Welcome to Community Conversations 2021-2022!
Updated September 14, 2021 - No in-person Conversation will be held. Please watch online!
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Community Conversations is a monthly meeting of community members to discuss important topics of the day. Due to COVID-19, this event will be live-streamed and not in person. Click here to watch the Conversation from October 13.

Black Lives Matter
Transformational social change requires passion, courage, perseverance, original thinking, and commitment to change. In 2020, the #BlackLivesMatter movement took off and shook the world. Drawing on his expertise in social justice, systemic inequality, antiracism, community building, leadership, strategic planning, project management and execution, Mr. Elegbede engages us in an intimate conversation on Black Lives Matter, inspire us with new perspectives and ideas, and highlight the power of community in advancing systemic change.
Wale Elegbede is Director of Strategy Management Services at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and member of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Team.  He also serves as President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Rochester, Minnesota Branch and President of the La Crosse-Rochester Project Management Institute (PMI) chapter. A strategist and change maker who believes good, ethical leaders have a responsibility to bring positive change to their communities, organizations and families, Mr. Elegbede is also a TED Speaker and a Rada Distinguished Alumnus.

Elegbede grew up witnessing the appalling effects of prejudice and bias under autocratic rule. Born in Nigeria, he observed military rule, and while living in Togo, he experienced life under the domineering regime of President Gnassingbé Eyadema, who ruled Togo for 38 years until his death.
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An interfaith leader, Elegbede is a member of the Rochester Muslim Community Circle and founding member of the La Crosse Interfaith Shoulder to Shoulder Network (LISSN) established to empower people of all faiths or no faith to end anti-Muslim sentiment, Islamophobia, bias and intolerance toward any group. He regularly speaks on leadership, community, and social justice issues.
We welcome all who want to make a difference.
Fall 2021 in-person events have been cancelled. Click here to watch online instead!
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In an effort to strengthen our community, Community Conversations looks to engage citizens in thoughtful, theological, non-partisan and non-political discussion about local economic and social issues. We invite anyone who is interested in making a difference.”
- Rev. Mark Solyst
Founder, Interfaith Leaders Coalition Retired Pastor