2026
1. Jan 30, 2026
Dear Friends,
I have been asked to share the following community events for your consideration.
| Feb 06, 2026 05:00 PM | Pulitzer Finalist Lee Hawkins--Author of I Am Nobody’s Slave | Join us for this year’s premier Black History Month event featuring Lee Hawkins, Pulitzer Prize finalist, former Wall Street Journal writer, and 2026 NAACP Image Awards Nominee who is coming to Rochester, Minnesota from New York. This event is free but seating is limited so free registration is required. | Hilton Rochestere - Downtown Mayo Clinic Area | ('NAACP', 'Diversity') |
| Feb 15, 2026 02:30 PM | Chinese New Year Celebration Gala | Chinese New Year Celebration Gala is a primary annual event of gathering in Rochester Chinese community. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the biggest Chinese holiday, carry forward the Chinese culture and promote the merge with the multiple cultures in Rochester. Usually there are about 600 people attending this event, including Chinese and other ethnics. Stage shows will feature many exciting performances such as singing, dancing, poems, sketch, dramas, instrument playing, and more, mostly with Chinese cultural and artistic style. During the stage show time, we will also have lottery to have some surprising prizes. | Lourdes High School Auditorium | ('diversity', 'culture', 'Diversity') |
| Feb 21, 2026 05:30 PM | Ebony Night 2026: Once Upon A Night | Rochester Branch of the NAACP presents UMR Black Student Union | The third event in the Black History Month Series, Ebony Night, is an all-student-led production by the University of Minnesota Rochester’s Black Student Union. | Hilton Rochester Mayo Clinic Area (Rochester, MN) 10 East Center Street, Rochester, Minnesota 55904 | ('NAACP', 'Diversity', 'UMR') |
| Apr 09, 2026 08:00 AM | Lifestyle Medicine Community of Wellness Symposium & Gala 2026 | Discover the root causes of preventable and reversible chronic diseases • Learn practical strategies for lifelong health and well-being • Engage in hands-on activities like "Walk With A Doc," meditation, and stretching sessions • Enjoy plant-based meals featuring recipes from expert presenters • Expand your healthy network | Assisi Heights | ('lotus', 'health', 'Health', 'openbeam' |
Please also find in the following lists of upcoming community events and news as of Jan 30, 2026
And for the up-to-the--date lists, please visit: Upcoming Community Events; Noteworthy Past Community Events (with detailed meeting notes and/or recordings); Latest Community News.
Upcoming Community Events
| Start Date | Title | Description | Location | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 03, 2026 10:00 AM | Feb 2026 RPS Family Engagement | Our focus for February is Supporting Parent, Caregiver, Family, and Staff Wellbeing: an Experiential Workshop, presented by Haeli Gerardy. Haeli is the Family Engagement Specialist and Certified Parenting Coach at Fernbrook, which is a partner with RPS School-Linked Mental Health. | Virtual | ('RPS', 'education', 'diversity', 'key', 'Education') |
| Feb 06, 2026 05:00 PM | Pulitzer Finalist Lee Hawkins--Author of I Am Nobody’s Slave | Join us for this year’s premier Black History Month event featuring Lee Hawkins, Pulitzer Prize finalist, former Wall Street Journal writer, and 2026 NAACP Image Awards Nominee who is coming to Rochester, Minnesota from New York. This event is free but seating is limited so free registration is required. | Hilton Rochestere - Downtown Mayo Clinic Area | ('NAACP', 'Diversity') |
| Feb 11, 2026 10:00 AM | Rochester Area Housing Alliance Feb 2026 | Topics include: Natural Gas Franchise Fee --The City of Rochester is looking at whether to create a natural gas franchise fee. This fee could help fund programs that support the community and help the City make smart, long-term investments. | Virtual Meeting | ('RAF', 'Housing', 'housing', 'key') |
| Feb 15, 2026 02:30 PM | Chinese New Year Celebration Gala | Chinese New Year Celebration Gala is a primary annual event of gathering in Rochester Chinese community. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the biggest Chinese holiday, carry forward the Chinese culture and promote the merge with the multiple cultures in Rochester. Usually there are about 600 people attending this event, including Chinese and other ethnics. Stage shows will feature many exciting performances such as singing, dancing, poems, sketch, dramas, instrument playing, and more, mostly with Chinese cultural and artistic style. During the stage show time, we will also have lottery to have some surprising prizes. | Lourdes High School Auditorium | ('diversity', 'culture', 'Diversity') |
| Feb 16, 2026 10:00 AM | Breathing and Brain Health – Seokmun Hoheup Method | This immersive session introduces the Seokmun Hoheup method, a traditional Korean breathing practice designed to enhance mental clarity, reduce stress, and support healthy brain function, presented by Paul Min, PhD. | 125 Live | ('lotus', 'mental health', 'community health') |
