Tag: Community

Boys & Girls Club puts new twist on workforce training

The world is changing fast. As technologies evolve, innovations emerge, and current models of education and employment shift, how do we ensure our youth are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow?

The Boys & Girls Club of Rochester is taking a new approach to job skills development for Rochester youth with the opening of a new downtown ice cream shop. The Chocolate Twist will occupy the main floor of the Paine Furniture building, which is prominently located in the Heart of the City. The shop will not only offer personal and professional development opportunities for teens, it will also create an additional revenue stream for the Boys & Girls Club.

Porchfest unites neighbors and celebrates community

Neighbors from across Rochester united in the Kutzky Park neighborhood this weekend for the second year of Porchfest, an event that partners local musicians with area homeowners who offer up their porches, decks, and lawns for the artists to perform.

Rochester’s inaugural Porchfest took place last fall and attracted nearly 300 attendees. This year’s event drew even greater crowds, with initial estimates at over 400, according to event organizer and Kutzky Park Neighborhood Association president, Jesse Welsh.

Fifteen musicians played at thirteen homes throughout the afternoon, and Welsh said some homeowners went above and beyond to draw in friends and neighbors. One couple had just moved into Kutzky Park less than six months ago, she says, but they loved the idea so much they took it the extra mile.

Kicking off 2017: DMC puts you in the middle of it all

The DMC vision is not one that can be accomplished alone – or overnight. But with the advancements that took place on the DMC Development Plan over the past year, Rochester is well on its way to becoming a premier global medical destination.

It doesn’t take an urban planner to recognize the qualities it takes for a city to be successful. DMC is in the middle of it all: growth, investment, culture, community, innovation… the list goes on. And Rochester is hitting the mark on each attribute, ensuring 2017 will be another year of success.

Growth: A map on the DMC website highlights the fourteen projects currently in various stages of development in the DMC district, including the Alatus Development Project in St Marys Place (#14), the Titan-OPUS Project in Discovery Square (#3), and the Lofts at Mayo Park in the downtown Waterfront (#9), just to name a few.

Investment: Private investment gained significant momentum during 2016 that put DMC on course to reach the $200 million threshold that unlocks $585 million in public funds spanning over 20 years.

Community Members to Help Design DMC’s Community Input Process

 About 80 Rochester community members have helped design a framework for the community input process for Destination Medical Center (DMC). DMC is long-term, public-private economic development initiative to further establish Minnesota and Mayo Clinic as a global medical destination and provide the ideal overall experience for those visiting, residing and working in and around downtown Rochester.

Community input kickoff in Post Bulletin

Posters with dozens of ideas for the Destination Medical Center went up Nov. 14 in the windows of the Massey Building.
Posters with dozens of ideas for the Destination Medical Center went up Nov. 14 in the windows of the Massey Building.

The formal kickoff of the DMC community input phase made the Nov. 14, 2013, Rochester Post Bulletin, drawing attention to the “idea posters” unveiled this week.

“A group of 100 DMC ambassadors, members of the community who meet regularly and brainstorm about the expansion of Mayo Clinic and Rochester, came up with the idea of posting banners across the Massey Building on the corner of Second Street and First Avenue Southwest,” writes reporter Jeff Hansel.

His story noted that some ideas, such as “embrace winter” and make a “downtown playground” are a bit general, still others are quite specific.

Hansel wrote that the ideas intrigued Christina Snell, owner of Midwest Signtech, which created and installed the posters.

He writes that Snell didn’t know much about DMC — until she saw input for the posters. Her favorite idea: an ice-skating park downtown.

What’s your favorite idea?

 

 

Community idea posters go up today

Posters showcasing dozens of ideas for a vibrant urban Rochester go up today in the Massey building, Second St. S.W. and First Ave. S.W., in downtown Rochester.

For the past four months, volunteer DMC ambassadors have collected scores of ideas about what would make Rochester the Destination Medical Center. Community members were asked to think creatively about what they would like to see in eight focus areas:DMC_Retail.Main

  • Livable City/Retail/Dining
  • Sports/Recreation/Nature
  • Hospitality/Convention
  • Commercial Research and Technology
  • Health and Wellness
  • Learning Environment
  • Arts and Culture/Civic/Entertainment
  • Transportation

Check out the posters. What’s your favorite idea? Not there? Add it here! We’re still dreaming, then comes planning and building a premier Destination Medical Center.

Flowers of life

Flowers of lifeSometimes, simple gestures can have a big impact on those who need it most. And for the past six years, John and Barb Meyer, of Potsdam, Minn., have been having just that kind of impact on the lives of patients at hospitals and nursing homes in Rochester by cutting bouquets of flowers from their gladiola field for patients in need of a little pick-me-up.

The Meyers say that what originally started out as a hobby after they received some gladiola bulbs as a gift from their son has now (ahem) blossomed into a full-on passion. “This has been our sixth year doing this, and we have developed more than 1,000 varieties of gladiolas,” the couple says. “It’s become a labor of love … When we see people smile with appreciation, the planting, cutting and delivering is all worth it.”

