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Rochester Area DEI Planscape

History

City of Rochester

City of Rochester Home Ownership Creation Program (Available)

It is the policy of the City of Rochester to promote and provide diverse and affordable housing options for residents. The City of Rochester Home Ownership Creation Program specifically addresses these goals by supporting the development of affordable housing.

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City of Rochester: 2020 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan (Available)

The purpose of this update is to provide a framework for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion(DEI) efforts in FY 2022. These efforts will be focused on building internal capacity within the City of Rochester. Internal capacity building will be focused on 3 areas: (I) Recruitment and Retention of diverse teammates, (II) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion professional Development, and (III) Community Connection and Engagement

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Equity in the Built Environment (Bloomberg) (Develop)

Started first as a mayoral initiative to apply and leverage the knowledge and learning from Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Program (that offers leadership and management training to mayors and city leaders) to affecting organizational change and to foster city leaders' professional growth and the advancement of key capabilities within Rochester metro area which leads to Rochester being a finalist for the 2021 Global Mayors Challenge.

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Planning To Succeed: Rochester 2040 Comprehensive Plan (P2S) (Develop)

Rochester is a growing community and that growth is anticipated to continue. Growth and change presents both opportunities and challenges. Long-range planning is needed to position the City to address its long-term needs; to be resilient; to support changing demographics; and to address housing demand, multi-modal transportation needs, growth in jobs and visitors, and more; while working with finite resources. Rochester’s long-range planning effort, referred to as “Planning to Succeed” or P2S, will update the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

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Rochester Vision 2050 (Plan)

Our city has undertaken a broad array of initiatives to create a bright future for her citizens and constituencies. These should be guided by a clear, optimistic, aspirational vision. 2050: Far enough for limitless possibilities; close enough to begin today to serve Rochester’s next generation and beyond. Vision 2050 Steering Committee guides this initiative A large volunteer group will put “Vision in Action”, using co-design to engage the community to share ideas and priorities for Rochester’s future.

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Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan (Develop)

The Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan will focus on five key areas - Vibrant Neighborhoods, City for Health, Transportation, Resilient Economy, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions - highlighting economic, environmental, and social resiliency strategies that can help guide the city on future decision making. This will better prepare the community for foreseen and unforeseen impacts from disasters, but also strengthen the community through successes.

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Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization (Available)

To further increase participation rates of targeted businesses and workforce on DMC projects, four priorities have been identified that are outlined below. (1) Build capacity of Targeted Businesses located in Southeastern Minnesota (2) Assess gaps with existing subcontractors to determine market opportunity. (3) Recruit women and minorities from workforce to start their own companies. (4) Host workshops to educate entrepreneurs, provide consulting services for WMBVE certification process and assist with bid process to win contracts on DMC projects.

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Update Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Index (Plan)

The Intercultural City Initiative is a bold effort on the part of a wide variety of organizations and individuals to align the collective power, creativity, expertise, and energy of our cities toward a future of inclusive growth. Inspired by the comprehensive and coordinated approach of the Council of Europe Intercultural City program, Minnesota’s Intercultural City Initiative is focused on using high leverage influence strategies to realize this future faster.

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Diversity Council

Allies & Advocates (Available)

Allies & Advocates is a community response program that nurtures and supports individuals experiencing heightened anxiety, uncertainty, or incidents of hate/bias in this challenging social and cultural climate. We have been receiving communications regularly and increasingly from individuals deeply affected by what is transpiring here in Rochester, in our state, nationally, even globally. We want to be able to field these calls with empathy and wisdom. We decided to tap our greatest resource – compassionate people.

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Diversity Council Rochester Area Racial Attitude Survey (Available)

Update to the 2006 survey. The Diversity Council first collaborated with a community task force to survey local attitudes toward race in 1990. In 2006, a second survey was conducted in association with Luther College. The 2006 survey duplicated many questions from the original survey in order to accurately measure how attitudes have changed over time. This latter survey also included additional questions focusing on immigration, and on actions as well as attitudes.

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Equity Resources (Available)

Diversity Lesson Plans & Activities and Toolkit that includes the business case for investing in diversity, training tools, best practices in managing diversity, and diversity tip sheets.

