Diversity Committee

The HSE Diversity Committee is a standing committee of the firm. The mission of the Committee is to help the firm achieve and maintain a level of diversity that reflects the demographics of the communities we serve, while at the same time fostering an inclusive environment of appreciation and respect. In furtherance of its mission, the Committee plans and implements firm-wide education, training and social activities, recommends and conducts compulsory diversity training programs, and acts as a resource for the firm. In addition, the Diversity Committee disseminates a community calendar of multicultural events and assists with recruiting and retention initiatives. Listed below are some of the most recent activities of the Diversity Committee.

In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
► In 2013, the firm sponsored the 3rd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Student Essay Contest in the Rochester City School District. Students in the third, fourth and fifth grades were asked to submit essays about what Martin Luther King, Jr. Day means to them. Attorneys and staff at the firm selected the finalists and voted on the winning essays and one winner was selected in each grade level. Winning students each received a gift card, and their classroom received a donation, a pizza party, and a book about civil rights.

Buffalo Office:
► Employees served food to underprivileged members of the Buffalo community at Buffalo’s Central Café.

“Teamwork” Poster Campaign. Posters emphasizing teamwork and inclusion featuring HSE employees were placed throughout the firm to raise awareness among employees about the importance of respecting our differences.

Family Movie Night. The firm held its second annual movie night with a screening of an animated children’s movie designed to teach why it’s important to get to know those that appear different. This event was attended by 75 firm employees and their children.

Stand Against Racism. The firm sponsored the YWCA’s “Stand Against Racism,” which aims to eliminate racism by raising awareness. In 2011, the firm hosted a program and discussion for employees, which was facilitated by local YWCA leadership.

Spread the Word to End the Word. The firm joined Daystar for Medically Fragile Infants, the Golisano Foundation, and Special Olympics International to “Spread the Word to End the Word”—a program to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed).”

Current Members: