As the calendar turns over to 2024, Hillside’s activities in the DE&I space are ongoing:
A new 12-month cohort of the Urban League of Rochester’s Interrupt Racism initiative kicks off in January, and Hillside will again participate in this vital community-based antiracism program. Our “Change Team”—a diverse working committee of up to 10 members, representing all levels of the organization—will receive training and support to help Hillside more deeply address issues around equity in their specific context. By helping us identify inequitable policies, practices, and behaviors, the Interrupt Racism program will support our commitment to creating an equitable work environment where all employees can thrive.
Hillside’s new LGBTQ Affinity Group will begin meeting in January, providing a dependable forum for our employees in the LGBTQ+ community to engage and discuss relevant experiences, issues, and ideas affecting them every day. This group joins our previously formed Hillside Men of Color and Hillside Women of Color affinity groups, which recognize the importance of helping our people find helpful connections and support.
Finally, our development of Hillside’s first Living Action Plan has made great progress, with the finish line in sight for the inaugural draft of this essential document. Of course, as a “living” plan, it will never really be finished—but it will nonetheless be a critical foundation of Hillside’s ongoing work in creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community for our employees and the communities we serve. Excerpts from the Living Action Plan will be shared on this page later in 2024.