Through a special arrangement, presented here for discussion is a summary of a current article from the Retail TouchPoints website.
Starbucks is partnering with nearly 20 other major U.S.-based companies including CVS, J.C. Penney, Macy's, Walgreens and Walmart to create the nation's largest employer-led coalition to hire and train up to 100,000 young people.
Called the "100,000 Opportunities Initiative," the coalition will aim to engage 16-24 year olds who are hindered by various barriers to jobs and education. By 2018, participating companies promised to deliver apprenticeships, internships, training programs and both part-time and full-time jobs.
In a statement, the coalition states there are currently 5.6 million U.S. youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who are out of school and not working. At the same time, there are 3.5 million unfilled jobs in the U.S. that do not require a four-year degree, often called middle-skill jobs.
At 18.1 percent, the unemployment rate for 16-to-19 year-olds remains more than three times as high as the 5.3 percent jobless rate for the entire work force, according to The New York Times, with summer jobs and in-school jobs much more scarce than for previous generations. For many, the lack of work experience hinders careers.
Photo: 100,000 Opportunities Initiative
Starbucks, which is leading the effort, is opening stores over the next three years in 15 "diverse, under-represented neighborhoods" — including ones this year in Chicago, Ferguson, MO, Milwaukee, Phoenix, and Queens, NY — that will include onsite training space to support the initiative.
"The rules of engagement for philanthropy are changing," said Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, in a statement. "It's not just about writing a check; rather, our approach is focused on creating a coalition of like minds with local knowledge, expertise on-the-ground and the ability to scale the social impact of an initiative like this to create pathways of opportunity for the literally millions of young people."
The 100,000 Opportunities Initiative will make its official debut at the Opportunity Fair & Forum for Opportunity Youth, which will be held August 13 in Chicago. During the event, employers will train more than 2,000 youth and, at the end of the day, make at least 200 job offers.
Others in the coalition include Alaska Airlines, Hilton, Microsoft, Taco Bell and Target.
- Starbucks Connects With Top Brands To Hire 100,000 Young People - Retail Touchpoints
- 100,000 Opportunities Initiative
- Top U.S.-Based Companies Launch the "100,000 Opportunities Initiative" to Create Pathways to Economic Opportunity for Young Americans - 100,000 Opportunities Initiative
- Starbucks and Other Corporations to Announce Plan to Curb Unemployment of Young People - The New York Times (tiered sub.)
- Starbucks Deepens Investments in Diverse, Under-represented Communities across the U.S. - Starbucks