I-WE Program

Collaborators 

Lead Organization: Diversity Council

Contact: Dee Sabol ; Email: TBD ; Phone: TBD

Known/Likely Collaborators: Diversity Council ; Rochester Area Nonprofit Consortium ; Workforce Development Inc

Potential Collaborators: Rochester-area Chamber of Commerce

Related Projects

Impacts 

Major Impact:  Workforce Development

PlanScape Impacts :

Level 1: Best Practice, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Workforce Development, Vision/Identity

Level 2: African American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Native American, Latino, Women, Veteran, Best Practice

DMC Impacts:

Community Health Impacts:

Type of Project

Programming  

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.

Be recognized as an employer of choice with a designation as an Inclusive Workforce Employer. Take the first step in becoming a part of a forward-thinking group, committed to helping your business and community grow, by completing the following application.

APPLICATION FOR INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER DESIGNATION

INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER TOOLKIT

VIEW INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE EMPLOYER DESIGNATION FLYER

Want to learn more?

Workforce Development, Inc. recently hosted a one hour “Lunch and Learn” event during Welcoming Week to showcase Southeast Minnesota’s new Inclusive Workforce Employer Designation and to highlight our first cohort of businesses and their efforts towards this designation, and the I/WE program as a whole.

VIEW I-WE LUNCH & LEARN RECORDING HERE.

PB Reporting Apr 21, 2025

Apr 2025 Updates

The Early Childhood Resource Hub, a collaboration between C2C and IMAA, aims to connect Olmsted County families with young children to various resources and services.

Press Release: The City of Rochester is beginning its 2026-2027 budget process and invites residents to learn more about the factors shaping the City’s financial outlook.

The Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) is thrilled to announce the launch of CAAL Ignite, a new grant program offering $10,000–$15,000 to individuals, nonprofits, and small businesses in Minnesota’s Asian American community.

Mayo Clinic re-names its diversity and inclusion office as ‘Office of Belonging’ 

Breathing Study: Enhancing Brain and Mental Health through Breathing Practice

 Apr 2025 Mayor's YouTube Rochester Voices Channel  

Mar 2025: City of Rochester Mayor Kim Norton to attend the National League of Cities (NLC) 2025 Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C. from March 8-12, 2025.

City of Rochester Mayor Kim Norton to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) 93rd Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

"Building relationships of trust with community members"

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2025 Conference Materials

2020 Lifestyle Medicine Symposium (March 19-20)

Results Report with links to raw data and Copilot AI analyses

City Council Study Session

Annual Report to DEED Prep 

PB Reporting

" Overall private investment related to the Destination Medical Center initiative bounced back in 2024, but non-Mayo Clinic development continued to decline in the DMC district for the sixth year."

DMC Updates 

SBDC Day and workshop opportunities: "If you have an upcoming business event or celebration, please let us know! We would love to stop by for a RIBBON CUTIING for any of your business." milestones:

Collider Cup

Collider Incubator