Tag: 3BL

NEWARK, Del., November 14, 2024 /3BL/ – Delmarva Power and Delaware Nature Society announced the 2024 Sustainable Community Grants winners, providing $40,000 in funding for projects focused on reforestation, sustainable transportation, affordable housing, and composting programs. As part of their united dedication to creating sustainable communities across the region, these grants will enhance community resiliency and expand residents’ access to open spaces

“Our communities are at the core of what we do, and investments like these allow us to support both our people and our planet,” said Phil Vavala, Delmarva Power Region President. “With these grants, they can build on their important work, including initiatives to provide cleaner transportation options, improve habitats for wildlife, and promote education around sustainable living – efforts that will significantly benefit our region and its residents for years to come.”

Over the last four years, Delmarva Power’s Sustainable Communities Grant Program has provided more than $235,000 in funding for open space and resiliency efforts across Delaware and Maryland.

“These small grants pack a big punch,” says Jennifer Adkins of the Delaware Nature Society, “Each one provides critical resources for a project that provides cleaner water, air, habitat, or energy locally; together they make Delaware and the region healthier today, and more resilient to the negative impacts of climate change in the future.”

This year, Delmarva Power and Delaware Nature Society awarded grants to the following organizations:

Delaware Wild Lands, Inc. ($10,000): Over the next year, Delaware Wild Lands (DWL) and volunteers will restore 3.2 acres of forest and meadow at DWL’s Roberts Farm. Complementary work will include the planning and installing of an interpretive trail open to the public, and the construction of a terrace/viewing platform where public events and educational activities will be hosted, fostering a new generation of environmentalists and expanding the impact of DWL’s missPlastic Free Delaware, Inc. ($5,000): This project will provide infrastructure and education to four organizations so their community garden members can produce and use high quality compost developed onsite. They will focus on providing resources to community gardens primarily located within areas highlighted on the EPA’s IRA Disadvantaged Communities Map, ensuring the community gardens that have the greatest need get the resources necessary to effectively turn their garden residuals into finished, quality compost that will improve their soil.Milford Housing Development Corporation ($10,000): Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to combat climate change, reduce energy costs for consumers, and improve the competitiveness of U.S. businesses. Energy efficiency is also a vital component in achieving net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide through decarbonization. A Go Green Lawn Equipment package will be given to new homeowners to help curb carbon emissions and reduce noise pollution. The package will consist of either an EGO Power Mower or a package of lawn EGO lawn equipment including a weed trimer, leaf blower and hedger.Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, Inc. ($10,000): The Urban Bike Project seeks to build community resilience through improved access to sustainable transportation, such as walking and biking, which builds economic resilience by connecting residents with jobs, resources, and opportunities. It also builds environmental resilience by reducing the demand for nonpermeable surface parking lots, reducing carbon emissions and other air pollutants, and reducing run-off pollutants into local water sources.Whitehall Community Garden Association ($5,000): The Whitehall Community Garden Association is using land next to the Lorewood Grove Elementary School to build a combined community and school garden through collaboration with the school, the neighborhood, and several established Delaware garden organizations. The garden will serve many purposes centering on health, nutrition, education, and community engagement.

These grants are a key component of Delmarva Power’s long-term commitment to supporting Delaware and Maryland in reaching their clean energy and climate goals. As part of this commitment, Delmarva Power is actively working to reduce its greenhouse gas footprint while offering innovative solutions to empower customers and communities to reduce their emissions. The effort supports the broader Path to Clean goal of its parent company, Exelon, to reduce its operations-driven emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero operations by 2050.

To learn more about Delmarva Power, visit The Source, Delmarva Power’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting delmarva.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/DelmarvaPower and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at twitter.com/DelmarvaConnect. Delmarva Power’s mobile app is available at delmarva.com/MobileApp.

Delmarva Power is a unit of Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC), a Fortune 250 company and the nation’s largest utility company, serving more than 10 million customers. Delmarva Power provides safe and reliable energy service to approximately 561,500 electric customers in Delaware and Maryland and approximately 140,000 natural gas customers in northern Delaware.

