The Starbucks Partner Network plans to host 23 events in 2023 that address food insecurity, health and education across the country.
In the spring of 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic put the country on lockdown and a series of racist shootings unfolded, then-Starbucks Chief Operating Officer Roz Brewer empowered the Starbucks Black Partner Network (BPN) to explore how Starbucks can make an impact for the community.
Troy James, then New Orleans licensed store district manager and BPN leader, took the call to heart. Rallying the connections he had, he led a community resource distribution event that summer, distributing back-to-school kits, food crates, and sanitizing supplies.
“Looking back on those days, fear and anger were prevalent. We all felt trapped in this original moment. The concept of hosting an event that would inspire and bring people together was appealing, so we joined,” recalls James, now manager of the Inclusion & Diversity team at Starbucks.
This initiative has resulted in a great collaboration between the Starbucks Partner Network, licensed and self-owned stores, nonprofits, food banks and government agencies. It has been converted to Block Party format. This is the blueprint for a nationwide Starbucks collaborative community service initiative called ALL.IN.
In 2023, Starbucks will host 23 ALL.IN. event. Known as “23 in 23,” the series kicks off in New Orleans, runs mid-July in Las Vegas and Albuquerque, New Mexico, and hosts seven simultaneous events in Seattle. Tucson, Arizona. Denver; Kansas City, Missouri; Atlanta; Mobile, Alabama and Buffalo, New York, July 29;
Starbucks partners work with local groups in New Orleans, Louisiana to distribute back-to-school supplies
The event will be held in Los Angeles in August. Tacoma, Washington. Portland, Oregon. St. Louis. Charlotte, North Carolina. San Diego; Dallas; Milwaukee; Detroit; Houston. Metro areas of Chicago, Washington DC and New York.
“This is a great story that provides an opportunity for our partners, our community and our brands to live out our mission statement,” says James. “Each city will write its own chapter. Every city has a compelling story.”
Through ALL.IN., local Starbucks leaders are uniting coalitions to address the food insecurity, health and welfare, and education needs of their communities. Meanwhile, the event provides opportunities for leadership and personal and professional development. Each event is locally led and built with the participation of retail partners, local nonprofits, the Starbucks Partner Network and community business partners.
The Seattle event will be held at the Starbucks Support Center with community partners Seattle Seahawks and Puget Sound’s Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Backpacks, school supplies, laptops, Wi-Fi hotspot devices, and other items will be distributed to school-age youth and their families or guardians. It also provides various services such as health checkups, job placement, and training support.
2020 and beyond – The last 30 ALL.IN. Licensee partners, including Target and Kroger, and various non-profit organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, donated goods and services worth a total of $721,000. Together, Starbucks partners have volunteered more than 4,400 hours of his community service.
“While our focus may be on gifting backpacks and getting families ready for the new school year, it is also a vessel for hope, care and heartfelt wishes to help people have a better day. We hope our partners, customers and communities can experience that at our events. This is human connection, this is grassroots, this is what we are intentionally working on together.This is what we do best,” said James. will.
