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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Jan 06, 2023 12:00 PM MLK Jr Youth Poetry Contest Submission Deadline ('youth', 'Education', 'Diversity', 'Diversity Council') Each year Diversity Council hosts the MLK Youth Poetry Contest in southeastern Minnesota. Students from all over the region are invited to submit poems celebrating Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. This is the 14th year of Diversity Council's poetry contest, and the theme for this year’s contest is Dr. King’s quote: “People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”
Dec 21, 2022 08:30 AM Salvation Army Volunteers 2022 Toy & Joy Shop ('youth', 'community engagement') As you know, The Salvation Army is best known this time of year for ringing bells at the Red Kettles, but we have another very important program that runs this time of year. We call it our Toy and Joy Shop.
Dec 15, 2022 04:30 PM CMRC December 2022 Meeting ('diversity', 'Diversity Council', 'CMRC', 'openbeam', 'Diversity', 'cmrc') Topics include: RPS Family Engagement; Olmsted County: Statewide Health Improvement Partnership and DEI Community Corrections Services
Dec 14, 2022 10:00 AM December 14, 2022 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance ('RAF', 'Housing', 'housing') Topics Include: Community and Member Updates; Future Role of Alliance-Continued
Dec 13, 2022 05:30 PM 2022 Luther College Rochester Semester Seminar Project Presentations ('diversity', 'openbeam', 'community') Luther College Students: We are preparing our final presentations in which we will share our ideas about how to create a more equitable city in Rochester.
Dec 13, 2022 10:00 AM RPS: December 2022 Monthly District Family Engagement Meeting ('rps', 'education', 'diversity', 'youth', 'openbeam', 'Education', 'cmrc') Topics include: Introduction to Beam
Dec 10, 2022 08:00 AM Christmas Anonymous – Rochester MN 2022 () 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 09, 2022 11:00 AM Community Vaccination Clinic ('diversity', 'Health', 'covid') Get vaccinated and receive $50 for 1st, 2nd dose AND ALSO FOR BOOSTER DOSE!
Dec 09, 2022 10:00 AM December 2022 Rochester Area Foundation: Winter DEI Practitioner Convening and Luncheon (By Invitation) ('RAF', 'Diversity', 'openbeam') RAF’s DEI Committee has committed to supporting area DEI practitioners by providing space where relationships can be strengthened, wisdom can be shared, opportunities to collaborate and maximize limited resources can be identified, and current and new DEI efforts can be built, improved, and promoted.
Dec 08, 2022 02:30 PM Discover Discovery Square ('EDA', 'community engagement', 'openbeam') You are cordially invited to Discover Discovery Square – an event to celebrate the completion of phase 1 of the next signature public space in the DMC District, Discovery Walk, and to recognize the continued progress in the Discovery Square subdistrict.
Dec 08, 2022 07:30 AM 4Q 2022 December HAPP Meeting ('CHNA', 'community', 'CHAP', 'Health', 'openbeam') Quarterly Olmsted County Health Asessment & Planning Meeting. The purpose of the health assessment and planning partnership is to engage and inspire all sectors of the community to continually improve our community’s health through assessment, planning, and implementation efforts.
Dec 07, 2022 04:30 PM Human Library Team Celebration (Members Only) ('Diversity', 'openbeam', 'Human Library') Diversity Council Human Library Books Get Together.
Dec 03, 2022 12:00 PM Covid-19 VAX at Winter Market ('diversity', 'Health', 'covid') Get vaccinated and receive $50 for 1st, 2nd dose AND ALSO FOR BOOSTER DOSE!
Dec 03, 2022 09:00 AM Global Market (Cooking Class, Small Business Training, Food & Deserts) ('food', 'Diversity', 'openbeam', 'Entrepreneurship') Rochester's cultural communities hosting family friendly winter activities. Come to experience authentic flavors and vibrant traditions.
Dec 03, 2022 04:00 PM YourClassical MPR and Rochester Civic Music: Bring the SING ('operations', 'Diversity Council') YourClassical MPR's fun, free event Bring the Sing is returning to Rochester! Minnesota Public Radio, Rochester Civic Music, Rochester Downtown Alliance and Threshold Arts are partnering to invite everyone in Rochester and Southeast Minnesota to join in YourClassical MPR’s Bring the Sing at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in the Peace Plaza. Join with friends, family and neighbors in singing along with local musicians LaSonya Natividad, Dianna Parks, Mitch Stevenson, Eric Straubmuller and Chris Wessel in a mass rendition of many festive, well-known winter and holiday favorites.
Dec 03, 2022 10:00 AM Culturally Responsive Business Startup Workshop ('Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Free Work Shop Second Topic: Legal Issues - Business Registration and Trademark
Dec 01, 2022 09:00 AM Commitment to Racial Justice Day of Learning: Olmsted County’s Race and Racism as a Public Health Issue Report ('networking', 'diversity', 'openbeam', 'npc') Recently, the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners accepted the final recommendations from a joint study on race and racism as a public health issue led by two of its advisory groups. Work will begin this fall to review the recommendations and develop an implementation plan.
Nov 29, 2022 12:00 PM MNCM: Pandemic’s Impact on Health Care Quality by Race, Ethnicity, Language, and Country of Birth ('health', 'Diversity', 'openbeam') New report provides data to support health equity investment.
Nov 28, 2022 05:00 PM COPAL: campaign to get driver's licenses for all ('compassion', 'Diversity')
Nov 19, 2022 05:00 PM Rochester Branch of the NAACP, 2022 Freedom Fund Banquet ('diversity', 'NAACP', 'openbeam') Dinner, Entertainment, State Conference Remarks, Branch Report, Roll Call of Black Businesses, Black Business Awards
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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.