About Delaware Nature Society:

Delaware Nature Society’s (DelNature) mission is to connect people and nature to create a healthy environment through education, advocacy, and conservation. Founded in 1964, DelNature is a state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. They provide the tools for communities to take action and promote the environment’s health through land preservation, wildlife protection, watershed stewardship, and more. They manage over 2,000 acres of land and operate four educational sites: Ashland Nature Center, Abbott’s Mill Nature Center, DuPont Environmental Education Center, and Coverdale Farm Preserve.

NEWARK, Del., November 14, 2024 /3BL/ – Delmarva Power and Delaware Nature Society announced the 2024 Sustainable Community Grants winners, providing $40,000 in funding for projects focused on reforestation, sustainable transportation, affordable housing, and composting programs. As part of their united dedication to creating sustainable communities across the region, these grants will enhance community resiliency and expand residents’ access to open spaces

“Our communities are at the core of what we do, and investments like these allow us to support both our people and our planet,” said Phil Vavala, Delmarva Power Region President. “With these grants, they can build on their important work, including initiatives to provide cleaner transportation options, improve habitats for wildlife, and promote education around sustainable living – efforts that will significantly benefit our region and its residents for years to come.”

Over the last four years, Delmarva Power’s Sustainable Communities Grant Program has provided more than $235,000 in funding for open space and resiliency efforts across Delaware and Maryland.

“These small grants pack a big punch,” says Jennifer Adkins of the Delaware Nature Society, “Each one provides critical resources for a project that provides cleaner water, air, habitat, or energy locally; together they make Delaware and the region healthier today, and more resilient to the negative impacts of climate change in the future.”

This year, Delmarva Power and Delaware Nature Society awarded grants to the following organizations:

Delaware Wild Lands, Inc. ($10,000): Over the next year, Delaware Wild Lands (DWL) and volunteers will restore 3.2 acres of forest and meadow at DWL’s Roberts Farm. Complementary work will include the planning and installing of an interpretive trail open to the public, and the construction of a terrace/viewing platform where public events and educational activities will be hosted, fostering a new generation of environmentalists and expanding the impact of DWL’s missPlastic Free Delaware, Inc. ($5,000): This project will provide infrastructure and education to four organizations so their community garden members can produce and use high quality compost developed onsite. They will focus on providing resources to community gardens primarily located within areas highlighted on the EPA’s IRA Disadvantaged Communities Map, ensuring the community gardens that have the greatest need get the resources necessary to effectively turn their garden residuals into finished, quality compost that will improve their soil.Milford Housing Development Corporation ($10,000): Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to combat climate change, reduce energy costs for consumers, and improve the competitiveness of U.S. businesses. Energy efficiency is also a vital component in achieving net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide through decarbonization. A Go Green Lawn Equipment package will be given to new homeowners to help curb carbon emissions and reduce noise pollution. The package will consist of either an EGO Power Mower or a package of lawn EGO lawn equipment including a weed trimer, leaf blower and hedger.Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, Inc. ($10,000): The Urban Bike Project seeks to build community resilience through improved access to sustainable transportation, such as walking and biking, which builds economic resilience by connecting residents with jobs, resources, and opportunities. It also builds environmental resilience by reducing the demand for nonpermeable surface parking lots, reducing carbon emissions and other air pollutants, and reducing run-off pollutants into local water sources.Whitehall Community Garden Association ($5,000): The Whitehall Community Garden Association is using land next to the Lorewood Grove Elementary School to build a combined community and school garden through collaboration with the school, the neighborhood, and several established Delaware garden organizations. The garden will serve many purposes centering on health, nutrition, education, and community engagement.

These grants are a key component of Delmarva Power’s long-term commitment to supporting Delaware and Maryland in reaching their clean energy and climate goals. As part of this commitment, Delmarva Power is actively working to reduce its greenhouse gas footprint while offering innovative solutions to empower customers and communities to reduce their emissions. The effort supports the broader Path to Clean goal of its parent company, Exelon, to reduce its operations-driven emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero operations by 2050.

To learn more about Delmarva Power, visit The Source, Delmarva Power’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting delmarva.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/DelmarvaPower and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at twitter.com/DelmarvaConnect. Delmarva Power’s mobile app is available at delmarva.com/MobileApp.

