Hilltoppers,
Today, Martin Luther King Jr. is recognized and remembered across the nation. He was an effective change agent, committed to making a difference with kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness. It is important to me, and Hilltop as an organization, to not let cultural days like this just pass by, but to recognize and support them within our community.
I thought today might be an appropriate time to inform you on some changes and new exciting things happening around Hilltop that align with our value of “Inclusivity: respecting individual differences, ensuring equal opportunities, and condemning prejudicial actions.” You will start to hear more about a new Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiative, spearheaded by Hollie VanRoosendaal. The EDI will focus on promoting representation at all levels of Hilltop- from top leadership, all the way through recruitment and hiring practices. Hollie has recently changed positions here at Hilltop, moving from the Mesa County Workforce Center into a new role of Director of Latimer/ DV Services for Mesa County, as well as Director of Early Childhood Development, continuing her work with the Partnership for Children and Families program. Hollie feels that leading the EDI initiative is important because “diversity breeds creativity and takes us to a different level with thought processes and problem solving.” She is active in many diversity organizations and events in the Grand Valley and will continue to make sure Hilltop has a voice and a “seat at the table” in making meaningful change throughout our community.
Watch for up-coming opportunities to let your voice be heard in the matters that are important to you. We want to hear from different voices with different experiences and when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Hollie’s door is always open. For today, I want to acknowledge the Hilltoppers within the black community; we recognize, support, and celebrate this day and strive to live our inclusivity value every day.
Together, we got this,
-Mike
