On March 28, Hillside was proud to sponsor and participate in the 12th annual Connecting the Dots health and human service conference in Rochester. A number of Hillside clinicians were in attendance at the event, the first of a number of conferences we will support this year.
Also last month, Hillside completed our yearlong cohort participation in Interrupt Racism, an ongoing initiative developed by the Urban League of Rochester. In recapping our time with the Interrupt Racism cohort, we were asked to look back at our agency achievements during the past year. A few standouts included:
- Completing a leadership diversity pilot
- Reinforcing our agency-wide messaging about DE&I
- Supporting diversity within our recruiting by exploring options to reach historically underrepresented groups
- Reviewing and updating language in our job descriptions and postings, for greater inclusivity
- Bringing in more than a dozen subject matter experts to present to staff on topics ranging from institutional racism to the history of Native Americans
- Initiating DE&I-focused projects aimed at supporting our employees and the youth, families and adults with whom we partner
Although our formal participation came to an end, we’re excited to continue the work associated with this vital initiative—within our organization, and in the community. For instance, later this month Hillside will be among the participants at an Interrupters Conference presented by the Urban League of Rochester for current and previous members of the Interrupt Racism cohort. The event will feature a keynote address by Dr. Christopher Metzler, an international human rights attorney and author.
April is also Celebrate Diversity Month, a national observance that recognizes and honors the diversity surrounding us all. Our Regional DE&I Committees are discussing ways in which Hillside can bring this spirit to life on a local level.