Delmarva Power is a unit of Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC), a Fortune 250 company and the nation’s largest utility company, serving more than 10 million customers. Delmarva Power provides safe and reliable energy service to approximately 561,500 electric customers in Delaware and Maryland and approximately 140,000 natural gas customers in northern Delaware.

About Delaware Nature Society:

Delaware Nature Society’s (DelNature) mission is to connect people and nature to create a healthy environment through education, advocacy, and conservation. Founded in 1964, DelNature is a state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. They provide the tools for communities to take action and promote the environment’s health through land preservation, wildlife protection, watershed stewardship, and more. They manage over 2,000 acres of land and operate four educational sites: Ashland Nature Center, Abbott’s Mill Nature Center, DuPont Environmental Education Center, and Coverdale Farm Preserve.

Albertsons Companies’ Shaw’s Division recently hosted an inspiring Hackathon to brainstorm actionable solutions for local nonprofits facing funding and capacity challenges. As part of the event, members of the Shaw’s Division joined forces with local nonprofit partners including End Hunger New England, Jeremiah’s Inn, Boys & Girls Club of Metro South, Mansfield, MA Food Pantry: Our Daily Bread and The YMCA of Cape Cod.

The event demonstrated a collective commitment to ensuring that everyone in the community has access to nourishing food every day.

See original post on LinkedIn and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

Albertsons Companies’ Shaw’s Division recently hosted an inspiring Hackathon to brainstorm actionable solutions for local nonprofits facing funding and capacity challenges. As part of the event, members of the Shaw’s Division joined forces with local nonprofit partners including End Hunger New England, Jeremiah’s Inn, Boys & Girls Club of Metro South, Mansfield, MA Food Pantry: Our Daily Bread and The YMCA of Cape Cod.

The event demonstrated a collective commitment to ensuring that everyone in the community has access to nourishing food every day.

See original post on LinkedIn and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

Key Points

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma has enhanced its emergency response capabilities with the purchase of a new mobile, drone command center.The purchase was made possible through a $95,000 community investment grant facilitated by Marathon Petroleum’s midstream segment, MPLX.The command center allows for operating as many as five drones simultaneously to reinforce search and rescue, disaster response and law enforcement operations.

The recent recovery of a missing five-year-old boy is an example of how the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma is benefiting from expanding the technology available to its emergency responders. A new mobile, drone command center has strengthened their capabilities to coordinate search and rescue, disaster response and law enforcement operations.

“The command center is a trailer for operating up to five drones concurrently with workstation screens that allow real-time data transmission from each drone, providing location and operational data,” Muscogee Nation Emergency Management Director Bobby Howard said. “This provides quicker response times, the ability to cover large areas, and has bridged communication gaps during events.”

The Muscogee Nation’s Office of Emergency Management purchased the command center to help operate existing drone fleets through a $95,000 community investment grant facilitated by Marathon Petroleum’s midstream segment, MPLX. The funding came after tornadoes this past spring caused loss of life on the Muscogee Nation, focusing attention on enhancing response capacity.

“It’s very gratifying to provide technology through this new grant that could help make all the difference in critical moments.”

“The Nation was previously limited to operating off the controllers for each of our drones, meaning there was only a four to eight-inch screen to see the video feeds,” said Howard. “Now, the drones of the Office of Emergency Management and our Lighthorse Police Department are all integrated into the command center.”

MPLX’s Gathering and Processing (G&P) component operates extensive natural gas gathering and compression networks within the boundaries of the Muscogee Nation. The grant for the drone command center adds to G&P’s ongoing community investment in the area that has involved workforce development initiatives.

“Given the location of our assets, we consider ourselves corporate neighbors and partners with the Muscogee Nation,” said G&P Operations Senior Manager Ian Leybas. “It’s very gratifying to provide technology through this new grant that could help make all the difference in critical moments.”

Key Points

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma has enhanced its emergency response capabilities with the purchase of a new mobile, drone command center.The purchase was made possible through a $95,000 community investment grant facilitated by Marathon Petroleum’s midstream segment, MPLX.The command center allows for operating as many as five drones simultaneously to reinforce search and rescue, disaster response and law enforcement operations.

