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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Oct 10, 2025 08:30 AM Weaving a Wider Community ('diversity', 'Diversity', 'workforce') Seeing and countering racism in our own backyard -- Key note speakers via Zoom: Jenna Grey Eagle, Dr. Ron Ferguson; Rochester Site Guest Speaker: Justin Terell
Oct 09, 2025 06:00 PM SBDC - Foundations of Effective Marketing Part 1 ('diversity', 'health', 'Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Marketing Success starts with clarity. Brand Identity.
Oct 08, 2025 04:30 PM Ready to Lead 2025 Fall Cohort ('networking', 'leadership', 'community engagement') Ready to Lead brings together a small group of people to teach the basics of how to participate in and lead meetings, what to expect and how to contribute in a meaningful way, and the roles and responsibilities of board/committee volunteers. You’ll graduate feeling confident with your new skills; have a community mentor, and an expanded network of friends.
Oct 08, 2025 12:00 PM From Cradle to Career: Driving Lasting Change for Rochester's Youth ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'key', 'community engagement', 'Education') Cradle 2 Career is a community-wide initiative focused on improving educational outcomes for every child and young adult in Rochester by reimagining how organizations work together. Through data-driven strategies and cross-sector partnerships, we bring together schools, nonprofits, businesses, and families to work collectively toward measurable results. In this talk, I’ll share how our initiative functions, highlight the dedicated work groups driving our progress, and explore the impact of our collaborative approach.
Oct 08, 2025 10:00 AM Rochester Housing Alliance October 2025 ('RAF', 'housing', 'governance', 'openbeam', 'key') Cumulative Impacts & Housing Rulemaking Process: Upcoming Opportunity for Community Input ; Presentation on City of Rochester Audit of Vacant Land
Oct 07, 2025 12:00 PM 2025 Co-design Leadership Training Session 1 Option 1 ('diversity', 'dmc', 'co-design') We will cover how to evaluate co-design processes, share back insights from the mini-design sprint, and building on those insights discuss how to initiate a co-design project.
Oct 07, 2025 10:00 AM Oct 2025 RPS Family Engagement ('RPS', 'Education', 'diversity', 'key') Preparing Each and Every RPS Student for Success: Essential Information for Families, led by Heather Hogen (RPS Director of Academic Supports) and Alex Higano (Lead School Counselor).
Oct 05, 2025 04:00 PM ICAM - Garba & Dandiya Night ('Culture', 'arts') Get ready to dance the night away with Anushka Pandit and Bhargav Upadhyay and their group at the Garba and Dandia night at the Dance Festival of India!
Oct 04, 2025 09:00 AM Sensory-Friendly Vaccination Clinic ('health', 'community engagement') Olmsted Medical Center is partnering with RT Autism Awareness Foundation and the Autism Society of Minnesota to vaccinate individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other sensory needs against the flu.
Oct 02, 2025 04:30 PM Journie Inc.’s Fall Open House ('RPS', 'Education', 'mentoring') • D.A.P. (Data Advocacy Policy): Amplifying Black voices, addressing inequities, and advocating for just policies. • 8 Steps to Promotion: An 8-week workshop series equipping youth with essential life skills, mentorship, and advocacy.
Oct 01, 2025 08:00 AM 2025 EduTech Outlook ('education', 'tech', 'umr') With the rise in new technologies, the 2025 EduTech Outlook will include a keynote from Andre Tost, IBM Distinguished Engineer and Worldwide IBM AI Engineer, as well as speakers on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence
Sep 30, 2025 07:00 PM Aging Gracefully ('aging', 'housing') The pros and cos of staying put or relocation - Discussion led by Jim Miner
Sep 30, 2025 03:00 PM RAF - Community Grant Reviewer Orientation ('RAF',) Learn about the inspiring impacts of our local nonprofit organizations as you assist with reading and scoring grant applications in a selected focus area.
Sep 27, 2025 11:00 AM Oktoberfest 2025 Presented by DBS Group ('culture',) Location: In the Heart of the City, on 1st Avenue between 4th Street and 2nd Street SW (Just like Thursdays Downtown). This event will be a great boost for our downtown businesses following this summer’s construction.
Sep 27, 2025 12:30 PM Chalk the Block ('community',) This free event celebrates art and positive community-building by inviting local artists to create incredible chalk murals and the public to attend and enjoy, while making connections.
Sep 25, 2025 06:00 PM Get Amped: The Basics of Electrifying Your Home By Electrify Everything MN ('sustainability', 'community') Learn about the steps to electrifying your home and the resources available to help at this City of Rochester-sponsored workshop.
Sep 25, 2025 09:30 AM Sep 2025 DMCC Board Meeting ('DMC', 'key', 'community') 2026-2027 DMC Work Plan and Budget: 1. 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Plan, 2. 2026-2027 DMC EDA & City Staff Workplan and Budget, 3. 2026 DMCC Budget, 4. Working Capital Loan; Action: Discovery Square Infrastructure: Shared Lab; LINK BRT Contingency Funding Criteria;
Sep 23, 2025 06:00 PM (Spanish) How to Start a Business from Scratch ('networking', 'diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Training Topics: Accounting/Budget, Business Plan, Business Start-up/Preplanning, Legal Issues, Managing a Business, Marketing/Sales, Tax Planning Description: How to Start a Business from Scratch - Part 1: In the first two classes, you will learn the fundamentals of starting a business from scratch, including conceptualizing viable business ideas and initial strategic planning. The focus will be on generating innovative ideas and evaluating their market potential using tools like the Business Model Canvas and SWOT analysis.
Sep 23, 2025 10:30 AM German Delegation Visits Rochester ('culture', 'global', 'key', 'governance') The City of Rochester and Olmsted County will host a delegation from Germany, led by the Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Oliver Krischer, on Tuesday,
Sep 23, 2025 09:30 AM Sep 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
Document Actions
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.



Braver Angels News

Listen to (and learn from) the other side

  • Mar 6 2026 Volunteer Opportunities
  • 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 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



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