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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Feb 23, 2023 05:30 PM Human Library Mayo Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation ('Diversity', 'openbeam', 'Human Library')
Feb 23, 2023 12:00 PM 2023 Co-design Leadership Training Session 1 Option 2 ('diversity', 'dmc', 'co-design') Co-design has become a valued and effective community-centric approach to developing healthy and equitable projects, policies, and practices in the Rochester region. However, we have also seen what can happen if co-design is co-opted as just another “box” to be checked. If you are not familiar, co-design is an approach to encourage, compensate, and prioritize the inclusion of diverse populations throughout the design and development process. We would like to invite you to participate in training sessions designed to proactively ensure that those leading organizations and projects are able to create meaningful co-design opportunities and structures for shared decision-making in the work that you do.
Feb 21, 2023 01:00 PM 2023 Co-design Leadership Training Session 1 Option 1 ('diversity', 'dmc', 'co-design') Co-design has become a valued and effective community-centric approach to developing healthy and equitable projects, policies, and practices in the Rochester region. However, we have also seen what can happen if co-design is co-opted as just another “box” to be checked. If you are not familiar, co-design is an approach to encourage, compensate, and prioritize the inclusion of diverse populations throughout the design and development process. We would like to invite you to participate in training sessions designed to proactively ensure that those leading organizations and projects are able to create meaningful co-design opportunities and structures for shared decision-making in the work that you do.
Feb 18, 2023 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.
Feb 18, 2023 11:00 AM DMC and NAACP: What's Still In It for Me? ('NAACP', 'DMC', 'Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Questions and Answers for the Community of Color
Feb 18, 2023 10:00 AM Culturally Responsive Business Startup Workshop ('Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Money Issues - Payroll, Accounting, and Taxes
Feb 17, 2023 01:30 PM Black History Month, Art in Action: Guided Studio Session ('diversity', 'NAACP') The Rochester Branch of the NAACP is collaborating with Art Heads Emporium for a guided art painting session to commemorate Black History Month. Tierney
Feb 16, 2023 04:30 PM CMRC February 2023 Meeting (By Invitation) ('diversity', 'Diversity Council', 'CMRC', 'openbeam', 'Diversity', 'cmrc') Updates from City, DMC and RPS; Collective Impact Projects: ComPASS, Rural Health, RCTC/Perkins; Olmsted County, Mayo, OMC: Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Dashboard
Feb 14, 2023 04:00 PM UMR Students Diversity Dialogue: Microaggressions & Unconscious Bias (By Invitation) ('diversity',) Discuss how microaggressions exist in society today
Feb 14, 2023 02:30 PM Feb 2023 Luther College Lectures: The Mutable City ('America City for Health', 'Education', 'openbeam', 'governance') History and Place; The Promise of the City from a Beam perspective
Feb 14, 2023 12:00 PM Nonprofit Consortium: Quarterly Commitment to Racial Justice ('networking', 'diversity', 'openbeam', 'npc') 1st Micro Grant Presentation-Boys and Girls Club; 2nd Micro Grant Presentation-LifeGate Services; BLM Presentation
Feb 14, 2023 10:00 AM RPS: February 2023 Monthly District Family Engagement Meeting ('rps', 'education', 'diversity', 'youth', 'openbeam', 'Education', 'cmrc') Topics: Family Engagement Success Sharing from RPS Sites; Spotlight on Family Engagement, Mayo High School and Beyond: Brenda Shamblin; RPS Bicycle Fleet and Family Engagement Opportunities: Dustin Morrow; RPS Family Engagement Framework: Overview, Group Discussion, and Input; RPS and Community Updates
Feb 13, 2023 05:00 PM RPS ML Online Family Night in Arabic and English ('Culture', 'RPS', 'diversity') Share information, ideas, questions and concerns.
Feb 11, 2023 02:00 PM Somali Cultural Heritage Event ()
Feb 09, 2023 12:30 PM 2023 DMCC Board Collaborative Session ('EDA', '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, Shared learning on Next Generation Infrastructure with David Gamble, principal of Gamble Associates, Harvard design instructor, and author of several books on city development.
Feb 09, 2023 09:30 AM Feb. 2023 DMCC Board Meeting ('EDA', 'Entrepreneurship') Topics include: Annual Report: 8:24 DMC EDA Chair Report: 14:36 DMC Metrics: 22:15 Soldiers Field: 32:54 Recommendation: 39:59 Riverfront Small Area Plan: 53:16 LINK Bus Rapid Transit and West Transit Village: 1:11:14 Downtown Recovery Taskforce: 1:19:00 Awareness of Rochester as a Life Sciences Destination 1:25:46 Biggest Barriers 1:55:17 Strategic Directions 2:02:16 Team Collaboration 2:05:08 2023 Program of work 2:07:05
Feb 08, 2023 03:00 PM Capacity Builders Listening Session (By Invitation) ('Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') The City of Rochester and Destination Medical Center want to increase project participation of Small, Minority, Women and Disadvantaged businesses on our projects.
Feb 08, 2023 10:00 AM February 8, 2023 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance (By Invitation) ('RAF', 'Housing', 'housing') The first will be Libby Murphy from Minnesota Housing Partnership sharing with us about the current legislative agenda as well as an overview of the MN Housing Tax Credit. Secondly, Dirk Erickson, a local developer, will give us an overview of his Bryk on Broadway apartment project, set to open any day.
Jan 31, 2023 11:55 PM Olmsted County Statewide Health Improvement Partnership Grant Deadline ('food', 'youth', 'Health', 'Financial Stress') Olmsted County Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) is announcing Community Partner Funding Awards for 2023. We have a goal of reaching new partners across the county and encourage you to review this information and apply! This year, all funding requests will be accepted only during the application process outlined below.
Jan 27, 2023 10:00 AM Project Community Connect ('Homelessness', 'Financial Stress') After a two-year absence, Project Community Connect – an event designed to provide services and resources for people who are homeless or struggling to make ends meet – is returning on Friday, January 27, 2023.
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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.



