Category Archives: News

Maria Cristalli, Hillside President and Chief Executive Officer, released the following message to all staff today: Dear Hillside Colleagues, Two occasions next week are significant for all Americans. On Monday, our country will observe Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, honoring the civil rights leader who was one of the most influential voices in American history. Two days later, the inauguration of Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice President will mark another historic moment. As the first woman and the first person of color to become Vice President, Senator Harris will have shattered a barrier that once was…

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Maria Cristalli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hillside, today issued a statement of support for New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s recommendations concerning the reform and expansion of statewide telehealth services. The recommendations were introduced by Gov. Cuomo’s Reimagine New York Commission and featured in the recent State of the State Address. Telehealth uses electronic information and telecommunication technologies to enable individuals and families to receive a wide range of services from care providers at distant locations. Use of telehealth has increased significantly over the last decade, including among youth and families served by Hillside. The technology has proven…

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In response to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Hillside President & CEO Maria Cristalli issued the following statement to Hillside employees on Friday, January 8. Dear Hillside Colleagues, Earlier this week, a violent attack took place in Washington, DC, that was an insurrection against the United States. This attack has been on all our minds, and will continue to occupy our thoughts. Our country was founded on guiding principles that include the rule of law and the orderly transition of power, guided by free elections. This outbreak of violence, and its aftermath, directly violated those principles.…

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The Hillside community was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Harry Lang, a longtime agency leader and a committed supporter of Hillside’s mission. Mr. Lang died this week at 94. Mr. Lang retired from Hillside in August 1994, closing a 42-year career with the agency. His extraordinary tenure spanned a wide array of responsibilities, in roles including Director of Professional Services, Senior Supervisor of Social Services, Assistant Executive Director and Senior Vice President. He lived for many years on Hillside’s Monroe Campus, often eating meals in the cottages with children in care as well as agency staff. “Harry…

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Like so many parts of our lives, Special Santa has moved online due to COVID-19. And Hillside is calling on the communities we serve to help make this program successful once again. For more than 35 years, the Special Santa program has brought together countless thousands of generous individuals, businesses and volunteers in a shared act of community spirit—to ensure many children served by Hillside can enjoy toys and gifts during the holiday season. Last year alone, the program put more than 12,000 gifts in the hands of 4,500 children and families in need. COVID-19 prompted the 2020 program to…

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As part of Hillside’s commitment to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplace and in the communities we serve, our agency is proudly joining the United Way’s 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge this month. As its name suggests. the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge is a three-week campaign designed to increase participants’ understanding and willful resistance to racism, bias and other social inequities. Participants receive a new email every weekday for 21 days, featuring links to recommended articles, videos, podcasts and reflections. Hillside’s Syracuse-area teams began participating in the UW Central New York region’s event on October 1, and employees in…

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If you have a 3- or 4-year-old ready to enroll in pre-kindergarten, Hillside’s Family Resource Center is offering free full-day pre-K classes at Rochester’s Peter Castle School—easy walking distance for most families in northeast 14621 neighborhoods. Classrooms are part of a family-friendly environment where a range of services are available to families to enhance the pre-K experience. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Children must be three or four years old by December 1, 2020 to be eligible. To register or learn more, call Tracy Ashline at 585-339-3200.

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All of Hillside congratulates Augustin Melendez, Chief Human Resources & Organizational Development Officer, for earning recognition as a 2020 HR Executive of the Year by the Rochester Affiliate of the National Human Resources Association (NHRA). Melendez joined Hillside in 2013 as President of Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, and took on his current role four years later. He has a long history of HR leadership at other leading organizations, including Eastman Kodak Company, Paychex and the Rochester City School District. Melendez was among the honorees recognized in the Large Employer category of the annual competition from NHRA, which provides an active forum…

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Hillside is committed to the health, safety and wellness of our students and staff. As such, Hillside has engaged Administrators, Executive Directors, and agency staff in developing our opening plan that adheres to the guidelines and mandates from the Department of Health (DOH), New York State Education Department (NYSED), and Center for Disease Control (CDC). We worked together to address safety and health concerns as well as academic learning and the social emotional well-being of students and staff. The 2020-21 school year will look remarkably different from previous years. Nevertheless, Hillside maintains a commitment to learning in a welcoming and…

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