One of those smiles of appreciation can be found on the face of James Mitchell, who’s spent 20th months at Saint Marys Hospital battling his way back to health after from a severe gastrointestinal condition that’s almost cost him his life. He says he was flown to Rochester “on the verge of death” by air ambulance almost two years ago and has now celebrated two birthdays with his care team at Saint Marys, though he says “that was never the plan.”

As his long and sometimes rocky medical journey continues, Mitchell says the Meyers’ weekly gladiola deliveries to Saint Marys have been a most welcome distraction and represent just one more way that Mayo Clinic takes care of the “entire” patient. “For me, the gladiolas symbolize that there is life outside the hospital and help remind me of the seasons,” he says. “I carry that with me — that this season in my life will also pass, and I will get to go home.”

Mitchell says that whether they realize it or not, the Meyers are a part of his care team, along with the many doctors, nurses, therapists, housekeepers and other Mayo staff who frequent his hospital room. “I think of the Meyers planting, growing, cutting and delivering those flowers to hundreds of people like me — they’re part of the integrated care that is Mayo Clinic,” he says. “They will never know how truly grateful I am.”

Nor can he, Mitchell says, fully communicate how grateful he is for his direct care team at Saint Marys, who have become like a second family to him. “They have been my blessing,” he says. “I see the care in their eyes. I have had the best medical team available, and I am thankful. I am forever grateful to Mayo Clinic.”

George: DMC ‘the most important thing for Minnesota’s future’

Former Medtronic CEO and business ethics leader Bill George called Destination Medical Center “the most important thing for Minnesota’s future” in an interview with TPT’s Almanac last week. George, a member of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees, was appointed as the Mayo representative to the Destination Medical Center Corporation Board, which is the governing board responsible for overseeing the DMC initiative.

“… It’s brand new – it’s a whole new idea that has never been tried here – I’m not sure where it’s ever been tried,” he said of the $6 billion economic development initiative that will leverage Mayo Clinic and private development to ignite growth and create jobs over the next 20 years. “I see this as the most important thing for Minnesota’s future,” he said. “This is making Minnesota a health care mecca. Our best opportunity for economic growth, jobs and good health is making Minnesota the healthiest state in the nation … that should be our goal.”

Tina Smith named chair of DMCC Board

Tina SmithTina Smith, Chief of Staff for Governor Mark Dayton, was unanimously selected as chair by the Destination Medical Center Corporation Board at its inaugural meeting last week.

DMCC was created as part of the (DMC) legislation passed in May and serves as the public governing board charged with overseeing the implementation of DMC. The law outlines the appointments of the eight members of the DMCC Board, with Governor Dayton appointing four, the City of Rochester appointing two, Olmsted County appointing one and Mayo Clinic appointing one. Governor Dayton’s appointees include Smith, former Wells Fargo executive James Campbell, Rani Engineering President Susan Rani and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. City of Rochester representatives are Mayor Ardell Brede and Council member Ed Hruska. Olmsted County’s representative is Commission President Jim Bier. Mayo Clinic’s representative is former Medtronic CEO Bill George, who is a member of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees.

The Board directed Smith to retain independent legal counsel to review and propose Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws for the DMCC, as well as take steps to develop the DMC work plan. Both action items will be discussed at the next meeting of the Board, which is expected at the end of September.

DMC Ambassadors engage community in visioning Rochester’s future

Thursdays on First, a weekly festival in downtown Rochester, was the site of community brainstorming and visioning for DMC. Over 80 DMC ambassadors have been working to talk with individuals and groups in the Rochester community and surrounding region about what they would like to see grow over the next 20 years. Visioning boards were full of ideas by the end of the day, including everything from increased transportation options to suggestions for restaurants, entertainment venues and social activities. Ambassadors also handed out free DMC t-shirts with the slogan “Let’s Build This Thing” – an invitation for community members to become part of the DMC initiative.

Community members are encouraged to continue sharing their ideas through the DMC Blog, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Watch coverage of the Thursdays on First event from KAAL.

DMC in the news:
DMC convenes first meeting – Rochester Post-Bulletin
$6 billion makeover of Rochester and Mayo underway – Minneapolis Star Tribune

Word on the street: What’s your vision for Rochester?

With legislative funding secured and a governance structure under way for Destination Medical Center, it’s time for the community to share ideas for Rochester’s future.

In this video, Mayo Clinic’s own Hoyt Finnamore and John Murphy talk with Mayo Clinic staff and other community members about what they envision for Rochester – and even do a little dreaming themselves.

“The community visioning process is an important part of DMC’s success,” says Lisa Clarke, administrator for DMC. “We want to hear from community members, employees, patients, visitors – anyone who wants to help build an even more vibrant Rochester that will provide great experiences.”

The community visioning process will kick off next week. The DMC Ambassadors, a group of volunteers who are rallying the community during the visioning phase, will host DMC Day at Thursdays on First. To participate, visit the DMC table at the Peace Plaza intersection at Thursdays on First this coming Thursday, July 25 from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Share your ideas and be sure to pick up a free DMC T-shirt – while they last.

You can also share your ideas by commenting on this post, as well as DMC’s Facebook page, Twitter and Pinterest – check out the top navigation to get there quickly and easily!