Curriculum Development

Jun 2026: Social Studies Curriculum Three Shifts in the New Standards

Ethnic Studies Strand, Disciplinary Literacy Practices. Centering Student Inquiry

Last Updated June 18, 2026



Housing Program DevCo Rochester

Adopting a Resolution adopting the Housing Program, the issuance of Conduit Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds and the execution of related documents relating to the DevCo Rochester Apartments Project.

Last Updated June 14, 2026



Economic Development News

2026: Health tech firms status

2023 Highlights: 1. 2Q 2023  Economic Report ;  2. Tawonda Burks has joined the RAEDI staff full-time as Director of Operations. In addition to managing the RAEDI Economic Development Center; 3, SBDC 1H 2023 performance report

Last Updated June 13, 2026



Healthy Brain Workshop Series

 2026 Summer Workshop Series 

 

Last Updated June 08, 2026



University of Minnesota Expansion Funding Considerations

Jun 2026: City Council Voted to Approve the funding

May 2026: UMR DMC: Funding Request to contribute to Talent Development Infrastructure

Apr 27, 2026: UMR discussion at City Council Study Session Sales Tax Request

Last Updated June 05, 2026



RPS Proposed Budget Reductions

Jun 2, 2026: School Board 2026 budget

April 21, 2026: School Board Meeting Revised Proposed Leadership Changes 

April 7, 2026: Budget Reduction Impact

Sep 12, 2023 RPS Board Study Session video recording; Proposed Equity Policy; PB Reporting

Last Updated June 04, 2026



1Q 2026 Announcements

Jun 2, 2026: #RochMNTogether Yard Sign Campaign

Jan 5, 2026: Resolution: Reaffirming Rochester’s Support for its Somali Community and Commitment to Inclusion.

2026 Summer Paid Internship Positions: City Clerk, community Development, Communications & Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Legislative Affairs, Library Communications, Office of the Mayor, Parks & Recreation , Public Music, Rochester Public Utilities Safety, and Transit & Parking.

 

 

Last Updated June 02, 2026



Sports Complex Phase Two Indoor Recreation Option and Next Steps

Jun 1, 2026 City Council Meeting: PB reporting

Apr 27,  2026 City Council Study Session

Last Updated May 31, 2026



Home Innovation Lab - Aging in Place

May 2026: Home Innovation Lab Open House

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting: The Home Innovation Lab will combine research, technology, and design to create and evaluate “tech-enabled age-in-place” living environments that improve health, comfort, and independence for older adults.

Apr 2025 DMC Real Estate Summit: Aging in place talk

Last Updated May 31, 2026



Sherman Mixed Housing Mayo Civic Center Parking Lot

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

June 3, 2024 City Council Meeting 

Council action is requested to continue development negotiations with Sherman Associates and conditionally approve development assistance of up to $13,000,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance and up to $3,000,000 in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid.  

Last Updated May 24, 2026



Mayflower mixed housing project

May 2026:DMCC Board Meeting, Mayflower Project Update

Jul 2025 Mayflower mixed housing project summary; North side of Second Street Southwest across the street from Ronald McDonald House.

Feb 2025 DMCC Board Meeting 2nd Street Public Realm and Mayflower

Last Updated May 24, 2026



United Way Studies of Financial Hardship

2025 ALICE Info: United Way 2025 Study

2024 ALICE Info: Post Bulletin Reporting; United Way 2024 ALICE  (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report 

Last Updated May 24, 2026



West Transit Village Housing Development

May 2026 DMCC Board Update

April 1 2026 AEON Affordable Housing Townhall

May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Report

Feb 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Memo

PB reporting re Jan 6 City Council Meeting

"A final plan for dividing a 14.1-acre Mayo Clinic parking lot into developable sections is expected to be reviewed Monday by the Rochester City Council. The site, being dubbed “West Transit Village,” sits between Second Street Southwest and Cascade Lake. It is currently used as a Mayo Clinic employee shuttle lot, and Mayo Clinic plans to construct a 2,500-stall parking structure."

Last Updated May 24, 2026



Loom Apartments (Onward)

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting: Request for Extension Authorize an extension of the $4 million GSIA allocation to this project until August 15, 2026.

May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated May 24, 2026



DMC Interim Wayfinding

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated May 23, 2026



Discovery Square Biolbab In Rochester

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Biolabs Status

December 2025 DMCC Board Meeting:

  • Request for Action Memo
  • Business Development Quarterly Review about Biolabs

Last Updated May 22, 2026



Discovery Walk

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting Discovery Walk Update - Completion

March 2021 DMCC approval for Bid

Last Updated May 22, 2026



DMC STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

May 2026: Consider a recommendation to approve up to $3 million in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid (GSIA)

Last Updated May 22, 2026



Healthy Home Helpers

City of Rochester Launches “Healthy Home Helpers” Program to Support Healthier, More Efficient Homes

Last Updated May 22, 2026



RPS 2030 Strategic Plan Reviews

May 19. 2026 RPS Board Voting

Apr 12, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: High School 

Mar 17, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: Middle School

Mar 3, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: Elementary School & Early Childhood 

Last Updated May 20, 2026