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EquityLogic (Becoming the Solution) (Available)

A tactical approach to building cultural agility and diversifying organizational strategies. Designed to impact: Employee retention Workgroup and individual productivity Customer/client satisfaction Problem solving and crisis management Inter-workgroup relationships Organizational innovation and adaptability Cross-organizational collaboration Market penetration

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I-WE Program (Available)

The Inclusive Workforce Employer (I-WE) Designation is supported by the Workforce Development Board of Southeast Minnesota and the Winona Workforce Development Board. It was established by the Regional Workforce Alliance of Northwest Minnesota to support and recognize employers who: Express a commitment to an inclusive workplace in their stated values, mission or policies. Assess how diversity, equity and inclusion influence their work and culture. Provide diversity, equity and inclusion education for staff and leadership. Allocate resources to support and sustain an inclusive and equitable workplace.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Poetry Contest (Available)

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Poetry Contest sponsored by the Diversity Council is open to Olmsted County students in grades 3 - 12. Themes and deadlines are announced each year in October, and winners are announced in January.

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Student Leaders Creating Change (SLCC) (Available)

Training SLCC provides students with 12 weeks of in-depth training. Defining bullying and cyberbullying Reporting bullying incidents Prevention & intervention Understanding biases, stereotypes, and prejudice Unconscious biases Mindsets Microaggressions Race and privilege Gender and sexual expression Interfaith conversations Mediation and conflict resolution Becoming changemakers Role playing: safe ways to intervene Restorative practices: healing the hurts

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The Village Community Garden & Learning Center (VCGLC) (Available)

The Village - Where We Grow Together! The Village Community Garden & Learning Center is a new community garden opening this 2019 growing season. The focus of this garden is to grow together as a community that comes from many parts of our world, and to learn about each other's traditions in food, arts, and culture. Thank you to Rochester Home Infusion for donating 11 acres for this project, and to our many partners at Diversity Council, Olmsted County, U of M Extension, Rochester Farmers Market, UMR, and RCTC. We are excited to share this new community asset with the city of Rochester and surrounding communities. This season will focus on the establishment of the garden through development of water resources, fencing, funding for event resources, and building our community of gardeners. We look forward to growing together!

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Youth & Whole Family Training System (Available)

This initiative takes a comprehensive approach to anti-bias education by providing programming that addresses the needs of the entire school community: students, staff, and parents.

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Olmsted County

Joint Studies on tackling Racism as a Public Health Issue (Develop)

Olmsted County commissioners are looking to tackle racism as a public health issue. The board on August 4, 2020 unanimously approved a measure officially asking members of the county’s Public Health Services Advisory Board and Human Rights Commission to work together to investigate racism and disparities in health care.

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Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity (M.O.V.E) (Develop)

The Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity (M.O.V.E.) community council aims to foster meaningful connections and cultivate trust between our community and local government. M.O.V.E. is comprised of passionate individuals committed to effecting positive change. It serves as a vital link, ensuring diverse voices in our community are not only heard but actively engaged in shaping county policies and programs, with an early emphasis on public health-related topics.

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One Olmsted: Embrace diversity as an asset (Available)

Internal/Employee - One Olmsted mission for diversity and inclusion is to attract, hire, develop, advance, retain and engage a workforce that reflects the public we serve, draws from all segments of society, and values equity, diversity and inclusion. External/Community - One Olmsted works to eliminate disparities and create equitable outcomes for all through our commitment to diversity and inclusion and development of strong community partnership. VISION: Vision: We envision a workplace and community where everyone is treated equitably.

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Family Service Rochester

Age-Friendly Olmsted County (AFOC) Plan (Develop)

Age-Friendly Olmsted County (AFOC) is a cross-sector initiative to ensure that residents of Olmsted County have what they need to live with autonomy and dignity in all life’s stages. When Olmsted County became a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in early 2020, it officially joined a global movement, with roots in the World Health Organization, to help cities and communities respond to an aging population and prepare for a permanently older society.

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Ready to Lead (Available)

Our goal is to equip people with the knowledge and skills to feel confident in volunteering to serve our community and the many nonprofits and government committees seeking diverse voices and representation.

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The Meadow Park Initiative (Available)

Families do better when they live in a strong community with economic mobility, employment security, and self-advocacy. Since challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and housing instability tend to concentrate in areas negatively impacted by a history of disinvestment, targeted investments in these neighborhoods can develop them into the kind of place that allows families to reach their full potential. Established in October 2018, the Meadow Park Initiative focuses on a neighborhood with significant barriers to long-term financial stability and educational attainment. Residents are leading the way in developing an action plan for working together to make a difference in people’s lives in the neighborhood by identifying and cultivating local leadership, building meaningful connections between neighbors, and learning about residents’ hopes and dreams for the community.