HOME OWNERSHIP CREATION PROGRAM – LONDON BROOK PONDS

City Council Meeting Approval of Housing Support: Housing Funding Allocations; TIF approval

PB reporting

Last Updated October 21, 2025



Seneca Property Plan Shelved

2025: PB reporting: Plan to develop vision for former Seneca site shelved

2022: (1) RAEDI partners with Olmsted County to solicit Statements of Interest (SOI) for former Seneca property; (2) Olmsted County signs agreement with RAEDI to solicit development proposals for former Seneca property

Last Updated October 16, 2025



Mayor and City Council Launch ‘Democracy Innovations for Better Public Meetings’

Press Release and focuses: Civic Engagement Scorecard, Civic Infrastructure Scan

References: AI summary of project, Community Forum

Last Updated October 15, 2025



DAP Funding Justification

Oct 15, 2025 D.A.P. Meeting Info Sharing - Building a community-owned data repository

 

 

Last Updated October 15, 2025



DMC 2015-2025 Review and Next 5 Years

DMC Board Sep 2025 Meeting: Next 5 Year Plan Update Briefing

July 2025 Reflections: DMC’s next decade will focus on deepening its impact—through infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and community engagement—while continuing to support Rochester’s evolution into a vibrant, health-focused destination.

Last Updated October 12, 2025



Discovery Square Shared Lab Infastructure

Sep 2025 Update Presentation

May 2025: Biolabs as shared space partner: A shared lab space for a community of like-minded entrepreneurs associated with one or more academic research partners, PB reporting

Nov 2023 DMCC Board Presentation

Last Updated October 12, 2025



Rochester Sports and Recreation Complex

Oct 6, 2025 City Council Meeting

July 28, 2025 City Council Study Session 

Sample of community feedbacks on Facebook

Last Updated October 11, 2025



Community Health Improvement Plan Update

Availability of 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment

  • Admin Message
  • Oct 2025 Newsletter 

PB Report

Last Updated October 07, 2025



2026 Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations

  • 2026 Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations
  • Presentation 

Last Updated October 06, 2025



Local Sales Tax Update

  • City Council Study Session:
  • Sales Tax Renewal Projects - Utilization of Sales Tax: Street Reconstruction. Flood Control and Water Quality, Economic Vitality, Home Ownership
  • AI summary of PB Reporting  

Last Updated October 02, 2025



Destination Medical Center (DMC) Plan Status Reports

2025 Report: Videos, 10 year reflection

2016 Report: In addition to the December 2016 status report, DMC EDA shows a useful diagram that positions the relationships of various studies going on within Rochester.

Last Updated October 01, 2025



September 2025 Charter Commission

  • City Governance Work Item
  • Application for replacement member

Last Updated September 28, 2025



2024-2025 RPS Data Analysis

Sep 2025 MCA Improvement Action Plan 

2024-25 Fastbridge Data Analysis and Literacy Plan Update

PB reporting on MCA

Last Updated September 27, 2025



Healthy Living Wellness Tips

2025 Oct podcast; Sep Newsletter

2025 Conference Materials

2020 Lifestyle Medicine Symposium (March 19-20)

Last Updated September 27, 2025



Collaboration & Conflict Insights

Minnesota State - Office of Collaboration and Dispute Resolution Sep 2025 Newsletter

Last Updated September 27, 2025



Rebranding RPS 2025

Sep 23, 2025 School Board Prep

  • Superintendent Video recording clip 
  • Presentation Slides
  • Proposed New Logo

PB Reporting

Last Updated September 26, 2025



2026 Budget and Workplan

 2026 Budget and Workplan September DMCC Board Meeting

 

 

Last Updated September 26, 2025



City of Rochester 2026-2027 Budget Planning

  • Sep 22, 2025 City Council 
  • Sep 15, 2025 Study Session, Sep 3, 2025 Study Session;  Aug 25, 2025 Study Session; Press Release; 
  • June 23, 2025 Study Session: 2026 Capital Improvement Plan & Outside Agency Funding Budget Update
  • May 27, 2025 City Council Study Session ; Apr 28, 2025 City Council Study Session Material 
  • Press Release: The City of Rochester is beginning its 2026-2027 budget process and invites residents to learn more about the factors shaping the City’s financial outlook.

Last Updated September 23, 2025



Second Street LINK Transit Construction

City, DMC PSA: 

  • Beginning September 22, traffic on 2nd Street SW will shift to maintain one lane in each direction between 18th Avenue SW and 23rd Avenue SW.
  • Affected areas

Last Updated September 19, 2025



Maxfield Housing Status Report Sep 2025

  • City Council Memo
  • Presentation
  • Video

 

Last Updated September 16, 2025