| Feb 17, 2026 04:30 PM | Ready to Lead 2026 Spring Cohort | Ready to Lead brings together a small group of people to teach the basics of how to participate in and lead meetings | Rochester Area Foundation | ('diversity', 'Civic Equity', 'leadership', 'networking', 'community engagement') |
| Feb 21, 2026 10:00 AM | Homeownership and Wealth Building Workshop | This workshop equips community members with practical tools and knowledge to pursue homeownership and build generational wealth. | RAEDI Offices Downtown | 221 1st Ave SW Suite 600, Rochester MN | ('NAACP', 'housing', 'Diversity') |
| Feb 21, 2026 05:30 PM | Ebony Night 2026: Once Upon A Night | Rochester Branch of the NAACP presents UMR Black Student Union | The third event in the Black History Month Series, Ebony Night, is an all-student-led production by the University of Minnesota Rochester’s Black Student Union. | Hilton Rochester Mayo Clinic Area (Rochester, MN) 10 East Center Street, Rochester, Minnesota 55904 | ('NAACP', 'Diversity', 'UMR') |
| Feb 28, 2026 12:00 PM | Black Excellence Expo | For the Rochester Branch of the NAACP, achieving economic stability is a strategic priority. Initiatives like the Black Excellence Expo directly support this goal by uplifting local entrepreneurs, expanding opportunity, and strengthening our regional economy. | 125 Live | ('diversity', 'education', 'NAACP', 'Entrepreneurship') |
| Mar 16, 2026 10:00 AM | Music Therapy and Cognitive Vitality: The Role of Music in Brain Health | Music plays a crucial and unique role in supporting cognitive function, memory retention, emotional regulation, and social connection that are key areas often affected in cognitive decline. Research shows that rhythm, melody, and singing activate widespread neural networks, enhance neuroplasticity, and stimulate brain regions involved in speech, movement, and executive function. | 125 Live | ('lotus', 'America City for Health', 'mental health', 'aging') |
| Apr 09, 2026 08:00 AM | Lifestyle Medicine Community of Wellness Symposium & Gala 2026 | Discover the root causes of preventable and reversible chronic diseases • Learn practical strategies for lifelong health and well-being • Engage in hands-on activities like "Walk With A Doc," meditation, and stretching sessions • Enjoy plant-based meals featuring recipes from expert presenters • Expand your healthy network | Assisi Heights | ('lotus', 'health', 'Health', 'openbeam' |
Latest Community News
January 30, 2026: RPS Family Engagement Opportunities Jan 2026 Announcements
Family Engagement, Caregiver and Parent Empowerment
|
January 29, 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
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January 28, 2026: Black History Month Series of Events
Black History Month Press Releases: 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
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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.
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January 23, 2026: RPS Strategic Plan and Goals Review Strategic Plan Goals Review
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January 18, 2026: Collider Foundation Updates Jan 2026 Newsletter: Notes from the Executive Director; Thanks to Our Supporters; Our events; What's New
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January 18, 2026: Lifestyle Wellness 2026 Healthy Brain Community Workshops: strengthen memory and cognitive health
March 2020: Rochester Mayor Proclamation
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January 17, 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;
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January 13, 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
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January 13, 2026: Public Transit Sustainability Jan 2026 City Council Study Session
Rochester Public Transit (RPT) is currently operating under financial conditions that are not sustainable over the long term.
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January 13, 2026: Community Education Connector Wanted Connector Description and Application:
A stipend of $2,000 is available to individuals (age 17+) or organizations who are selected |
January 10, 2026: Rochester Cultural Center Grand Opening Announcement
Grand Opening Flyer Photos
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January 07, 2026: Del Webb Senior Housing Jan 5, 2025 City Council Meeting: Request for Actions: Adopting a Resolution approving Major Land Subdivision No. CD2025-042PLAT, by Pulte Homes of Minnesota LLC, to subdivide approximately 141 acres into 300 residential lots and six outlots.
AI Summary
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January 05, 2026: 1Q 2026 Announcements
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.
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