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DMC EDA

Adminstration of Rochester's 3.12M award from Minnesota Main Street Economic Revitalization Program (Available)

DMC and City of Rochester adminstrating the distribution of 3.12M award. Formal grant criteria will be established, including the prioritization of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) participation. DMC will serve as the administrator of the grant.

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Discovery Walk Co-designing (Develop)

Public realm along the 2nd Avenue corridor from 2nd Street to 6th Street (Soldiers Field.)

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Equity Alliance (Available)

 

Our purpose is to accelerate equity change and impact disparities through reparations, restoration, and reformation based on radical collaboration.

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Rochester Area Foundation

Coalition for Rochester Area Housing (Available)

A continuing project to realize this purpose: “We are a cross-sector Alliance of organizations and individuals who seek to preserve and increase the supply of affordable housing that meets community needs and priorities in the Rochester area, through shared information, coordination, and collaboration.”

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DEI Practioner Convenings (Plan)

Rochester Area Foundation has signed on in support of the Commitment to Racial Justice that was crafted by the Rochester Nonprofit Consortium. Together, we stand in solidarity with those who seek justice and racial equity. We have committed to listen, learn and act in support of the following:  addressing the policies and practices that influence racism, structural bias and inequity;    connecting to resources, organizations, and best practices to apply a race equity lens; and   building capacity within our organization and community to promote social and economic mobility and wellbeing for all residents.

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Rochester Public Schools

Expanding Career and Technical Education Center (C-TECH) Reach (Available)
That section will house programs focused on engineering, residential construction and horticulture, as well as a WSU STEM Village. That will require renovating and expanding the building. Construction is expected to start in June for this phase. Since the new building is valued at $5 million, this phase will presumably cost $1.5 million. The rest of the courses, such as manufacturing, health sciences and others, will be offered at the new C-TECH building when it opens in 2016. It will be connected to the Heintz Center via a 60-foot walkway.

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Family and Community Engagement (RPS) (Available)

Each month during our District Family Engagement meetings, parents, administrators, community members, staff, and other stakeholders come together to share meaningful and exciting events happening throughout Rochester Public Schools.

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P-TECH 535 (Available)

P-TECH 535 is a pioneering education reform initiative created to prepare young people with the academic, technical, and professional skills required for high wage, high skills, and high need regional careers. This public-private partnership allows students to take high school and college coursework simultaneously while engaging in industry-guided workforce development in one of two pathways.

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RPS American Indian Education (Available)

A RPS program to honor the first nations people to call this land home, those that lived before us, those that still are, and so much more! A program to reflect on the weight this day holds, and we take pride in being one of the handful of districts that recognizes today as Indigenous People's day, not Columbus Day.

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Rochester Public Schools Strategic Plan (Available)

Per RPS: "We are currently in the third stage of strategic planning. This stage develops a plan that addresses the action (the 'how') and measurements ('how well are we doing') to meet the strategic objectives. You are now invited to nominate yourself, or others, to be part of the third stage of strategic planning by serving on the Measurement Team or an Action Team."

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IMAA

Diversity & Inclusion Programming (Available)

IMAA’s diversity and inclusion training provides first-hand, experiential knowledge about different cultures. You will gain a better understanding of those you work with, improve your cultural competency, and progress toward a more inclusive working environment. View our brochure for more information about the training and pricing. Send us a message if you are interested in starting the conversation!

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Mayo Clinic

Community Outreach and Engagement in Research Blog (Available)

Community Engagement

Welcome to the Mayo Clinic’s Community Outreach and Engagement Research Services (COERS) blog. COERS partners with communities and works in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to develop and execute community outreach, engagement initiatives, and health equity research to address the needs of the communities we serve.

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Diversity in Education Blog (Available)

A Mayo Clinic staff blog site that features personal insights and stories on lived diversity experiences.

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Mayo Clinic Health Disparities Research (Available)

 

Health Disparities Research supports meaningful research to identify and address health disparities and to help ensure Mayo Clinic patients reflect the diversity of our communities.

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Project Search (Available)

Mayo Clinic Project SEARCH is for students with developmental cognitive disabilities who are in their last year of high school eligibility, between ages 18-21 and enrolled in Rochester Public Schools in Minnesota. The goal of Project SEARCH is competitive, integrated employment for each student intern. The Mayo Clinic Project SEARCH site in Rochester, Minnesota is a partnership between the Rochester Public Schools, Mayo Clinic, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Olmsted County Disability Services with supports from the Project SEARCH State Leadership Team.

