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Key DEI Events

 

This is a collection of what is deemed to be events having impacts on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  

 

See the Diversity Beam for notable DEI projects. 

 

Start Date Title Description Tags
Sep 21, 2024 10:00 AM (Spanish) Financial Literacy Join SBA’s Minnesota District Office to discuss strategies for strong financial management. Learn how to utilize your financial statements to become better-positioned and understand the importance of financial literacy to the success of your business. Topics include: Bookkeeping, Financial Statements, Cash Flow, Business Financing, & Access to Capital. ('diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Sep 19, 2024 04:00 PM DMC Annual Meeting 2024 Description This year the DMC annual meeting will highlight public space assets in our community, celebrate the several 2024 milestones, provide the opportunity to connect with members and organizations in the community and learn about what is on the horizon for the following year. The evening includes gathering outside with strategic activities coordinated by community partners and a program. We hope to see you there. 4:00-5:30pm Open House Highlighting Strategic Initiatives and Networking 5:30-6:00pm Program 6:30-7:00pm Networking and Light Bites ('DMC', 'community engagement', 'key')
Sep 18, 2024 12:00 PM Latino Economic Development Center: Creating Generational Wealth One Entrepreneur at a Time .At the Latino Economic Development Center, we understand the obstacles that our Latino communities face, and we help aspiring business owners to overcome those barriers to achieve their dreams - and create generational wealth while doing it. ('DMC', 'Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship', 'key', 'latino')
Sep 16, 2024 07:00 PM State of Rochester Public Schools 2024 In his first State of the School District Address, RPS Superintendent Kent Pekel will answer that question and provide an engaging overview of how Rochester Public Schools is working to meet those three essential psychological needs for more than 17,000 young people in our community. The event will also feature performances and observations from RPS students on the state of our schools, our school system, and our city. ('RPS', 'education', 'key')
Sep 16, 2024 06:00 PM (Spanish) Finding your First Customers and sell without being salesy Congratulations on your new endeavor! Now it’s time to sell! But most people do not like being “sold”… Now what? Learn where to find your first customers and how to sell without being pushy. ('diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Sep 14, 2024 12:00 PM Latino Fest 2024 Dance Get ready to move and groove to the infectious beats of Latino music! The air will be filled with the rhythm of salsa, merengue, bachata, and more. Don't be shy to join in on the dance floor – our talented dancers will gladly teach you a step or two! Food Indulge in a culinary adventure like no other! Savor the delectable flavors of traditional Latino cuisine. From tantalizing gorditas to mouthwatering mangonadas, your taste buds are in for an absolute treat! Culture This event is not just about celebration; it's about unity and fostering a sense of community. Latino Fest brings together diverse cultures under one roof, promoting understanding, friendship, and harmony. The event will be held inside and outside tentative of the weather ('culture', 'Diversity', 'cmrc', 'community')
Sep 12, 2024 07:30 AM 3Q 2024 September Health HAPP Meeting CHAP Value Discussion: What value does the CHAP process bring to you/your organization? CHIP Collective Impact Discussion: How are we addressing the top health issues in Olmsted County? ('CHNA', 'community', 'Health/Wellness', 'Health', 'public sector work product', 'key', 'health work product')
Sep 11, 2024 10:00 AM Sep, 2024 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance: We have lots of interesting housing info for you at our next meeting! Overview of the Founders’ Pointe Project in Sheboygan, WI; Matt Durand will update us on the modular homes he is building in Claremont; Mark Engel will share an update on the many Olmsted County Housing Projects in the works ('RAF', 'housing', 'openbeam', 'key')
Sep 10, 2024 10:00 AM RPS September 2024 Family Engagement Meeting: Ignite Student Learning 2024 Referendum During our September meeting, RPS Superintendent, Dr. Kent Pekel, will lead an information session on the topic: "Ignite Student Learning 2024 Referendum. ('RPS', 'education', 'key')
Aug 31, 2024 05:00 PM Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs: Community Listening Session Please share within your networks! This Listening Session for the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs hosted locally by COPAL Rochester and ACHLA will take place on Saturday, August 31 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A meal will be provided for attendees. Seats are limited, so the organizers are asking attendees to register to confirm their attendance. ('Diversity',)
Aug 27, 2024 01:00 PM August 2024 Rochester Vision 2050 Community Engagement Rochester Vision 2050 Help Shape Rochester's Future Rochester Mayor Kim Norton would like to hear your vision for Rochester’s next generation. Rochester Vision 2050 seeks your input to create a collective vision for our city's future. Your perspective helps to ensure that our policies, investments, and initiatives align with the collective will and wisdom of our community. ('key', 'governance', 'community', 'openbeam')
Aug 16, 2024 10:00 AM August 16 2024 Community Co-design Welcome to the August Community Co-Design Meeting! As usual, we will offer updates on trainings and projects. We will offer an overview and considerations for funding co-design projects and then discuss how we might best support collaboration with funders to create models that better support co-design projects around the region. ('CMRC', 'key')
Aug 14, 2024 12:00 PM Youth Engagement from the Youth Perspective Discover the fundamentals of engaging with young people from the perspective of the Rochester Community Initiative (RCI), a 100% youth-led nonprofit. ('Housing', 'DMC', 'Diversity', 'key')
Aug 14, 2024 10:00 AM August, 2024 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance: Mayo Bold, Century Village, Housing Stats Developer and builders, Bob and Drew Fleming, regarding their new townhome project, Century Village A Mayo Clinic presentation, "Mayo Clinic’s Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Rochester initiative – an overview," by Ilaya Rome Hopkins ('RAF', 'housing', 'openbeam', 'key')
Jul 24, 2024 11:00 AM Women’s Foundation of Minnesota Community Connect Event Community Connect is an informal biannual gathering for community members from across the state to meet and find serendipitous connections to their next funder, accomplice, or co-conspirator. This event is not just for the outgoing and social—we’re confident it will be a meaningful and welcoming experience for extroverts and introverts alike. ('diversity', 'community')
Document Actions

