Messages from the President & CEO

At Hillside, our people bring our mission to life. Each and every day, Hillside employees collaborate to provide services and solutions that make a profound difference in the lives of thousands of youth and families. The collective impact of our staff is extraordinary—and it’s worthy of celebration.

Recently, I was proud to join more than 900 Hillsiders at an off-site Employee Conference. At this two-day event—with identical programming each day, to accommodate staff schedules—our teams engaged in an array of workshops, activities and discussions that provided work-enhancing insights and essential tools for personal growth.

Just as important, they were able to re-connect with their colleagues after several years of COVID-related remote distancing. The theme of the Conference, “Stronger Futures Together,” was woven into the event as a reassuring reminder of how partnerships—with our co-workers, with those we serve, and with the community at large—amplify the effectiveness of our vital work.

It’s always inspiring to see so many dedicated people gathered together. The diverse Hillside community is constantly evolving—and there’s room for you to join our family. I encourage you to visit Hillside.com/Careers to explore the opportunities that await you as a future member of our team.

I’m so proud to be a part of this agency. Please consider joining us! And as always, thank you for your interest in our mission.

Maria Cristalli
President & CEO
Hillside

Recently, two men shared very personal stories of how Hillside helped them overcome profound challenges to fulfill their potential.

As a youth in the 1960s, Richard Jackson lived for several years on our Monroe Campus in Rochester. His memoir Ward of the Court describes how that experience led to a remarkable life as a human services leader and the mayor of Ottawa, Kansas. Now 79 and retired, Richard returned to Hillside and shared his story over pizza with youth, in a virtual meeting with our staff, and in an interview with WXXI radio. He praised our services as being critical in shaping lives of strength, purpose and achievement.

He also met with donors at a special event, joined by an alumnus of our Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection program who shared his own deeply moving story. While in high school, Casanova Burgos endured the deaths of his cousin and his father; at the event, he talked about how he was given strength to cope with those traumas thanks to sustained support from his HWSC Youth Advocates. Casanova, now 33, is a Navy Reserves veteran, a father, and an aspiring firefighter; like Richard, he says Hillside empowered him to realize his goals.

Richard and Casanova are potent reminders of the vital nature of our work—and of the many other vulnerable youth and adults who still need support. Hillside’s services make a powerful impact on countless lives every day, and your support makes our work possible.

There are so many ways you can make a difference as a Hillside partner. I hope you’ll consider supporting our mission with a donation, becoming a foster parent, or joining our team as a Hillside employee. Together, we can help more individuals like Casanova and Richard discover their paths to the stronger futures they deserve.

Thank you!

Maria Cristalli
President & Chief Executive Officer

Hillside’s dedication to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a commitment to our community; to the youth, adults and families we serve; and to each other. We understand that many voices make for a stronger conversation. We reject discrimination in all its forms. And we know that no community can fulfill its potential until community member enjoys equal access to opportunity.

These are year-round priorities, to be sure, but the month of June is still a particularly powerful time for DE&I. During Pride Month, Hillside joins our neighbors in saying “no” to hate and bigotry aimed at the LGBTQIA+ community. Caribbean-American Heritage Month inspires us to celebrate the culture and achievements of that population. And the Juneteenth holiday reminds us all of the historic end of slavery in our country—as well as its lingering effects on our society.

 This month and every month, we’re determined to continuously evolve in our DE&I work. Whether marching at Pride parades, participating in community events, or leading internal initiatives that support and inspire our employees, we’re passionate about this journey.

 With that in mind, I’m delighted to welcome a new DE&I leader to our family his month. Latesha Fussell, Hillside’s new Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, is an experienced and committed champion of this work. She’ll play a lead role in ongoing DE&I meetings and events, ensuring that we strive for equity and inclusivity in all we do.

 You’ll hear more from Latesha in the months to come. For now, please do what you can to embrace the spirit of this important time of year. And as always, thank you for your interest in Hillside’s mission!

Maria Cristalli
President & CEO
Hillside

Hillside is a part of the communities we serve. Through the services we provide, youth and families are empowered to achieve the stronger futures they deserve. Their successes benefit us all—which makes community partnerships particularly invaluable in helping our programs do even more for those in need.

Our current focus on digital equity is an excellent example of a serious community challenge that requires our attention—and we can’t do it alone.

Among its many impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic made the longstanding issue of digital inequity much worse for students and families across the country and close to home. In Syracuse, for instance, nearly a quarter of residents have no dependable Internet access—compromising their ability to complete schoolwork, apply for jobs, and advance professionally in a world increasingly defined by digital standards. (For more background, please read this article from Hillside’s most recent Impact Report.)

In the regions we serve, students in our Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection program have been among the hardest-hit by this issue. The situation for our HWSC students has started to change through an ongoing philanthropic appeal, and thanks to donors in Syracuse and Rochester including Northwestern Mutual, the Paychex Charitable Foundation, the Central New York Community Foundation, The Green Family Foundation and Berkshire Bank Foundation. These donations will help increase digital capacity for the young people in our programs—supporting their ability to engage online in ways that help them succeed today and prepare for tomorrow.

The entire Hillside family is grateful to our lead donors in this effort, but more support is needed. With increased digital access, young people and families will be better able to achieve academic and professional success. But first, they need help from us—from all of us.

Supporting Hillside represents an investment in our community. I hope you’ll consider making a gift to Hillside today, and becoming a partner in our work.

As always, thank you for your commitment to Hillside’s mission!

Maria Cristalli
President & CEO