Cisco: Preserving Culture Through Technology: An Unforgettable Experience in the Arctic
Cisco Systems has partnered with IỊisaġvik College in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, as part of its Social Justice Action 8 initiative. The project focused on enhancing the college's cybersecurity infrastructure and implementing solutions to maintain Title IV funding compliance. Cisco also introduced its Networking Academy to the curriculum, offering students opportunities for industry certifications.
The initiative, carried out in June 2024, supported Alaska's only Tribal College, helping preserve Iñupiaq culture while modernizing technology infrastructure. The project demonstrates Cisco's commitment to supporting minority-serving institutions and indigenous communities through technology advancement and educational opportunities.
Cisco Systems ha collaborato con il College IỊisaġvik di Utqiaġvik, in Alaska, nell'ambito della sua iniziativa Social Justice Action 8. Il progetto si è concentrato sul potenziamento dell'infrastruttura di cybersecurity del college e sull'implementazione di soluzioni per garantire la conformità al finanziamento Title IV. Cisco ha anche introdotto il suo Networking Academy nel curriculum, offrendo agli studenti opportunità per ottenere certificazioni nel settore.
L'iniziativa, realizzata a giugno 2024, ha supportato l'unico Tribal College dell'Alaska, contribuendo a preservare la cultura Iñupiaq mentre modernizzava l'infrastruttura tecnologica. Il progetto dimostra l'impegno di Cisco nel sostenere istituzioni che servono minoranze e comunità indigene attraverso il progresso tecnologico e opportunità educative.
Cisco Systems se ha asociado con el College IỊisaġvik en Utqiaġvik, Alaska, como parte de su iniciativa Social Justice Action 8. El proyecto se centró en mejorar la infraestructura de ciberseguridad del college e implementar soluciones para mantener el cumplimiento del financiamiento Title IV. Cisco también introdujo su Networking Academy en el plan de estudios, brindando a los estudiantes oportunidades para certificaciones de la industria.
La iniciativa, llevada a cabo en junio de 2024, apoyó al único Tribal College de Alaska, ayudando a preservar la cultura Iñupiaq mientras se modernizaba la infraestructura tecnológica. El proyecto demuestra el compromiso de Cisco con el apoyo a las instituciones que sirven a minorías y comunidades indígenas a través del avance tecnológico y oportunidades educativas.
시스코 시스템즈는 알래스카 우트키아기크에 위치한 이리사크빅 대학과 협력하여 사회 정의 행동 8 이니셔티브의 일환으로 프로젝트를 진행했습니다. 이 프로젝트는 대학의 사이버 보안 인프라를 강화하고 Title IV 자금 지원 준수를 유지하기 위한 솔루션을 구현하는 데 중점을 두었습니다. 시스코는 또한 커리큘럼에 네트워킹 아카데미를 도입하여 학생들에게 산업 인증을 받을 수 있는 기회를 제공했습니다.
2024년 6월에 시행된 이 이니셔티브는 알래스카의 유일한 부족 대학을 지원하여 이누피악 문화를 보존하고 기술 인프라를 현대화하는 데 기여했습니다. 이 프로젝트는 소수 민족을 지원하는 기관과 원주율 공동체를 위한 기술 발전 및 교육 기회를 통해 지원하겠다는 시스코의 다짐을 보여줍니다.
Cisco Systems a établi un partenariat avec le College IỊisaġvik à Utqiaġvik, en Alaska, dans le cadre de son initiative Social Justice Action 8. Le projet s'est concentré sur l'amélioration de l'infrastructure de cybersécurité du collège et la mise en œuvre de solutions pour garantir la conformité au financement Title IV. Cisco a également intégré son Networking Academy dans le programme, offrant aux étudiants des opportunités pour obtenir des certifications professionnelles.
L'initiative, réalisée en juin 2024, a soutenu le seul Tribal College de l'Alaska, contribuant à la préservation de la culture Iñupiaq tout en modernisant l'infrastructure technologique. Ce projet démontre l'engagement de Cisco à soutenir les institutions au service des minorités et des communautés indigènes à travers l'avancement technologique et les opportunités éducatives.
Cisco Systems hat sich mit dem College IỊisaġvik in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, im Rahmen seiner Initiative Social Justice Action 8 zusammengetan. Das Projekt konzentrierte sich auf die Verbesserung der Cybersicherheitsinfrastruktur des Colleges und die Implementierung von Lösungen zur Einhaltung der Titel-IV-Förderung. Cisco führte auch die Networking Academy in den Lehrplan ein und bot den Studierenden Möglichkeiten für Industrie-Zertifizierungen.