The recent recovery of a missing five-year-old boy is an example of how the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma is benefiting from expanding the technology available to its emergency responders. A new mobile, drone command center has strengthened their capabilities to coordinate search and rescue, disaster response and law enforcement operations.

“The command center is a trailer for operating up to five drones concurrently with workstation screens that allow real-time data transmission from each drone, providing location and operational data,” Muscogee Nation Emergency Management Director Bobby Howard said. “This provides quicker response times, the ability to cover large areas, and has bridged communication gaps during events.”

The Muscogee Nation’s Office of Emergency Management purchased the command center to help operate existing drone fleets through a $95,000 community investment grant facilitated by Marathon Petroleum’s midstream segment, MPLX. The funding came after tornadoes this past spring caused loss of life on the Muscogee Nation, focusing attention on enhancing response capacity.

“It’s very gratifying to provide technology through this new grant that could help make all the difference in critical moments.”

“The Nation was previously limited to operating off the controllers for each of our drones, meaning there was only a four to eight-inch screen to see the video feeds,” said Howard. “Now, the drones of the Office of Emergency Management and our Lighthorse Police Department are all integrated into the command center.”

MPLX’s Gathering and Processing (G&P) component operates extensive natural gas gathering and compression networks within the boundaries of the Muscogee Nation. The grant for the drone command center adds to G&P’s ongoing community investment in the area that has involved workforce development initiatives.

“Given the location of our assets, we consider ourselves corporate neighbors and partners with the Muscogee Nation,” said G&P Operations Senior Manager Ian Leybas. “It’s very gratifying to provide technology through this new grant that could help make all the difference in critical moments.”

Action Against Hunger, a global leader in the fight to end hunger, is honored to accept three w3 awards, which recognize creative excellence on the web, in the non-profit category.

Action Against Hunger was recognized with a Gold in the category “General Video: Non-Profit” for the video “Be Part of the Story: Let’s End Hunger for Everyone, For Good.” The organization also won a Gold in the category “General Video: Non-Profit” and a Silver in the category “General Video: Cause Awareness” for the video “How Conflict Disrupts Communities and Drives Humanitarian Crises.”

The first video, “Be Part of the Story: Let’s End Hunger for Everyone, For Good,” highlights how hunger is predictable, preventable, and treatable. Action Against Hunger believes in collaboration not exploitation; long-term solutions, not temporary fixes; and working hand-in-hand with communities to solve hunger. The organization aims to empower people by providing the resources they need to end hunger for good.

The second video, “How Conflict Disrupts Communities and Drives Humanitarian Crises,” shows how the world is facing the biggest refugee crisis in recent history. Around 120 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide. Action Against Hunger notes that more forced displacement equals more hunger — the two are closely linked. In the video, all photos were captured by Ismail Taxta. It was illustrated by Tayo Fatunla, animated by Adam Zygadlo, voiced by Fardosa Hussein and directed by Toby Madden.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 59 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Action Against Hunger, a global leader in the fight to end hunger, is honored to accept three w3 awards, which recognize creative excellence on the web, in the non-profit category.

Action Against Hunger was recognized with a Gold in the category “General Video: Non-Profit” for the video “Be Part of the Story: Let’s End Hunger for Everyone, For Good.” The organization also won a Gold in the category “General Video: Non-Profit” and a Silver in the category “General Video: Cause Awareness” for the video “How Conflict Disrupts Communities and Drives Humanitarian Crises.”

The first video, “Be Part of the Story: Let’s End Hunger for Everyone, For Good,” highlights how hunger is predictable, preventable, and treatable. Action Against Hunger believes in collaboration not exploitation; long-term solutions, not temporary fixes; and working hand-in-hand with communities to solve hunger. The organization aims to empower people by providing the resources they need to end hunger for good.

