Culturally Powered Communities

Collaborators 

Lead Organization: United Way of Olmsted County

Contact: TBD ; Email: TBD ; Phone: TBD

Known/Likely Collaborators: Boys and Girls Club of Rochester ; Damascus Way ; Diversity Council ; Ethiopian Community of Rochester ; Family Service Rochester ; IMAA ; Intermix Project ; Listos Preschool and Childcare ; Mayo Clinic ; Next Chapter Ministries ; Pamoja Women ; Sports Mentorship Academy (SMA) ; United Way of Southeast Minnesota ; Zumbro Valley Health Center

Potential Collaborators: Community Mobilization Resource Coalition (CMRC) ; Diversity Council ; IMAA ; Rochester Area Family Y ; Rochester Area Foundation

Related Projects

Beam Up DEI Actions for Area CBO's ; Build Back Better Request for Proposal ; Building Out Community Mobilization Resources Coalition ; Collider Inclusion Open Entrepreneur Ecosystem Navigator ; Developing and Executing on Cradle to Career Plan ; Digital Equity IT ; Intercultural Center, Rochester (Creating a 21st Century Community Space) ; Non-profit Consortium Buildout

Impacts 

Major Impact:  Diversity and Inclusion

PlanScape Impacts :

Level 1: Best Practice, Diversity and Inclusion, Technology Enablement

Level 2:

DMC Impacts:

Community Health Impacts:

Type of Project

Programming  

Background

Culturally specific organizations (CSOs) are the best advocates for their communities because they understand the cultural norms, beliefs, and traditions of the people they serve; effectively engage community members; recognize and remove barriers to accessing services; and bridge norms between communities and institutions. These strengths of CSOs are often challenges for established mainstream organizations seeking to better serve a diverse cross-section of the community. At the same time, a lack of resources often keeps CSOs from developing capacities in areas such as data management, fundraising, technology, HR, or board development.

As communities know and research verifies, CSOs play a vital role in communities’ wellbeing. Studies indicate that people of color, Native Americans, and immigrants often prefer to interact with organizations that reflect their culture and traditions. However, these organizations are less likely than their mainstream counterparts to receive grant funding and tend to be smaller in size.

Culturally Powered Communities is principally designed to support CSOs through significant funding, individualized organizational and professional development, peer learning, and strengthening networks of leaders and organizations. The program also supports mainstream organizations with project-based mini-grants, support and training in organizational development to improve equity, and peer learning.

Build Back Better

LEARN MORE

Read our supporting research about inequities in our Olmsted County community and how we can create a thriving community where all people reach their full potential. 

Here's what our staff are reading these days:

• Belonging, Support, and Trust: Racial Equity at Work from Bain & Company
• Building supportive ecosystems for Black-owned US businesses from McKinsey & Company
• Navigating Race and New Leadership in a Time of Upheaval by Michelle Rhone-Collins
• Obstacles and Opportunities in Addressing the Nonprofit Racial Leadership Gap from the Building Movement Project
• On the Frontlines by the Building Movement Project
• Racial Equity and Philanthropy by The Bridgespan Group
• Transformational Capacity Building by April Nishimura et al
• Who Leads in Minnesota? From Minnesota Compass and the Bush Foundation

Sponsorships

Culturally Powered Communities is an equity strategy made possibly through a collaboration between United Way of Olmsted County and Mayo Clinic.

CPC is powered in partnership with Otto Bremer Trust.

We appreciate the support of our partners at Cradle 2 Career, The Diversity Council, Emmright Consulting, Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Rochester Area Foundation, Sports Mentorship Academy, and Zumbro Valley Health Center. 

Investing in Community-Led Solutions Centering Black Voices through Participatory Grantmaking

The Juneteenth Experience Event at Mayo Civic 

Video Recording Link

Presentation

Collaboration Commitment

Results Report

City Council Study Session

Presentation, Memo and Video Recording

ISIAH:  Ask Rochester City Council to Ensure Equitable Benefit of the Regional Sports Complex: "We believe it’s important that this complex offer equitable community benefit to residents and particular families who lack accessible recreation spaces and affordable, structured programs for their children."

(1) 2025 Blank History Month Press Release (2) 2024 Black History Month Press Release

(3) 2023 Black History Month Press Release (4) 2022 Black History Month Press Release;

(5) 2021 Black History Month Press Release  

2. Rochester Sister City Application (Roles and Responsibilities)

3. Meeting Info: Dec 2024 Meeting Minutes; Dec 2025 Mtg Agenda

Helpful resources Links