{"id":16747,"date":"2026-02-19T13:32:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T13:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/getting-proximate-reflections-from-the-first-year-of-40-communities\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T13:32:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T13:32:20","slug":"getting-proximate-reflections-from-the-first-year-of-40-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/getting-proximate-reflections-from-the-first-year-of-40-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting proximate: Reflections from the first year of 40 Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A little more than a year ago, Cisco announced our next big ambition: 40 Communities. The 10-year initiative is audacious by design: to work in communities where we can be genuinely embedded, listen to local leaders to understand what\u2019s working and where needs are greatest, and focus our efforts where Cisco can add meaningful value. \u00a0We engage, support, and invest deeply in these places, using Cisco\u2019s technology, resources, and partnerships to address complex challenges and co-create and deliver solutions that build toward a future where everyone can thrive.<\/p>\n

In our first year, we designated Western North Carolina as our inaugural site in the devastating wake of Hurricane Helene, as communities grappled with isolation and the importance of connectivity and trusted local networks came sharply into focus. Mumbai followed as our second site \u2014 and first international market \u2014 building on Cisco\u2019s 30-year history of partnership and purpose-driven innovation in India. While these communities differ in significant ways, our work has surfaced powerful shared insights about building partnerships shaped by local knowledge, rooted in proximity, and designed for lasting impact.<\/p>\n

Listening first: Letting communities lead<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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