The second video, “How Conflict Disrupts Communities and Drives Humanitarian Crises,” shows how the world is facing the biggest refugee crisis in recent history. Around 120 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide. Action Against Hunger notes that more forced displacement equals more hunger — the two are closely linked. In the video, all photos were captured by Ismail Taxta. It was illustrated by Tayo Fatunla, animated by Adam Zygadlo, voiced by Fardosa Hussein and directed by Toby Madden.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 59 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Yum! Brands

Yum! Brands is the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill, so it knows how to craft craveable food and memorable customer experiences. Today, the world’s largest restaurant company is also training young people for their career journeys in the communities Yum! serves, whether that’s with Yum! or another company. From resume writing to interview prep, Yum! wants them to hear two magic words: “You’re hired.”

With its franchisees, Yum! and its brands employs over 1 million people, many of them young and for whom a job at KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill is their first. Studies show that a first job can open a variety of career pathways and even create a ripple effect across an entire community, improving lives of family members and others who receive the benefits of a consistent salary.

Throughout its 27-year history, Yum! has recognized the importance of the first job and supported career readiness programs. In 2020, Yum! announced a $100 million investment called the Unlocking Opportunity Initiative (UOI), which was organized globally but implemented locally by partnering with organizations in many of the 155-plus countries and territories in which the company operates. Career readiness was one of the ways Yum! committed to giving back through UOI.

“Yum! is known for taking care of its people, both in front of and behind the restaurant counter,” said Yum! Impact & Communications Manager Kat Abner. “We believe everyone, especially youth, deserve to work at a job they love and that helps them achieve their future career goals. UOI has served as a catalyst to build a community impact movement across our company, and I am encouraged and inspired by it and other Yum!- and brand-sponsored programs that are making a difference for youth around the world.”

Here’s how Yum! is preparing tomorrow’s workforce worldwide.

The United States of Next

A first job can open many doors, and for those working in the U.S. restaurant industry, that could be restaurant ownership. According to the National Restaurant Association, eight out of 10 restaurant owners started their careers in a restaurant entry-level position, and for a handful of California students, they’re taking steps toward that career path with a little help from Habit Burger & Grill.

This year, they spent two months developing a restaurant concept, complete with a business plan that included a budget, restaurant design and marketing plans, and then pitched their concept to industry professionals at the California Restaurant Association’s ProStart Student Invitational. For the past three years, the Habit Burger & Grill has sponsored teams, and in 2024, the team from the Orange County School of the Arts took home the top prize with their concept called Teddy’s.

“The creativity, talent, and dedication these young chefs bring to the table is seriously inspiring,” said Jason Triail, director of Culinary Innovation at Habit Burger & Grill. “I can’t wait to swing by Teddy’s for a bite someday!”

Yum! Brands is also preparing young people for careers in Kentucky through a program called Cardinal Bridge Academy (CBA), which prepares high school students in the company’s hometown of Louisville for their next step. According to the U.S. Department of Education, individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn 84% more in salaries than those with only a high school diploma, so CBA equips participants with skills like resume writing, interview preparation and more to ensure that doors are opened for them.

CBA participant Corey Garner, who was mentored by Yum! Brands and KFC employees, said in a University of Louisville article, “I learned that employers are looking for hardworking and dedicated people to help their businesses. Having this type of information is going to help me find success with my future employers.”

In South Africa, It’s Pronounced Lead-HER-ship

In 2021, Pizza Hut South Africa partnered with YES4Youth, a not-for-profit organization, to launch LeadHERship, to provide women, ages 18 to 24, with an employment pathway.

“Why women, and young women in particular? This particular segment of our society has been facing a cycle of inequality that we desperately want to break,” said Social Purpose Lead for LeadHERship Marlene Von Berg. “They make up 70% of our country’s unemployed youth.”

That 70% statistic stems from several factors. Some South African women face barriers to pursue a secondary education, experience high transportation costs that prohibit them from attending job interviews, live in communities that lack enough jobs to support their growing populations and must choose between being the family caregivers and pursuing jobs outside of their homes.

Enter LeadHERship, a 12-month program that trains female participants through online courses and hands-on work experience. LeadHERship pays them to attend classes, so students can support themselves and their families during this time. At the end, graduates leave with a resume, reference letter and certificate of completion, making them twice as likely to land a job.