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RISE for Equity Podcasts (Available)

Can talking about equity inspire a new mindset about it?

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RISE for Youth (Available)

RISE for Youth is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Mayo Clinic and the Rochester branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) designed to help Black and underrepresented students transform themselves from youth with potential to competitive and empowered talent entering the workforce. The program aims to create new pathways for success by providing students with critical educational and leadership skills, training and long-term mentoring for successful careers in health care, science and beyond.

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Rochester Community Technical College

RCTC Building Out Minnesota State’s Equity 2030. (Available)

n June 2019, we set a critical goal: By 2030, Minnesota State will eliminate the educational equity gaps at every Minnesota State college and university. It is a staggeringly ambitious goal and one that will require both intentional systems and culture change and innovation, as well as advocacy and leadership with partners and stakeholders across the state to accomplish.

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RCTC/Perkins Collective Impact (Develop)

Collaborating with RCTC to strengthen Career and Technical Education: The Perkins V Federal Grant for Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides funds for approved Career and Technical Education programs. In Minnesota, funds are distributed on the basis of state-approved career and technical education programs and appropriate teacher licensure. Programs are administered under Minnesota Rules Chapter 3505 and the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V).

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United Way

Culturally Powered Communities (Available)

United Way of Olmsted County’s Culturally Powered Communities is a transformational capacity building program designed to strengthen the education, health, and financial stability of Olmsted County’s cultural communities by strengthening the organizations that serve them.

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The 21-Day Equity Challenge (Available)

The 21-Day Equity Challenge is a powerful opportunity for shared learning, action, and growth. Olmsted County and greater Minnesota residents are invited to develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and our community.

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Nonprofit Consortium

Commitment to Action for Racial Justice project (Develop)

Evaluate the resources available for listen, learn and act. Explore the onboarding process for undersigned. Forming steering committee for the project

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Open Beam

Beam Up DEI Actions for Area CBO's (Concept)

Many area Community Based Organizations(CBO) to their credit are embarking on DEI projects and seek friendly guidance how to get going. OpenBeam to help identify actions that area organizations may pursue to make impacts on area's DEI needs. OpenBeam to provide assistance in two ways : (1) OpenBeam's founder, Al Lun, will serve as Diversity Council ambassador to be a conduit of information sharing between the CBO's and Diversity Council. If requested, a DC staff person may also join in the effort. (2) OpenBeam's dmcbeam.org community assets database is made available to enable community resources connectivity in general.

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Rochester Intercultural Economic Exchange (RICE) (Concept)

Many Rochester groups have individual efforts to increase cultural and trade relationship with emerging global markets. These efforts can be made more effective if coordinated and they receive a local leadership sponsorship from local governments and business leaders. Rochester-MN with its DMC initiative is in a unique position to play a brokering role.

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Featured DEI Projects

ACT-SO Olympics of the Mind (Plan)

ACT-SO’s enrichment program supports students collaborating with local volunteers, mentors, and organizations to develop projects and participate in workshops, tutorials, and field trips.

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Bridges to Careers (Available)

Join the many students who have started their college career at Hawthorne Education Center! We offer unique enrollment options to accommodate our students with diverse experiences and needs. We also offer additional resources in the following areas: Applying for RCTC & for Financial Aid Career Planning and Job Placement Academic Support at both Hawthorne and RCTC

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Community Dashboard (Available)

Many best-practiced communities have implemented community web-based dashboards to provide a "read-out" of the health and wellness metrics of the community. DMCC's website is a push technology and not so much as social, collaborative virtual teaming site. Olmsted County, Mayo, OMG (and others) have just completed a community health study and published a report. We should go further and have a plan to be more agile and responsive in changing statistics by implementing a dashboard.

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Community Engagement Response Team - Rochester, MN (Available)

C.E.R.T (Community Engagement Response Team) is raising money to help keep downtown Rochester safe. Donations will be used to increase patrols of downtown Rochester. Right now C.E.R.T has six volunteer patrol team members that will be patrolling the streets every weekend from 12 am until 3 am. While the six patrol team members are volunteers right now, our goal is to be able to provide a small stipend for their time in helping keep the streets of Rochester safe.

