As with many organizations and institutions across the country, COVID had a large effect on RNeighbors, causing a lack of volunteer engagement and limited neighborhood activity across Rochester. In 2022 RNeighbors has attempted to rebuild relationships and listen to neighborhoods. RNeighbors utilized United Way Micro-grant funding to work with Julie Brock Consulting to guide us through a six-month strategic planning process focusing on equity practices. This journey included planning meetings, two focus groups, an on-line survey, and several Board sessions…

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On August 24, 2022, RNeighbors presented to the City of Rochester’s Outside Agency Committee. We were asked to give an overview of the organization including financial statements, challenges, and accomplishments from 2021-22. The PowerPoint presentation given can be accessed below. 2022 Outside Agency Oversight Committee Update

RNeighbors, in partnership with the Southeastern Minnesota Poets, and City of Rochester organized the city-wide Chalk the Block Festival on July 24. The goal of this event was for citizens to connect across Rochester and express themselves through creating poetry and sidewalk chalk murals with the theme of Creating Memorable Connections. Although community event participation is tough to gauge, the feedback we received when handing out chalk was people are craving positive social connections. 1,500 Chalk bags were distributed across…

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Application Deadline Friday, July 15, 5 pm On Saturday, July 23, we’re inviting artists of all ages to take part in a city-wide Chalk the Walk Festival, adding colorful art throughout Rochester sidewalks, cultivating joy and positivity. Partners in this effort include the City of Rochester, the Southeastern Minnesota Poets, and RNeighbors. Chalk the Walk will include pavement poetry and sidewalk art done by neighbors, as well as chalk murals across the city created  by professional artists. Through these grants,…

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This survey is to collect community member input for our 2023-2025 strategic plan development. RNeighbors is re-calibrating after the pandemic created uncertain times in our organization, city, and the world, just as we’ve heard many neighborhood groups are also re-calibrating. Although no specific feedback is guaranteed to be included in the final plan, the input provided will be used by the board to move us forward in providing relevant resources. This survey should take no more than ten minutes of…

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The RNeighbors 2022 Work Plan builds off of Organization Priorities approved by the Board in January 2022 and outlines exact tactics to achieving our annual goals. In addition to usual projects and programs getting back on track, we will also be actively listening to neighborhood leaders and community partners about engagement resources that would be helpful during this “new normal” time. With this information we’ll be creating a multi-year strategic plan with metrics and equity embedded throughout. This planning effort…

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