Starbucks Store in Arizona Supports Military Spouses

Starbucks dedicated its 17th Military Family Store today with an audience of active duty military, veterans, elected officials and members of the community in attendance. 

“Arizona was a clear choice for a Military Family Store based on the relationship we’ve built with the military community here,” said Jennifer Miles, a Starbucks district manager. “Our partners take great pride in our involvement."

Military Family Stores employ many baristas and managers who are veterans or military spouses and work with a non-profit organization to provide services for veterans and their families. The partners in this new Military Family Store will collaborate with Blue Star Families and pay particular attention to the needs of military spouses.

For several years, Miles and a team of partners (employees) at the Dysart & Camelback Starbucks® store have been a welcome source of support for Luke Air Force Base, located 15 miles west of Phoenix. By volunteering for recruiting and hiring fairs, holiday celebrations and the base’s annual air show, partners demonstrated their commitment to local military personnel and families.

“One of the greatest challenges affecting today's military families is spouse unemployment,” said Megan Glynn, Director of Community Development for Blue Star Families. The organization's 2015 Military Lifestyle Survey found that female military spouses experience unemployment at nearly three times the rate of their civilian counterparts despite also demonstrating greater educational and professional experience than the general population. 

“In close partnership with Starbucks, Blue Star Families will be able to provide military spouses with career development opportunities so they are well-prepared to pursue a career," Glynn said. "Starbucks support demonstrates the great work that can be done when corporate and nonprofit partners come together to further support military families.”

Miles and team are developing a program they call “Military Tuesdays,” that will take place in the Dysart & Camelback store. As part of the program, select Starbucks partners will help military spouses build their resumes and hone interview skills. They will also invite spouses in for coffee and conversation and host game nights for families.

“The best part of working here is the amazing sense of community we have,” said Miles. “You can just feel it.”

Starbucks veterans stories: Paying Tribute and Creating Opportunity