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This weblog was written by Stephanie Y. Moore and Curshanda Cusseaux Woods. Stephanie Y. Moore is a Director of Authorities Affairs at Cisco and leads Cisco’s social justice advocacy with federal policymakers for Motion 1, Affect Ecosystem. Curshanda Cusseaux Woods is a Group Influence Supervisor at Cisco the place she oversees the Cisco Black Fairness Grant program, social justice sponsorships, and worker engagement for Motion 1, Affect Ecosystem.
As we have fun Black Historical past Month, it’s a good time to mirror upon the Social Justice Beliefs and Actions Cisco has applied for the reason that racial awakening of 2020. Cisco couldn’t flip away from the racial disparities and systemic injustices impacting our Black American colleagues and communities. We wanted to amplify our current measures by listening and studying, committing to assets, and holding ourselves accountable to selling change inside Cisco and our surrounding communities.
Since then, Cisco unveiled a complete Social Justice framework to confront racism and discrimination and enhance variety in our office and past. Foundational to the plan is Social Justice Motion 1 the place we pledge “to affect our ecosystem to assist coverage, laws and organizations working to make sure equal rights for AA/Black individuals in 2020 and past.” Cisco is executing this dedication by strategic nonprofit partnerships and advocacy.
Strategic Partnerships with Nonprofits
Within the aftermath of the abhorrent homicide of George Floyd in Could 2020, Cisco instantly pledged $5 million to nonprofits working to advertise social justice. Among the many 15 teams receiving funding, we supplied $1 million to the NAACP Authorized Protection Fund and $1 million to the Equal Justice Initiative. Each are strategic companions who present academic supplies and battle for voter rights.
These preliminary grants have given beginning to the brand new “Cisco Black Fairness Grant Program.” This system works to determine and associate with nonprofits yearly on points together with police reform, financial empowerment, voting rights/advocacy, training, important human wants and being (the liberty of being your self). This system is about greater than writing a examine, it’s about constructing a robust two-way partnership the place we are able to be taught from the experiences of communities and trade info and evaluation on rising points and insurance policies. The brand new grant program will present further assist by partaking volunteers, exploring product donations and sharing our experience to additional our collective efforts.
Help for Coverage & Laws
The opposite key part to influencing our ecosystem is our advocacy technique, which revolves round three particular areas: police reform, voting rights and initiatives to review the legacy of slavery and its present day impacts. Over the previous 12 months, we partnered with like-minded firms to make use of our collective voices in assist of police reform and voting rights. Whether or not by direct advocacy or by offering strategic counsel, Cisco federal and state authorities affairs groups stay actively engaged in negotiations to achieve bipartisan options.
Following the assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, our work on voting rights reached fever-pitch. Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy. Along with a coalition of over 240 corporations, enterprise teams and commerce associations below the model “Enterprise for Voting Rights,” we pressed for insurance policies that make it simpler for People to vote, akin to these embodied within the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Development Act of 2021. Though that invoice was lately defeated, we’ll proceed to induce Congress to go a lot wanted laws to strengthen voting rights and renew our democracy. Cisco has taken our social justice agenda, together with voting rights, on to Capitol Hill in conferences with a number of lawmakers and Government department officers, thereby signifying endorsement on the highest ranges of Cisco’s management.
It’s inspiring to work for a corporation that has made Black Historical past an ongoing motion and never only a month. Cisco is prepared to make daring and intentional strikes to handle racial injustice not solely inside our firm, but in addition inside our broader society.
Be taught extra about Cisco’s Social Justice Framework and Motion 1 on our web site.
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