Die Initiative, die im Juni 2024 durchgeführt wurde, unterstützte das einzige Tribal College Alaskas und half dabei, die Iñupiaq-Kultur zu bewahren, während gleichzeitig die Technologiinfrastruktur modernisiert wurde. Das Projekt zeigt Cisocs Engagement für die Unterstützung von Institutionen, die Minderheiten bedienen, und indigenen Gemeinschaften durch technologische Fortschritte und Bildungsmöglichkeiten.
- Implementation of cybersecurity solutions to maintain Title IV funding eligibility
- Introduction of Cisco Networking Academy curriculum offering industry certifications
- Strategic expansion into tribal education market
- None.
By Alice Sanchez
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2024 / Cisco Systems Inc.
In June 2024, two of my passions-Native American culture and technology-converged at the top of the world. Along with a small team from Cisco and IP Consulting, an African American Cisco Partner, I journeyed to Utqiaġvik (Barrow) Alaska, to support IỊisaġvik College and the Iñupiaq Alaska Native Tribe.
My visit was a bucket list item I didn't know I had until I was there. We weren't there to change the Iñupiaq culture but to help preserve it.
Identifying and Meeting a Need
Cisco's Social Justice Action 8 supports the sustainability of minority-serving colleges and universities by providing funding for students and technology modernization.
When we arrived at IỊisaġvik College-Alaska's only Tribal College located in the northernmost city in the U.S.-I truly understood their challenges. The community is accessible only by plane or barge, and due to its remoteness, keeping technology current can be daunting.
With Action 8 as our guide, we assessed IỊisaġvik College's cybersecurity infrastructure and implemented solutions to meet the federal standards required to preserve the institution's Title IV funding. In addition, we introduced Cisco's Networking Academy to its curriculum, providing opportunities for students to earn industry-recognized certifications.
Beyond Technology Enhancements
While our work focused on improving the college's cybersecurity, perpetuating the Iñupiaq way of life was an even more significant aspect of the trip.
As a Native American, I understand the critical importance of preserving Indigenous cultures from generation to generation. It's something I'm passionate about as I continue my grandmother's life's work as she did at the Intertribal Friendship House in Oakland, California, and as founder and global lead of Cisco's Native American Network (NAN), one of Cisco's 30+ Inclusive Communities (our name for Employee Resource Groups). Justina Wilhelm, IỊisaġvik College's president, shares this commitment, recognizing that cultivating expertise in IT and cybersecurity in the Arctic is essential to her community, enabling the Iñupiaq culture to be maintained and strengthened. I think the contingent from Cisco and IP Consulting helped her to achieve this outcome.
New Friends and Traditions
From the moment we arrived and throughout our trip, I was moved by how welcoming everyone was to us. The Iñupiaq people are rich in culture and embrace their subsistence traditions, which they happily shared with us. Community is everything to these people and each night we shared a meal with a different family. Since our visit occurred during whaling season, we participated in whaling ceremonies, including the blanket toss, which is how hunters historically checked the horizon for whales. I also visited the Iñupiat Heritage Center, where I learned how tribe members make traditional clothing, and shared some of my own tribe's clothing customs.
I also had the chance to connect with the students at the college, showing them there is hope and opportunities for people who look like them. To me, representation for the next generation is essential, and those conversations were some of the most meaningful moments of the trip.
A Personal Learning Journey
Throughout my career at Cisco, I have eagerly embraced opportunities to represent my Indigenous culture in several projects that brought Cisco technology to Tribal communities. Each experience was unique and inspired me in unexpected ways. My visit to Utqiaġvik was no exception, and my journey to this remote town was one of my favorite trips of all time. I gained so much from experiencing the similarities and differences between my Native culture and the Iñupiaq people's. Their village, from the houses to rez dogs to children playing outside, reminded me of the reservation where I grew up and made me feel at home. But I also found beauty in our differences and was especially humbled to participate in the community's whaling ceremonies. From the traditional dances to consuming whale five different ways, it was like nothing I'd ever experienced before.
More than that, I'm grateful to work at a company that is changing the narrative for underrepresented people. Native Americans make up less than one percent of Cisco's 80,000+ employees. So, it would be easy to feel invisible here. Instead, I am encouraged to be my true, authentic, Native American self in everything I do-whether that's in an office, at a conference, presiding over a Land Acknowledgement, or supporting our social justice work at the top of the world. I have been given a seat at the table and an amazing opportunity-and responsibility-to represent my community with Cisco's support.
IỊisaġvik College was the second Tribal College Cisco supported through our social justice initiative. I'm filled with gratitude for the chances I've had to participate alongside my Cisco peers in purpose-led work like this and other Tribal community projects, and I look forward to expanding our impact to more Indigenous-serving schools and discovering new things about myself in the process.
To learn more about Cisco's support of IỊisaġvik College, read Connectivity at the top of the world: Preserving the past, partnering for the future.
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FAQ
What is Cisco's Social Justice Action 8 initiative and how does it impact IỊisaġvik College?
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