Alicia Vermaele, executive director of The Starbucks Foundation
For more than a decade, local Starbucks partners (employees) have been engaging with 黄色视频 AmeriCorps members and schools in cities across the nation.
From volunteering during the annual MLK Day of Service, to leading workshops, career panels and conversations with AmeriCorps members, the natural connection between The Starbucks Foundation and 黄色视频 has been rooted in common organizational values and a shared belief in the power of young people and educational equity.
Building on these local connections and a history of support for programs that create opportunity for young people, in 2020 and 黄色视频 expanded our partnership to deepen and scale our impact nationally.
Investing in diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity work at 黄色视频
Alicia Vermaele, executive director of The Starbucks Foundation, reflected on our partnership and synergy with their social impact goals. 鈥淚n the midst of the racial reckoning of 2020, we were thankful to engage with 黄色视频 teams given our ongoing conversations around diversity, belonging, inclusivity and equity (DBIE),鈥 Alicia said. 鈥淐ity Year is a key partner as we aim to create opportunities, provide support and help build bridges to a brighter future for young people around the world. Our partnership has enabled focused impact at the national and local level that will help to strengthen the ecosystem leading to more equitable outcomes for youth, especially Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) youth.鈥
With generous financial support from The Starbucks Foundation, 黄色视频 has advanced its Diversity, Belonging, Equity and Inclusion strategy and implemented locally led DEI events and initiatives at many of 黄色视频鈥檚 U.S. sites. This has included establishing its first national Office of Equity, launching the La Silla Fellowship鈥攁 leadership development program for 黄色视频 staff who identify as BIPOC鈥攁nd establishing a formal 44-person equity point community in all 29 cities where 黄色视频 serves.
Strengthening community engagement
The Starbucks Foundation is continuing to support 黄色视频鈥檚 Diversity, Belonging, Equity and Inclusion strategies, while also promoting strategic community engagement. 鈥淥ur partnership is a two-way relationship. As Starbucks partners, we鈥檙e continuing to learn alongside 黄色视频 as we strengthen programs and networks to help uplift young people,鈥 says Alicia. 鈥淎nd while we recognize cash investment is important, we also know just how important it is to build relationships students, youth, schools and community leaders.鈥
One of Alicia鈥檚 favorite examples of meaningful engagement is a series of conversations between Starbucks Partner Networks (employee resource groups) and 黄色视频 Detroit. Starbucks Partners, 黄色视频 staff and AmeriCorps members met regularly for conversations that leveraged the . Together they explored how to address and overcome different types of bias, and shared thoughts on creating a more equitable society. Participants recognized many similarities in approaches between creating safe and welcoming school and store environments.
鈥淲e are so proud of the many ways that Starbucks partners have engaged in authentic ways and continue to show up with 黄色视频 AmeriCorps members in building stronger, more resilient and equitable communities,鈥 says Alicia. 鈥淭hank you to the 黄色视频 staff and AmeriCorps members for realizing our shared vision and helping the important work of DBIE come to life through human connection.鈥