“When I received my first paycheck, I promised my mom that I will build her a house one day and take my little brother to school. It’s just a matter of time,” said LeadHERship participant Masibulele N.

A Real Euro Vision

Young people are at the heart of KFC – on both sides of the counter – so when the brand discovered that the United Kingdom youth unemployment rate was 12.7%, compared to 4.3% for the nation, it knew it had to act. In 2022, KFC United Kingdom & Ireland (UKI) created the Hatch employability programme in partnership with the nonprofit UK Youth. Their goal: By 2030, have one-third of all new KFC hires be young people who’ve faced barriers to employment. Hatch has since trained over 730 16- to 24-year-olds, who have gone on to pursue successful careers in KFC restaurants and in other industries like media and childcare.

Then, in 2023, KFC UKI launched a new program called the Kentucky Club with Bauer Academy. The inclusive members club welcomes youth from all backgrounds to take part in in-person and online workshops that cover professional development, resume writing, interview skills and more. As Bauer Academy is the training arm of a media company, participants have the opportunity to explore media careers and to sharpen their digital skills.

In France, KFC has collaborated with the École de la 2e Chance (E2C) in a similar endeavor and has helped more than 500 youth gain valuable, on-the-job training in KFC restaurants since the partnership formed in 2022. KFC France is the first quick-service restaurant brand to partner with E2C, and in 2024, KFC France and E2C launched a first-of-its-kind specialized training pathway for youth interested in the restaurant industry. The secret recipe of this partnership’s success? Many of E2C’s youth learning centers are located near KFC restaurants, making hands-on learning and mentorship even easier and more accessible for students.

Will these youth get hired? YEP!

Pizza Hut is helping Sri Lankans find jobs. The nation’s youth, ages 15 to 24, often lack the required experience to land a job, resulting in an unemployment rate of 25%. The brand hopes to change that and has created the Youth Enablement Program (YEP) in partnership with its franchisee, Gamma Pizzakraft Lanka, the Sevalanka Foundation, UOI and United States Agency for International Development.

Participants come from mainly low-income households, so YEP provides transportation and housing stipends. Almost all graduates land jobs thanks to their newly obtained National Vocational Qualification 4 certificate, which prepares them to work in quick-service restaurants in Sri Lanka and other countries.

“At Pizza Hut, we have a strong commitment to inclusivity and have enabled many young individuals with disabilities to find gainful employment and the financial independence they dream of,” said Amar Raj Singh, chairman and CEO of Gamma Pizzakraft in an Ada Derana article.

Now in its third year, the program is estimated to graduate 2,300 students annually.

Career Prep for the Future 

From the United Kingdom to South Africa, Yum! works hard so that young people can, in turn, work hard. These career readiness programs can be life-changing, breaking the inexperience cycle in which a young person is rejected from a job because of a lack of experience. But that person can’t get experience without a job, which is why the company continues to lean into this area, and by the end of 2024, thousands will have participated in a Yum!-sponsored job training program. The company hopes to increase that number next year.

“Our youth participants learn time management, accountability and adaptability, in addition to on-the-job practical skills,” said Abner. “These are necessary skills for their first job and will carry them throughout their careers.”

By Scott McGregor

Standing near the top of the world, I’ve never felt closer to Cisco’s purpose.

The ground feels different here in Utqiaġvik, Alaska – formerly known as Barrow. Located north of the Arctic Circle, Utqiaġvik is the northernmost town in the United States.

From where I stand on the shore of a sea that is frozen for much of the year, I’m getting a sense of the remarkable history of a land that has been home to the Iñupiaq people for thousands of years and the challenges they’ve overcome to sustain their community for millennia.

Today, the residents of Utqiaġvik face a growing challenge– integrating the culture and values of the past with the technological advances and knowledge needed to preserve their culture and thrive in a changing, global economy.

This is what powering an inclusive future for all looks like.

Strong community – significant challenges

I’ve come to Utqiaġvik with a small group representing Cisco’s Social Justice Action Office and our Native American Network Employee Resource Group.

We’re here to explore ways we can partner to break down barriers and create access to education, technology, and opportunity.

The challenges are significant here.

