Who We Are
One Hillsborough (also known as Community Conversations) is a coalition of community groups, residents, students, likeminded organizations, and businesses who are committed to strengthening the social fabric: to foster goodwill, cooperation and understanding and contribute to the social and cultural diversity of our community. We promote a society where everyone —regardless of age, race, ethnicity, age, gender, ability, religion, or political affiliation— has opportunity to interact, learn, strengthen and/or build new relationships and find a sense of belonging. Our guiding principles are:
- respect, recognition, and reciprocity
- equal rights
- racial literacy
- oneness of humanity (not othering)
- spiritual reality
- kindness, diversity, inclusion
- broadening our social spaces
- non partisan (no political endorsements)
As of 1/5/2023, One Hillsborough is a domestic non-profit corporation in accordance with New Jersey State Law, identification number 0450907343.
What are One Hillsborough’s Objectives?
- To promote social and cultural diversity by addressing bias based on age, race, ethnicity, age, gender, ability, religion, or political affiliation:
- to provide an informal mechanism to resolve unresolving complaints
- to advocate for and with the under-represented and marginalized
- to support education about bias, othering, racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion
- To initiate and support constructive dialogue within the township on equity, diversity, and inclusion:
- to support education programs that foster open and effective dialogues
- to promote and protect civil rights
- to explore our common spiritual connections across our community
- To advise the Hillsborough Township Committee, and/or local police and municipal departments to address tensions in the community and to ensure employees, residents and visitors of all backgrounds and circumstances are safe, welcome, respected, and treated in an equitable manner.
Reflecting our increasingly diverse town, One Hillsborough supports many community dialogues and collaborates with all local community services providers, groups, and organizations to facilitate access and opportunity for all, particularly to those from underrepresented and unheard groups, without any boundaries of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, or political affiliation to enhance Hillsborough’s reputation of one of “the best places to live” for everyone.
Who does One Hillsborough collaborate with?
One Hillsborough partners and supports all forums and channels to facilitate access and opportunity for all, and particularly to those from underrepresented and unheard groups.
Our collaborations to date include:
- Community Conversations
- Hillsborough Township
- Hillsborough Police Department
- YMCA of Greater Somerset County
- Hillsborough School District
- Hillsborough Middle School
- HHS Student Diversity Initiative
- HHS Muslim Student Association
- HHS Black Student Union
- HHS TEDEd Club
- Peer Mentors of Hillsborough High School
- HMS Cares (club for an Anti-Racist and Equitable School)
- Hillsborough Education Association
- Allegra School of Music & Arts
- Hillsborough Black Parents & Citizens Coalition
- Hillsborough Municipal Alliance (combatting substance abuse)
- BoroSafe (suicide-prevention)
- Safe+Sound (to empower survivors of domestic abuse)
- Our Revolution Hillsborough
- In progress: Houses of Worship and faith groups.
As we explore further collaborations, we thank everyone for their efforts to make Hillsborough a welcoming town for all.