 AM May 23, 2024 DMCC Board Meeting ('EDA', 'key', 'Entrepreneurship') Destination Medical Center status include: metrics, DMC agency reporting, projects updates
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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.



DMC 2025 5 Year Plan Update

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

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Looking Back Equity Alliance Series Topics

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Last Updated December 06, 2025



City of Rochester Internship Program

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Last Updated December 05, 2025



RPS Balanced Budget Model

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AI Summary of PB ePaper Article

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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

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2026 Property Tax Levy and Other Budget Items

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PB Reporting

 

Last Updated December 02, 2025



RPS Strategic Plan Review

Dec 2 2025: Strategic Plan Review Part 1

  • Background
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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

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UMR Expansion Plan

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

AI Summary of PB Reporting

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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

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Post Bulletin Reporting

References: 2024 Usage Data, Community Survey Request

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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. 

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Opioid Settlement-Funded Initiatives

November 4, 2025 Olmsted County Board of Commissioners Meeting; 

- Video Recording; Credible Mind Tool

PB ePaper Reporting
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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