Leadership Through Giving: How the Americas Partner Organization is giving Back

At Cisco, giving back is more than a core value; it’s a way to lead by building connections, deepening empathy, and contributing to something bigger than yourself. Across the Americas (North, Central, and South America), and in collaboration with regional employee engagement champions, each year we host our Americas Partner Organization (APO) Giving Back Week.

Launched in June 2023, this program brings together Cisco Partner Organization teams around the Americas to jointly give back and make a difference. We extend and amplify our positive impact by including our channel partners in the efforts. One stellar example of these efforts comes from our team in Mexico. Read on to learn more.

The Mexico Partner Organization Sets a Standard

Within Cisco’s LATAM region, the Mexico Partner Organization is a shining example when it comes to community impact efforts. In mid-2024, the team, led by project manager Jennifer Ortiz, collaborated with our business partners Connext and Evox to create real impact for La Cana, a social enterprise that helps incarcerated women and those transitioning back into society.

Why La Cana? Jennifer explains, “We wanted to partner with an organization where our assistance would be meaningful. In Mexico, my home country, the topic of women in prison is somewhat taboo, and organizations that support incarcerated women tend to get overlooked. With potentially less visibility than other types of organizations, we felt that La Cana could greatly benefit from our volunteerism and support.”

In turn, 30 volunteers—18 from our partners and 12 from the LATAM Mexico Partner Organization—set out to deliver meaningful change among La Cana’s clients through three impactful initiatives.

Supporting Women in Chalco Prison

On May 10, 2024 (Mother’s Day in Mexico), our volunteers visited 75 women at Chalco women’s prison, bringing hygiene kits and—equally (if not more) important—moments of connection and dignity. The team chose this location because it was further from the city, and on average, its inmates receive fewer visitors. “I had never been to a penitentiary, so I was very apprehensive,” shared Jennifer. “I didn’t know what to expect but interacting with the women was a great lesson in empathy and perspective. We didn’t see them for their alleged crimes, but as fellow humans. It was a powerful learning moment for me.”

Jennifer also shared how wonderful it was to bring happiness to the women. “Even though we weren’t family, these women were extremely grateful to have us as visitors. You could see the joy and hope it brought them, as smiles on their faces.”

Building strength and self-sufficiency in the “Casa Medio Camino” Upon release from prison, some women don’t have family to return to or a place to stay, as they are often disowned or ostracized for their crimes. To help mitigate this scenario, La Cana has established “Casa Medio Camino”, a halfway house for women leaving prison, to provide shelter and support. As part of APO Giving Back Week 2024, our volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help create a comfortable place for the residents. Together, they:

• Established a community garden and donated seeds to support long-term food cultivation.
• Renovated several areas within the building to create welcoming, functional spaces.
• Donated non-perishable supplies to assist in temporarily housing 20 women as they transition back into society.

Enabling Economic Independence

Another aspect of La Cana’s intervention program is to bring productive activities and vocational training to prisons. This enables inmates to acquire skills and tools to help them improve their lives during their stay in prison, provide an income for their families, and prepare them for life outside of prison. One type of skills training includes various weaving, embroidery, sewing, macramé (a decorative craft using twine and knotting techniques), and textile weaving techniques. As part of our give back, we hosted a sale in our offices of hand-made items created by the women who are part of La Cana. Combined with our volunteer activities, the money raised from the sale enabled us to contribute more than $4,500 USD to fund La Cana’s programs.

Our support of La Cana’s critical initiatives is a testament to the power of collaboration. By bringing together our employees, partners, and this social enterprise, we’ve proven that collective action can deliver tangible, lasting change. And the benefits of our work extend far beyond their immediate impact:

• For the community: Women in vulnerable situations received resources, support, and opportunities to regain their dignity and independence.
• For our partners: Connext and Evox strengthened their social impact strategies, reinforcing their commitment to corporate responsibility.
• For our employees: Volunteers experienced a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment, knowing their efforts directly changed lives.
• For our company: These efforts deepened our culture of empathy, strengthened bonds with our partners, and demonstrated our leadership in driving meaningful social change.

What’s even more powerful is the message we send by prioritizing and participating in initiatives like APO Giving Back Week: Giving is a form of leadership. Let’s continue to lead with purpose and create a brighter future, one community at a time.

Has your organization participated in APO Giving Back Week? If so, do tell us about the impact you’ve made with your partners and in your community.

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