Community Financial System, Inc. Culture and Diversity Council
The Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI) Culture and Diversity Council grew from the ground up. Once the seed was planted, one person raised a hand to foster it, and then another and another. The passion to support this initiative was obvious before it even had a name. Our Mission is to put faces and names to the concepts of diversity and inclusion. We are here to make sure no one feels unheard, unseen or uninvited. Through that effort, we’ll foster a culture that doesn’t just accept diversity, but values it.
Monthly Spotlight
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual observance that we never let pass us by without recognizing the many organizations across our footprint committed to research, care, and support of breast cancer patients and survivors. For the sixth consecutive year, we’ve affirmed our dedication to this cause, serving as the presenting sponsor for the Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival along the Burlington, VT, shoreline. The festival showcases numerous dragon boat racing teams, uniting in the spirit of competition to raise funds in support of local cancer survivors. Starting September 30, Community Bank team members will also participate in a weeklong “Wear Pink” initiative, donning pink attire to honor survivors, remember those we’ve lost to the disease, and support continued awareness for early detection, research, and advancements in breast cancer care.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is also incredibly personal to many of our team members at the bank whose lives have been affected by the disease. Beyond backing local organizations during this annual observance, we’re deeply committed to supporting team members like Kelsey Moore, who has bravely chosen to share her experience with breast cancer—a personal journey of resilience, strength, and hope from diagnosis to remission.
Kelsey Moore’s Breast Cancer Journey
I was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer at just 31 years old on April 25, 2022. I was a mom of a 4-year-old little boy and a 1-year-old baby girl at the time of diagnosis, and I was shocked. I had no family history of this disease and never thought this was something that would happen to me.
Within a two-week span following my diagnosis, a team of doctors in Burlington, VT, immediately assembled to outline an aggressive treatment plan, I had my chemo- infusion port placed, and I started my first round of chemotherapy. I then underwent 20 weeks of intense chemotherapy at the Richard E. Winter Cancer Center in Ogdensburg, NY.
After chemotherapy, I had a single mastectomy surgery in Burlington in November 2022, where they removed my left breast and seven cancerous lymph nodes. Once my body healed from surgery, I started radiation and completed 36 rounds—I had a complete response to chemotherapy and radiation—before undergoing DIEP FLAP reconstructive surgery, a procedure that successfully transferred tissue from my stomach to create a new breast. I continued immunotherapy treatment for another six months alongside physical therapy to improve my range of motion on my left arm after surgery and have regained full range of motion.
Now, a little over two years out from my diagnosis date, I am in full remission with completely clear scans. I am so thankful for my amazing team of doctors, surgeons, and nurses who saved my life, and I encourage women of all ages to perform breast self-exams, schedule your yearly check-ups, and make sure you are up to date on your mammograms, because early detection can save your life like it did mine.
To celebrate my remission, I started hiking in the ADK and have completed the Tupper Triad, Winter Tupper Triad, and most recently completed the Saranac 6er.
Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage month. District Manager Gilbert Nieves recently stopped by the Rotary Club of Springfield, MA, to share his perspective around the observance, his experience growing up in Puerto Rico, and how organizations can inclusively recognize and honor the culture and contributions of Hispanic people.
“It’s always great to be out in the community, but I was honored and excited that the club invited me as a guest speaker to connect with their members during Hispanic Heritage Month. I was humbled to share my story and hope that my successes may inspire others, as we can achieve anything by not letting circumstances dictate our future and with opportunities that allow us to thrive.”
"In our journey toward fostering our culture and diversity we recognize that it's not just about acknowledging differences—it's about actively embracing them. Just as a seed requires nurturing hands to grow, our commitment to inclusion requires a constant collective effort. It's about ensuring that every individual feels heard, seen, and valued. This mission extends beyond our office walls—it extends into the communities we serve. By embedding our diversity principles into both our financial practices and community engagement, we not only enrich our organizational culture but also empower the societies we touch." —President and CEO Dimitar Karaivanov
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