Starbucks makes 250k shirts for their employees to affirm their support against systemic racism
Black lives matter and Starbucks is committed to doing their part in ending systemic racism.
As a company, Starbucks leaders continue to listen to its partners (employees) about how they want to take a stand for justice, whilst proudly wearing the green apron and standing united together. The company continues to work closely with community leaders, civil rights leaders, organisations, and its partners to understand the role that Starbucks can play and to show up in a positive way for its communities.
In a letter to partners from Roz Brewer, Rossann Williams and Zing Shaw, Starbucks shared its latest step towards this commitment, partnering with the Starbucks Black Partner Network and Black Starbucks leaders to make 250,000 shirts available to their company-operated partners in the US and Canada to affirm support at this critical time in our history.
This small effort allows partners to abide by store policies that are designed to maintain a safe and welcoming sense of community. Until these shirts arrive in stores, partners will be able to wear their BLM pin or t-shirt in support of their community and humanity.
Starbucks stands in solidarity with its Black partners, community and customers, and understand the desire to express themselves. This is just one step in Starbucks journey to make its company and its communities more inclusive. To learn more about the actions Starbucks is taking to help address racial inequity, visit their equity and inclusion timeline here.
The Starbucks Foundation is committing US$1m/£790k in Neighborhood Grants to promote racial equity and create more inclusive and just communities. The company has also launched an internal series of courageous conversations that creates a safe space for bold discussions addressing difficult topics and to help increase understanding. Starbucks will also continue to work with external subject matter experts to provide opportunities for education and discussion.
Starbucks continues to provide resources for partners to help drive thoughtful dialogue around critical issues, including its publicly available To Be Welcoming curriculum created in partnership with Arizona State University. The course content was developed by a team of more than 50 subject matter experts at ASU, drawing from industry-leading research on topics related to bias and empathy.
Starbucks will continue to encourage its partners to use their voice in their communities by participating in the census, registering to vote, and learning about and engaging their elected officials at all levels of government.