Imagine living in a place so remote it can only be accessed by airplane, where the summer sun doesn’t dip below the horizon for 82 straight days, and after it dips below the horizon for the last time each November, it doesn’t appear again until January.

Imagine living in a place where reliable access to modern conveniences like fresh produce and heating fuel are a challenge. And limited access to broadband makes it difficult to access critical services like education and healthcare as well as maintain a reliable connection to the rest of the world.

The remote location and the harsh conditions aren’t the only barriers. Utqiaġvik is on the front lines of climate change. The rising sea is claiming land at an alarming pace. Barriers now block parts of a road that once encircled the town.

If not now – when?

Walking among the people, it’s clear to me that despite the harsh conditions the Iñupiaq are already thriving. Communities around the world have something to learn from the vibrance of this culture.

We’re not here for a relief effort. We’re not here to write a check. We’re here to do what Cisco does best – connect the unconnected – and reimagine what’s possible through those connections.

To gain true proximity and understand the unique combination of challenges facing this community – discovering new ways to bridge distance and difference to create an inclusive future.

This proximity – and this partnership – is central to how Cisco fulfills its Purpose to power an inclusive future for all. And why we created the Social Justice Actions to explore ways of creating true impact in underserved communities.

The path forward – breaking down barriers to education

At the heart of this remote community is Iḷisaġvik College, one of only 35 accredited tribal colleges in the United States and the only tribal college located in Alaska. The president of the college, Justina Wilhelm, grew up in the community and talks about how the school is “unapologetically Inupiaq” meaning the Inupiaq way of life, based on a rich foundation of a subsistence culture with the land and sea, guided by Inupiaq values is woven into their curriculum and daily interactions.

Iḷisaġvik College has a modern IT infrastructure. But like many underserved educational institutions in the United Sates, there were some gaps, primarily around the college’s cybersecurity readiness.

Resolving those gaps is critical. In 2023, the Federal government created standards requiring all schools receiving federal funding be National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST) cybersecurity compliant. For schools like Iḷisaġvik College, funding these upgrades presents a major challenge and could ultimately determine if they could continue to operate.

Through Cisco’s commitment to social justice, which ensures minority serving institutions across the country remain cybersecurity compliant, Cisco and its ecosystem of partners have engaged Iḷisaġvik College and conducted a NIST assessment to identify technology gaps and then donated the technology and services required to bring them into cybersecurity compliance. Iḷisaġvik College is the second tribal college to benefit from this initiative which positions them to serve their local community as well as students who take their courses globally, well into the future.

The best-in-class cybersecurity solutions implemented at Iḷisaġvik featured the Cisco Meraki MX – a multifunctional all-in-one device that delivers ease of deployment, remote administration, and state-of-the art features. This unique combination of benefits is essential to empowering the new future the college envisions for students, faculty, and the broader community.

Bringing the opportunities here

The partnership between Iḷisaġvik College and Cisco is even deeper than cybersecurity compliance and technology modernization. In addition to supporting the IT infrastructure and connectivity, we will be offering our Cisco Networking Academy coursework, which will allow learners to obtain certifications in cybersecurity and networking that will make them more competitive for jobs, including remote jobs.

This means residents will be able to stay in their community and earn a competitive wage in the cybersecurity and networking fields.

This is a critical aspect of the path forward the community is creating. Opportunities to stay in Utqiaġvik and to continue to be “unapologetically Iñupiaq” while tapping into a vibrant virtual job market made possible through connectivity.

Lessons learned from the top of the world

When I embarked on this trip, I wasn’t expecting it to be one of the most profound experiences of my career.

While I was in one of the most remote places on earth, I found a welcoming community that reminded me how important it is to get proximate to a community to fully understand its needs before providing solutions.

I discovered a new sense of what’s possible by walking alongside people with a history of living at the top of world for thousands of years.

I came away inspired and energized, knowing that Cisco’s purpose-driven work has never been more important – or more relevant to what matters most in communities around the world.

As Cisco begins the last year of our five-year exploration in driving Social Justice, our work – and the impact we’re creating with communities – will continue to expand because of what we’ve learned here.

Preserving the past – partnering for the future. Cisco’s journey continues.

View original content here.