{"id":13623,"date":"2024-11-14T20:39:40","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T20:39:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/connectivity-at-the-top-of-the-world-preserving-the-past-partnering-for-the-future\/"},"modified":"2024-11-14T20:39:40","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T20:39:40","slug":"connectivity-at-the-top-of-the-world-preserving-the-past-partnering-for-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/connectivity-at-the-top-of-the-world-preserving-the-past-partnering-for-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Connectivity at the top of the world: Preserving the past, partnering for the future"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Scott McGregor shares his experiences in forging a new partnership with I\u1e37isa\u0121vik College in Utqia\u0121vik, Alaska \u2013 an extraordinary community that\u2019s breaking down barriers to create new access to education, technology, and opportunity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Standing near the top of the world, I\u2019ve never felt closer to Cisco\u2019s purpose.<\/p>\n

The ground feels different here in Utqia\u0121vik, Alaska \u2013 formerly known as Barrow. Located north of the Arctic Circle, Utqia\u0121vik is the northernmost town in the United States.<\/p>\n

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Scott McGregor takes a photo of the Arctic Ocean.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From where I stand on the shore of a sea that is frozen for much of the year, I\u2019m getting a sense of the remarkable history of a land that has been home to the I\u00f1upiaq people for thousands of years and the challenges they\u2019ve overcome to sustain their community for millennia.<\/p>\n

Today, the residents of Utqia\u0121vik face a growing challenge\u2013 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.<\/p>\n

This is what powering an inclusive future for all looks like.<\/p>\n

Strong community \u2013 significant challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve come to Utqia\u0121vik with a small group representing Cisco\u2019s Social Justice Action Office and our Native American Network Employee Resource Group.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re here to explore ways we can partner to break down barriers and create access to education, technology, and opportunity.<\/p>\n

The challenges are significant here.<\/p>\n

Imagine living in a place so remote it can only be accessed by airplane, where the summer sun doesn\u2019t dip below the horizon for 82 straight days, and after it dips below the horizon for the last time each November, it doesn\u2019t appear again until January.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The remote location and the harsh conditions aren\u2019t the only barriers. Utqia\u0121vik 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.<\/p>\n