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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Apr 19, 2024 05:00 PM RPS School Board Listening Session ('Education', 'community') Hosted by Pamoja Women
Apr 19, 2024 11:30 AM Panel Session for Still We Rise: Rochester’s Black Legacy ('community',) This special event is open to all community members, while centering black voices and lived experiences. Lunch will be provided by Jersey Jo’s. Registration is required for food planning purposes. Please use the link below to register.
Apr 17, 2024 07:00 PM Barbershop Talk: Racism in Rochester ('diversity', 'community') Moderators: Bud Whitehorn, Andre Crockett, Tawonda Burks; In response to the racial slur written in cups on a bridge crossing East Circle drive near Century High school this weekend, a group of our local community leaders are coming together to have a conversation about racism in Rochester at a Community Town Hall. This event will be Wednesday from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Century High School.
Apr 17, 2024 04:00 PM Community Involvement Session: Candidate Training ('Education', 'Diversity') Join United Way of Olmsted County and BIPOC community leaders for a training for individuals interested in running for office
Apr 16, 2024 05:00 PM Journie: Open Road Workshop ('youth', 'Education', 'diversity', 'CMRC') The main objective is to enhance access to higher education opportunities for minorities and low-income families in Olmsted County.
Apr 13, 2024 10:00 AM Our Kids and Our Future: A Vision for Rochester Public Schools ('youth', 'Education', 'tech', 'community')
Apr 11, 2024 06:30 PM Stories Embracing Inclusion with Compassion ('community engagement',) Meeting Hunger with Compassion
Apr 10, 2024 12:00 PM Empowering Women in the Workplace ('DMC', 'Diversity', 'CMRC', 'key') Heather will provide a brief overview of the significant legislative milestones enacted by the Minnesota Legislature since women's Suffrage. Additionally, she will delve into Minnesota-specific data concerning women, shedding light on pertinent details regarding recent legislation and its implications for women in the workforce.
Apr 10, 2024 10:00 AM April 10, 2024 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance: "Rural Trends 2024: Housing Supply and Demand" ('RAF', 'housing', 'openbeam', 'key') "Rural Trends 2024: Housing Supply and Demand" (Ben Winchester from the U of M Extension office) "Economic Vitality Funding Update" (Taryn Edens, City of Rochester)
Apr 09, 2024 10:00 AM RPS April 2024 Family Engagement Meeting ('RPS', 'diversity', 'rps', 'community', 'key', 'education') Youth Voice & Student Leadership, with a presentation facilitated by Sarah-Louise Henry, RPS Coordinator of Youth Empowerment, Department of Equity and Engagement.
Apr 04, 2024 06:00 PM 2025 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study Public Forum 2 ('diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Apr 02, 2024 12:30 PM 2025 Minnesota Joint Disparity Public Forum 1 ('Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Mar 28, 2024 12:00 PM MPR Rochester RDAC Spring 2024 Meeting; Chandra Kavati, Senior Vice President, Chief Partnerships & Revenue Officer. ('diversity', 'MPR', 'Diversity') Topics include: Quarterly updates Possible Topics;
Mar 26, 2024 05:30 PM Year of Respect: Respect & Calm: Reduce the Rancor ('Civic Equity', 'community engagement') Guest: Bill Doherty, National Co-Founder of Braver Angels [email protected]; Additional Guest: Dr. Steve Lansing Co-Founder: Veterans Empowered “The significance of valuing others” “Amazingly simple steps of action”
Mar 26, 2024 04:30 PM 6th Stree Bridge and Riverfront Improvements Project Open House ('transit',) Project Manager Ian Cochran shares, “The City of Rochester is excited to kick off this next public engagement phase that builds upon previous community conversations about connecting the neighborhoods on either side of the Zumbro River with a bridge at 6th Street S. The community-informed design will be about more than just the bridge; the project will benefit the community in various ways including improved connections to the riverfront and a safer 6th Street for all users.”
Mar 25, 2024 04:30 PM CMRC March 25, 2024 Meeting ('diversity', 'openbeam', 'key', 'Diversity', 'CMRC') Topics: University of Minnesota Rochester Campus & Climate Action Plan; Three Rivers Community Action, BIPOC Homeownership Mentor Outreach, CMRC Updates: ACHLA and Pamoja Women actions regarding Post Secondary assists
Mar 23, 2024 07:00 PM Pamoja Women's Annual Iftar Dinner ('key', 'CMRC', 'community') Please register to join Pamoja Women in a fast-breaking food sharing evening in the holy month of Ramadan.
Mar 19, 2024 02:00 PM City and County Joint Meeting: A Coordinated Approach to Homelessness ('Housing', 'governance', 'community', 'key', 'homelessness') Receiving a presentation regarding several key areas of the Olmsted County/City of Rochester Homelessness System including roles, responsibilities and project updates from each organization; the development of a community response system; creating community vision; and the development of a nationally recognized community solutions tool known as Built for Zero.
Mar 12, 2024 08:00 AM Thermal Energy Network Symposium ('sustainability', 'dmc') Participants will benefit from two days of insights, learnings, and information leaving them with a robust foundation on how to start their community or city on the path toward installation of these thermal energy networks. In addition, participants will have made valuable acquaintances and contacts that will help guide them along the way.
Mar 14, 2024 07:30 AM 1Q 2024 March Meeting ('CHNA', 'community', 'Health/Wellness', 'Health', 'public sector work product', 'key', 'health work product') CredibleMind Platform Overview and Discussion; LGBTQIA+ Co-design Access to Care Work
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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