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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Dec 19, 2025 04:00 PM Education Awareness for the Somali Community ('Kiwanis', 'housing', 'Health/Wellness', 'Financial Stress') Building a Better Future
Dec 18, 2025 11:30 AM NAMI Minnesota Presents "Our Journeys: Multicultural Stories of Healing & Recovery" (Virtual Only) ('Culture',) Free Workshop for all under represented racial, cultural and ethnic communities. Multicultural presenters living with mental illnesses will share their personal paths to healing, resilience, and wellness. This program was created by and for underrepresented racial, cultural, and ethnic communities, offering a space for connection, conversation, and hope.
Dec 17, 2025 05:00 PM Holiday Potluck Hosted by Pata de Perro and ACHLA ('ACHLA', 'diversity') Join us with your family and be part of our holiday celebration and check out our state-of-the-art bike repair facility. If you can bring a dish to share, please sign up using the link below.
Dec 16, 2025 09:30 AM Dec 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
Dec 13, 2025 08:00 AM Christmas Anonymous – Rochester MN 2025 () Helping families in need via our ‘store’ where parents can shop without paying for new and gently-used toys; teen gifts; boys and girls new clothing; new hats, gloves, and knitwear; and new or used shoes, boots, and skates.
Dec 11, 2025 12:00 PM RAVA Holiday Lunch 2025 ('networking',) We would like to invite you to our December Rochester Area Volunteer Administrators (RAVA) Holiday Event!
Dec 11, 2025 08:00 AM Olmsted County - Operation Green Light ('veterans',) Olmsted County is proud to once again participate in Operation Green Light, shining a beacon of hope and support for veterans.
Dec 11, 2025 07:30 AM 4Q 2025 County Health Assessment and Planning Partnership (HAPP) ('CHNA', 'Health', 'key') 1. Welcome 2. Youth LGBTQIA2S+ Coalition Talor Gray and Katie Hackman, OCPHS 3. CHAP Newsletter Discussion All 4. Core Agency Updates CHAP Core Group 5. Community Announcements and Sharing
Dec 10, 2025 05:30 PM December 2025 Coming to the Table ('networking', 'diversity', 'civic engagement') Coming to the Table's mission is "working together to create a just and truthful society that acknowledges and seeks to heal from the racial wounds of the past from slavery to the many forms of racism it spawned." Coming to the Table supports 50+local affiliate groups across eighteen states, including Rochester, MN.
Dec 10, 2025 12:00 PM Equity Alliance Equity Series Looking Back, Moving Forward: Equity Series Reflections ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement', 'Education') In this year-end Equity Series episode, organizations share the key insights that shaped their equity work over the past year.
Dec 10, 2025 09:30 AM Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting ('commerce', 'DMC', 'community') DMC 5-Year Plan Update; TALENT AS INFRASTRUCTURE: UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA UPDATE DECEMBER 2025
Dec 10, 2025 10:00 AM Rochester Housing Alliance December 2025 ('RAF', 'housing', 'governance', 'openbeam', 'key') Cumulative Impacts & Housing Rulemaking Process: Upcoming Opportunity for Community Input Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Dec 09, 2025 03:30 PM Rochester Public Library Master Plan Review Session 2 ('rpl',) During this session you will hear a brief presentation on the Library Master Plan from Karen Lemke, Library Director. Our facilitator and library staff will then lead attendees through activities to gather feedback.
Dec 08, 2025 03:30 PM Rochester Public Library Master Plan Review Session 1 ('rpl',) During this session you will hear a brief presentation on the Library Master Plan from Karen Lemke, Library Director. Our facilitator and library staff will then lead attendees through activities to gather feedback.
Dec 07, 2025 03:00 PM WE ARE HOME Solidarity Potluck ('Culture', 'ISAIAH', 'Diversity', 'key') Sunday: WE ARE HOME Solidarity Potluck On Sunday, come together from 3-4pm at 125 LIVE for WE ARE HOME, an event of solidarity, storytelling, and shared food. Hear from Rochester Somali community speakers, celebrate Somali culture and contributions, and join us in affirming that Minnesota is all of our home. Bring a dish and your voice as we gather in unity and pride.
Dec 07, 2025 03:00 PM NAACP: Hate Has No Place Here ('diversity', 'NAACP', 'immigrant') The Rochester Branch of the NAACP Stands With Our Somali Community
Dec 07, 2025 12:30 PM Rochester Interfaith and Community Immigrant Services Conference 2.0 () “Building a coalition of Service and Support within our Community, Next Steps” -Hosted by the CUMC Church and Society Action Committee-
Dec 06, 2025 02:00 PM Rochester Cultural Center Grand Opening ('culture', 'diversity', 'CMRC', 'culture center') It is with great pleasure that we extend an invitation to you to join us in marking a significant milestone in our journey. We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of the Rochester Cultural Center, and we would be honored if you could be present to celebrate this momentous occasion with us.
Dec 06, 2025 02:00 PM Keenan Jones' Children's Book Reading and Activity ('commerce', 'community engagement', 'workforce') His debut picture book, Saturday Morning at the Shop
Dec 06, 2025 12:30 PM Zumbro Valley Medical Society Holds an Eye Care Clinic ('Health', 'Financial Stress') The clinic will provide comprehensive eye exams and prescription eyeglasses at no cost.
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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.



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

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

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



Braver Angels News

Listen to (and learn from) the other side

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

 

Last Updated February 04, 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



2025 YE Housing Statistics

Jan 2026 Housing Alliance:

2025 Real Estate SEMN Marketing Data

2025 Coalition Investments

 

Last Updated February 02, 2026



RPS Family Engagement Opportunities

Jan 2026 Announcements

Family Engagement, Caregiver and Parent Empowerment 

Last Updated January 30, 2026



Community Health Improvement Plan Update

2026 CHNA Info: Jan 2026 Newsletter

2025 Community Health Needs Info: Admin Message, Oct 2025 Newsletter 

Ref: PB Report

Last Updated January 29, 2026



Black History Month Series of Events

Black History Month Press Releases: 

2026, 2025, 2024,

2023, 2022, 2021 

Last Updated January 28, 2026



Rochester Announcements

Jan 2026 Immigration Enforcement Updates

Jan 2024: The City of Rochester welcomes applications for the Community Building Fund.  This fund is all about supporting projects, programs, and events in the city that actively promote equity and inclusion.

Last Updated January 28, 2026



RPS Strategic Plan and Goals Review

Strategic Plan Goals Review  

  • Background
  • Presentation Slides
  • Part 1 Goals and Part 2 Goals

Last Updated January 23, 2026



Collider Foundation Updates

Jan 2026 Newsletter: Notes from the Executive Director; Thanks to Our Supporters; Our events; What's New

Last Updated January 18, 2026



Lifestyle Wellness

2026 Healthy Brain Community Workshops: strengthen memory and cognitive health

March 2020: Rochester Mayor Proclamation  

Last Updated January 18, 2026



Restorative Justice Circle Collaboration with RPS

RPS Family Engagement Jan 2026 Intro

Gemini Perspectives of PB Op Ed

2025 Restorative Justice Circle Training; RPS Collaboration to improve school attendance

2024 Project Legacy Collaboration

 References: About Restorative Justices; 

Last Updated January 17, 2026



Chateau Theatre Upkeep

Jan 2026 City Council Study Session

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting

Feb 2025 DMCC Board and  City Council Proceedings

References: AI summary of PB Reporting  

Last Updated January 13, 2026