New Jobs , New Opportunities
community as we prepare to open our doors . Together , we want to help demonstrate that coming to a city like Ferguson is not just good for the community , but good for business too .” Nationally , 1 in 7 young adults does not work or attend school [ 1 ], a challenge that is compounded in low- to medium-income communities like Ferguson , particularly among young people of color . In the St . Louis region , 14 % of young people ages 16-24 – an estimated 48,000 young men and women – are disconnected from jobs and educational opportunities [ 2 ] and nearly half of all young African American men in the area are unemployed , compared with 16 % for young Caucasian men . In addition to creating new local jobs , Starbucks will work with nonprofit partners like the Urban League of Metropolitan St . Louis to provide a robust , multi-week job skills training program for local youth , using a specially-designed classroom space within the store . Starbucks hopes to work alongside community partners like the Urban League to help address some of the systemic barriers facing young people in the Ferguson area .
“ Ferguson was an awakening for all of us to really take a hard look in the mirror , and try to turn what was a tragedy into a triumph ,” said Michael McMillan , President and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St . Louis , one of Starbucks key community partners in the initiative . “ We saw people from all over the country wanting to be involved in our community , and to give back and help . Yet , the number one thing we heard from young people in Ferguson is ‘ we need jobs .’ So we need to engage these youth and we need to figure out how we can help them to get what they need to be productive citizens . The work will take years to complete . This is both a sprint and a marathon for our community , and we urgently need other businesses like Starbucks to join us .” “ Ferguson is grateful to Starbucks for recognizing the strength and resilience of our community by choosing to invest here ,” said Ferguson Mayor James Knowles III . “ The City of Ferguson and the greater North County region have both obstacles to overcome , but also great potential . Starbucks has shown their commitment to this region by helping our young people with much needed job training , as well as their commitment to the greater business community by partnering with local entrepreneurs to deliver great services and products to our citizens . We are excited to welcome Starbucks into the community and look forward to a long and lasting community partnership .”
The Starbucks store , featuring both a café and drive-thru at West Florissant & Somerset in Ferguson , has hired 30 partners ( employees ), many of whom are from the Ferguson or greater St . Louis areas , including store manager Cordell Lewis . Hiring locally is an important part of the company ’ s strategy to support economic development and build stronger connections with the community . With benefits like full health care coverage and equity in the form of stock for both part-time and full-time partners , as well as the Starbucks College Achievement Plan , which gives partners the opportunity to get a bachelor ’ s degree from Arizona State University with full tuition reimbursement , Starbucks will provide Ferguson partners with the same opportunities available to partners across the country . “ I was in essence the ‘ opportunity
New Jobs , New Opportunities
youth ’ we are trying to help ,” said Lewis , who has already enrolled in online classes at Arizona State University through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan . “ I come from a single-parent family and was lucky to have a coach who saw a spark in me when I was a high school athlete . That helped me turn my life around . Starbucks opening in this community means the company also sees what Ferguson can become . It has its challenges , and we have to have those conversations , but we also have so many young men and women with a lot to offer , including our new team of partners . My goal is to be their coach , to listen , and to help drive their passions . That ’ s the type of leader I want to be – for my team and for our community .” As part of its commitment to investing in the community , Starbucks is also working with Natalie DuBose , owner of Ferguson bakery Natalie ’ s Cakes & More which suffered extensive damage following the rioting in 2014 . In considering ways to invest in the local community , Starbucks is now selling DuBose ’ s signature caramel cakes at more than 30 St . Louis-area locations and will feature the product in the new store in Ferguson . As a result , DuBose ’ s workforce has grown from three to more than 20 , double what it was when Starbucks broke ground on the Ferguson location
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