Leadership Greater Rochester

About

Research shows that the more connected, confident, and safe children feel in play with their peers, (especially getting them active outside) is making a significant impact on how they behave, connect, and develop in the classroom and within their family unit. A fantastic way to help them feel safe, connected, and confident while playing outside is with Communication Stations.

Communication Stations aims to enhance public spaces that allow for inclusivity, sharing, caring, connectivity, understanding, and reflecting, while showing empathy and compassion. Communication Stations are positioned in local parks, pools and schools to aid in helping nonverbal, disabled, and or hearing-impaired children and adults to communicate with their fellow classmates, family, friends, and teachers. Communication Stations are a great resource no matter age, race, ethnicity, cultural background, or ability or disability.

Communication Stations are planned for the following sites in 2024 and 2025:

• Rochester Parks
  • Cascade Lake
  • Silver Lake
  • Chester Woods Park
• Greater Rochester Area:
  • Oxbow Park in Byron
  • Stewartville Public Pool
  • Pine Island – PI Middle School
• Rochester Public Schools:
  • Bamber Valley Elementary School
  • Harriet Bishop Elementary School
  • Hawthorne Elementary School
  • Overland Elementary School
  • Riverside Elementary School
• Pipsqueaks

Rochester has over 100+ miles of trails for commuter and recreational use. We partnered with Rochester Parks and Recreation to install a PedHub station that provides a place for the local community to learn about active transportation, repair or tune up bikes, seek shelter, and connect with others. We aimed to improve amenities and create more awareness of existing trails and active transportation options for the community where the PedHub is located.

TechConnect is a partnership between AARP’s Senior Planet, 125 LIVE, and the University of Minnesota – Rochester with a goal to increase accessibility, build community, and bridge gaps in technical knowledge. Our mission is to provide the aging population in our community the support, tools, and skills they need to thrive in our ever-changing technological world utilizing a hands-on and collaborative approach.

The Thrive Outside Winter Activity Trailer helps community members from all backgrounds and ages get outdoors, be active, socialize and enjoy winter. The trailer is filled with winter activities like sleds, snowshoes, fort-building kits, a firepit and more. The trailer can serve up to 30 people at a time and be delivered directly to your home, school, organization or park. Reservations, delivery and pickup of the trailer are free.

Art has many psychological and psychological benefits, and the LGR Class of 2019 sought to expand access to art with traditionally under-represented populations. Partnering with Threshold Arts out of the Castle Community, the class curated pieces from local artists and conducted two successful pop-up lending events. In total, more than 50 pieces of art were lent into the community for all to enjoy.

The LGR Class of 2018 noticed the struggles local mentorship organizations faced when trying to find volunteers to mentor youth. After defining this critical community need, the class developed a comprehensive PR campaign focused on building awareness and inspiring new volunteers. Their main goal was to bridge the gap between the number of mentors and mentees by

• Informing the community of mentorship need
• Aligning mentors with youth organizations through a web-based application.
• Activating our workforce to invest in the future

Always wanted to have a block party for your neighborhood but it seemed like too much work to pull the necessary items together? Thanks to the Chamber's Leadership Greater Rochester program and partnership between the City of Rochester Parks and Rec and RNeighbors, you can utilize an entire trailer full of block party necessities free of charge! From lawn games to grills, this trailer has it all to throw a successful bash.

The LGR Class of 2016 took on the role of volunteer consultants for Rochester Parks and Recreation, "to identify paths to activate and utilize the old Fire Station No. 2 on Silver Lake as a multi-use pace for health and wellness." The class set three principle deliverable for the project, including: a building plan, site beautification, and a business plan. Over the Course of the project, the collected community input and raised funds for the site beautification efforts through various community awareness efforts. Ultimately, the class developed and presented a full plan detailing the space's potential.

"Did you know the mere presence of books in the home profoundly impacts a child’s academic achievement? Increasing a child’s access to books has been proven to result in improved reading performance, an increase in reading frequency, and improved attitudes toward reading and learning.” The LGR Class of 2015 developed the Rochester Mini Library Program to “promote literacy and learning through a self-sustaining mini library network in Rochester neighborhoods,” with the vision of growing proficient and avid readers in Rochester.

In the summer of 2015, the class built and installed 40 mini libraries throughout Rochester neighborhoods to provide barrier-free access to books for children and families within walking distance of their home. The class notes, “A focus of the program is on enriching youth who are not currently reached by the Rochester Public Library's services due to geographic, language, or financial barriers.

The Leadership Greater Rochester class of 2014 devoted their Community Impact Project to plans to revitalize Central Park, the Rochester community’s first public park. The class’s efforts to revitalize Central Park included enhancing and beautifying the urban green space and historical landmark for community members who use the park today and those who will enjoy the park in the future. The class held a fundraising event, “People in Central Park,” for community members to enjoy an afternoon of outdoor activities in the park and hear about the class’s plans to bring new life to Rochester’s oldest park.

The goal of The Kitchen at Channel One is to create a healthier community by providing sustaining education, skills and local resources to empower families to make smart nutritional choices. Tackling this feat requires a unique approach to prevention of chronic disease by moving upstream to curtail disease before it starts.” To meet these ends, The Kitchen offers community-based hands-on cooking and healthy eating classes, and a variety of life skill seminars, such as financial management and workforce preparation.

The Golden Hill Outdoor Learning Environment was the community impact project of the LGR class of 2012, with the focus of expanding the Garden Project at Golden Hill Alternative Learning Center, a school that serves at risk youth. Class efforts for the project raised nearly $60,000 to go toward development of an apple orchard, a hoop house, a rain garden, a compost area, and expanded garden. The class noted that, “Golden Hill ALC is on the cutting edge of the movement to create sustainable agriculture within community schools while enhancing student education.”

• Traveling Exhibit for Minnesota Children's Museum (2011)
• "A Place to Call Home" Youth Homelessness Initiative (2010)
• Graham Park Master Plan (2009)
• Rochester Biobusiness Summit (2008)
• Pipsqueaks - Indoor Play Zone (2005)