Getting Proximate: Reflections From Cisco’s First Year of 40 Communities

By Charu Adesnik

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / March 17, 2026 / 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’s working and where needs are greatest, and focus our efforts where Cisco can add meaningful value. We engage, support, and invest deeply in these places, using Cisco’s technology, resources, and partnerships to address complex challenges and co-create and deliver solutions that build toward a future where everyone can thrive.

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 – and first international market – building on Cisco’s 30-year…