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Developing and Executing on Cradle to Career Plan (Develop)

Every child and young adult succeeds cradle to career, through shared purpose, alignment and accountability among community partners This is the purpose of the Cradle to Career initiative in Rochester, Minnesota. Education is a powerful strategy to improve educational outcomes resulting in healthy individuals, families and community who have economic stability with productive careers and contribute positively to a civic and equitable society.

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Discovery Walk Co-designing (Develop)

Public realm along the 2nd Avenue corridor from 2nd Street to 6th Street (Soldiers Field.)

Read more ...

Diversity Council Rochester Area Racial Attitude Survey (Available)

Update to the 2006 survey. The Diversity Council first collaborated with a community task force to survey local attitudes toward race in 1990. In 2006, a second survey was conducted in association with Luther College. The 2006 survey duplicated many questions from the original survey in order to accurately measure how attitudes have changed over time. This latter survey also included additional questions focusing on immigration, and on actions as well as attitudes.

Read more ...

Equity Alliance Equity Series (Develop)

Our purpose is to accelerate equitable change and impact disparities through reparations, restoration, and reformation based in radical collaboration.

Read more ...

Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity (M.O.V.E) (Develop)

The Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity (M.O.V.E.) community council aims to foster meaningful connections and cultivate trust between our community and local government. M.O.V.E. is comprised of passionate individuals committed to effecting positive change. It serves as a vital link, ensuring diverse voices in our community are not only heard but actively engaged in shaping county policies and programs, with an early emphasis on public health-related topics.

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Page Amendment (Plan)

Constitutional amendment to make it a right for every child have access to quality education. Every child deserves a quality public education.

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Partcipation in DEED's Digital Opportunity Plan (Plan)

1.1.1 | Vision Statement This plan envisions a future where digital equity connects all Minnesota residents to opportunities, options, and each other. 1.1.2 | Goals and Objectives The following list provides a summary of Minnesota’s digital opportunity goals and objectives as proposed in this plan. Further details, including specific strategies and key performance indicators, are spelled out at length in Section 3.0. Goal 1: Connect People to People 1. Minnesota’s digital opportunity advocates and educators statewide are a strong, united group who can lean on each other for fresh ideas, new strategies, and consistent support. 2. All Minnesotans have access to a trusted provider of digital skills training, including training that addresses cybersecurity. 3. All Minnesotans have access to a trusted provider of quality technical support. Goal 2: Connect People to Information 1. Minnesotans can access comprehensive data and mapping tools to evaluate digital opportunity in their area as well as statewide. 2. All Minnesota cities, counties, and tribes have the opportunity to create localized data-driven digital opportunity plans to support their residents and tribal members. 3. All city, county, and tribal government units have the opportunity to re-design their websites so that they are fully accessible to people with disabilities and people with limited English literacy skills. Goal 3: Connect People to Resources 1. All Minnesota households have the option to afford the internet service available at their location. 2. All Minnesota adults have the option to have afford a large-screen device or smartphone, whichever most efficiently helps them access the applications they require. 3. New digital opportunity pathways reach Minnesotans who are at high risk for being digitally excluded.

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RCTC Building Out Minnesota State’s Equity 2030. (Available)

n June 2019, we set a critical goal: By 2030, Minnesota State will eliminate the educational equity gaps at every Minnesota State college and university. It is a staggeringly ambitious goal and one that will require both intentional systems and culture change and innovation, as well as advocacy and leadership with partners and stakeholders across the state to accomplish.

Read more ...

Rochester NAACP And Mayo Clinic AD MERG Launch “Love Wins: Community Empowerment Initiative to Uplift Black/African American and Broader Rochester Community (Available)

The initiative is a timely response to recent incidents in Rochester that targeted Black and Brown community members, underscoring the need for systemic change and proactive community engagement. By addressing issues like financial literacy, housing access, and personal development, the Love Wins initiative seeks to uplift and unite the community while building resilience in the face of adversity.

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Rochester Vision 2050 (Plan)

Our city has undertaken a broad array of initiatives to create a bright future for her citizens and constituencies. These should be guided by a clear, optimistic, aspirational vision. 2050: Far enough for limitless possibilities; close enough to begin today to serve Rochester’s next generation and beyond. Vision 2050 Steering Committee guides this initiative A large volunteer group will put “Vision in Action”, using co-design to engage the community to share ideas and priorities for Rochester’s future.

Read more ...

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