MILAN – Starbucks has announced the next steps it’s taking to advance racial and social equity as part of its “ongoing journey to create a welcoming and inclusive Third Place.” The Seattle-based coffee chain aims to fill 30% of its corporate jobs with people of color by 2025. The company also hopes to fill 40% of its retail and manufacturing jobs with people of color by the same deadline.
In letter to partners, ceo Kevin Johnson outlined new commitments the company will make to elevate inclusion, diversity, and equity on behalf of partners (employees) and the communities it serves – rooted in intentionality, transparency and accountability.
“As we discuss inclusion, diversity and equity, we discover time and again that these topics are foundational to our Starbucks Mission and Values,” Johnson said. “Of course, they are. The very concept of the Third Place embodies inclusion – creating a place of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome.”
The full list of those commitments is available here with key highlights including:
- Launching a mentorship program connecting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) partners to senior leaders and investing in strategic partnerships with professional organizations that focus on the development of BIPOC talent.
- Disclosing data reflecting the diversity of our current workforce.
- Setting and tracking annual inclusion and diversity goals of achieving BIPOC representation of at least 30 percent at all corporate levels and at least 40 percent of all retail and manufacturing roles by 2025.
- Connecting the building of inclusive and diverse teams to our executive compensation program.
- Establishing Inclusion and Diversity Executive Council to provide internal governance to integrate inclusion and diversity throughout the organization.
In addition, the company announced the rollout of $1.5 million in Neighborhood Grants from The Starbucks Foundation prioritizing grassroots and community-based nonprofit organizations focused on local impact.
These grants aim to uplift organizations led by and that serve Black communities and will support more than 400 local nonprofit organizations across the country. The Foundation will also invest $5 million to launch a two-year initiative focused on supporting nonprofits that serve BIPOC youth.
05:58 19/10/2020
