Hillside Strong
Message from the President & CEO
Pride Month & Juneteenth: Let’s All Get Involved
At Hillside, we know that creating and maintaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive community is a year-round commitment. There’s no shortage of opportunities to get involved—especially this time of year!
Every June, National Pride Month shows support and solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community. No matter what community you call home, you’ll find a Pride event: parades have already been held in Buffalo and Utica, and more events are coming this month to Binghamton, Jamestown, the Southern Tier, Syracuse, and Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Rochester has a tradition of holding a Pride Parade in July—our team is pictured below at the 2023 parade—and Hillside will once again march in that event on July 20. Join us!
Meanwhile, the national holiday of Juneteenth commemorates the symbolic anniversary of the end of slavery on June 19, 1865. Within Hillside, our Regional DE&I Committees organized a virtual event for all interested employees with a visiting speaker who will explore the legacy of that historic date.
In the communities we serve, events have been announced in Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo, and there’s sure to be a live or online Juneteenth celebration near you.
On behalf of all of Hillside, I encourage you to engage in your local Juneteenth and Pride Month celebrations. These events aren’t reserved for specific segments of our community—they’re an important way of bringing everyone together to salute and support our neighbors, our loved ones, and ourselves.
Thank you!
Maria Cristalli
President & CEO
Hillside
HILLSIDE STRONG: Areas of Focus
Exploring Hillside’s impact among those we serve, our dedicated employees, and the support that makes our work possible.
Strong families are the heart of any community. Find out more about how Hillside’s programs work together to listen to families, understand family goals, and make permanence a priority.
Hillside’s commitment to DE&I takes many forms and involves many voices. It’s a constantly evolving partnership with our employees and the communities we serve.
Nationally recognized HWSC is dedicated to reversing the trend of low high-school graduation rates, and helping students realize their potential—in the classroom, in the community and in life.
Foster Parenting
A robust, diverse foster network is essential for the support of vulnerable youth and families. Learn how you can help—for a night, a weekend or a lifetime.
To serve the evolving needs of our communities, our programs must continuously evolve as well. Learn more about our commitment to research, innovation and measurement.
A look at the innovative evidence-based model from Cornell University that helps guide Hillside’s engagement with youth, individuals and families.