Hillside Strong: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Hillside is a part of the communities we serve. Deep within our mission is an implicit commitment to supporting a diverse, equitable and inclusive society. Our agency is dedicated to reversing the multigenerational damage too often caused by poverty, trauma and neglect. Every day, our people see the links between those issues and structural racism and inequity.
Hillside’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
Hillside creates an inclusive environment where we leverage our diversity to build a strong, equitable community.
We support diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in all aspects of our work—for the good of our employees, and the youth and families we serve.
- Hillside believes that Black lives matter. Our agency strongly opposes acts of racism and violence in any form.
- Our executives actively engage with government, education and community leaders to explore the nature of structural problems, and how Hillside can make a difference.
- Our agency is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all people, and prohibits discrimination in all aspects of employment. Learn about job opportunities at Hillside
- Our harassment-free workplace policy explicitly supports a working environment that is free of inappropriate behavior, including sexual harassment.
- An open door policy ensures that concerns can be brought to leaders without fear of retaliation.
Watch a brief video gallery of the Summer 2020 Black Lives Matter art exhibit featuring artwork created by young people in residential treatment at Hillside.
Hillside’s DE&I Structure
A diverse and inclusive community requires many points of view. Hillside’s DE&I commitment brings employees together at all levels of the organization, to ensure their voices are heard.
- Monthly Regional Committee meetings provide forums for robust discussion and thoughtful activities. Learn more about Hillside’s regional locations
- Ideas and suggestions for agency-wide change are shared with the Executive Council, which also meets monthly.
- Affinity groups including Hillside Men of Color and Hillside Women of Color meet throughout the year, to share vital thoughts and perspectives.
Because these activities are fundamental to our effectiveness as an organization, staff participate in DE&I meetings as a part of their workday. The shape of the work continues to evolve, but our dedication to DE&I is unwavering—for the benefit of our employees, and the communities we all call home.
October 2022 DE&I Update
Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time for celebrating the culture and contributions of people from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This year’s theme is Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation. The more we learn about each other, the stronger we become.
In September, Cecily Mitchell-Harper, LMSW, led a discussion among Hillside leaders about points that should be considered when working with marginalized youth and families.
Hillside President & CEO Maria Cristalli is the Board Chair of the New York State Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health, and Hillside staff attended a meeting last month of the Coalition’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee. The featured speaker—Diana Noriega, Chief Anti-Racism and Equity Officer for Good Shepherd Services in New York City—shared her agency’s work on equitable hiring policies and practices and collaborative decision-making.
Finally, we were thrilled to join regional leaders and citizens at the 2022 Interrupt Racism Summit, put on by the Urban League of Rochester, in September. Our Sept. 19 presentation, “DE&I Committees: Give Them the Attention They Deserve,” focused on how to successfully structure a DE&I committee and looked at the different ways a committee can add value to organizations and their people. Kudos to the Urban League and all attendees and presenters for a wonderful three-day session!
Proud to partner with Social Current
The Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and the Council on Accreditation have joined to form Social Current. The combined mission is to advocate for and implement equitable solutions to society’s toughest challenges. As a longstanding member of the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, Hillside is a proud member of this new partnership, supporting the effort to ignite change for an equitable society where all people can thrive.