Two types of event information being shared in the following:

1. A list of Beam aware upcoming community events of all types. 

2. A list of noteworthy past events that have one or more of the following contents: presentation slides, video recordings as well as takeaways. 

Upcoming Events
In the City for Good: Rochester Mayor Candidate Forum Jul 21, 2026 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM — Christ United Methodist Church
City of Rochester - Community Development Block Grant Jul 22, 2026 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM — 125 Live - Center for Active Adults (125 Elton Hill Dr. NW)
City for Good - Rochester CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM: Ward 5 Jul 22, 2026 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM — Rocheser Area Foundation 12 Elton Hills Dr NW
LWV-R Candidate Forum Olmsted County Commissioner District 6 Jul 23, 2026 06:30 PM - 07:45 PM — Roch Pub Library Aud, doors open at 6 pm
Disability Summit Jul 24, 2026 09:00 AM - 12:30 PM — Commons Area at the Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) Heintz Center
2026 IRC International Friendship Date Jul 30, 2026 11:00 AM - 08:30 PM — Thursday on First
6th Annual Rochester Community Back-to-School Party Aug 15, 2026 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM — Soldiers Field
Upcoming events…
Community News

This panel displays the latest community news. For a standalone view please click this LINK.



City of Rochester Housing Enablement

Jun, 2026 Planning commission supports planned infill project

Apr, 2026 The City of Rochester is now accepting proposals for the sale and redevelopment of two City-owned residential parcels located in the Durand Subdivision and Hilmer’s High View Acres.

Last Updated June 27, 2026



Rochester International Relations Committee

2026 NewsSpring, Winter Newsletters; Apr 2026 Siheung, Korean Newsletter;  Sister City Visits Germany Visit

2025 News: Sister City Trips: Japan; Rochester Sister City Application (Roles and Responsibilities)

General Info: Sister Cities Relationship Logs; IRC Meeting Logs

Last Updated June 22, 2026



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