Update: On Sept. 8, Starbucks launched <a href="https://www.fuelourdemocracy.com/">FuelOurDemocracy.com</a>, a site to help customers make their plan to register and to vote.

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Before you’ve known DJ Mitchell-Jones for long, she will inevitably ask you a question: “Are you registered to vote?”

“Yes? Great!,” she’ll say if you are, or, “No? Can I help you?” she’ll respond. She’s so passionate about the importance of getting involved, she's always ready with information to help.

Mitchell-Jones, a Starbucks store manager in Miami Gardens, Florida, has been having these conversations with her family, friends and colleagues for years. She wants everyone to know how much voting matters.

“People have died so I could have the right to vote. For me, if I don’t exercise my rights, what did they sacrifice for?” she said.

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This week, Starbucks announced a plan to support its partners on their journey to register to vote, and to make sure no partner has to choose between working their shift or voting on or before election day. Managers and nearly 200,000 Starbucks partners will be having conversations to help ensure that they have the tools and time necessary to cast their vote.

The company is also launching two websites to help Starbucks partners and customers make their plan to register and to vote.

“The upcoming election is a reminder that we, as citizens, play an active role in our society by simply getting involved and voting,” wrote Kevin Johnson, chief executive officer of Starbucks, in a letter to the company this week. “Who you vote for is a very personal decision that you make as a citizen. It is one way for you to be heard. It is how democracy works.”

It’s not political, he said, but rather to help ensure that the voice of each Starbucks partner is heard through their vote. &nbsp;

‘It’s my driving force’

Plenty of Starbucks partners like Mitchell-Jones have been hard at work for years, promoting civic engagement in their communities. When she moved to Florida to help open the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2017/starbucks-supports-local-revitalization-and-youth-hiring-in-miami-gardens/">Miami Gardens Community Store</a> in October 2017, one of 18 community stores now open with a hundred planned, she spoke with regional leaders about the best ways the store could support and empower the community. The conversation turned to low voter turnout, particularly among minorities. A month later, she saw this in action as she watched the results come in for a local election. In some areas, only a quarter of eligible voters participated at all – sometimes even fewer.

“We complain about what’s happening in our communities, but so, so many people in our communities don’t vote,” Mitchell-Jones said. “After [that election], I jumped in with both feet. It’s my driving force. This store has become a hub of information and access.”

Before COVID-19, her café was a veritable town hall, with regular events aimed at boosting civic engagement. Now she’s working on ways to make those virtual, she said. 

This month, she met with members of her team, many of whom are young people voting for the first or one of the first times. She helped them access nonpartisan resources on how and where to register to vote, locate their polling place and its hours of operation and even helped them print sample ballots.

“Honestly, when I was a kid, I didn’t pay attention to voting information in school, and couldn’t tell you whether it was ever truly explained to me prior to me being voting age,” she said. “And after you’re out of school, where is that information going to come from? No one’s going to sit you down.”

Mitchell-Jones is so passionate about voting and the census and civic participation that people tell her all the time she should run for office – something she thinks about. She doesn’t take anything about democracy for granted.

“When you think about what John Lewis and other leaders in our communities and in our history have done to get us the right to even participate?” she said.

‘Make your voice heard’

Along with making sure Starbucks partners have the time and resources they need to register and cast their votes, the company announced it will continue to advocate at all levels of government for Americans to have safe and accessible ways to vote (including making sure polling places are appropriately staffed). Starbucks will also offer a link to resources and information on how and where partners and customers can register to vote through the Starbucks App, and will partner with Civic Alliance, a non-partisan coalition of businesses helping their employees find volunteer opportunities supporting the election, such as poll workers.

Saunjah Brantley, a 6-year Starbucks partner who recently joined the company’s Inclusion and Diversity organization in Seattle as director of the Policy &amp; Practice Center of Excellence, is now a precinct committee officer in her neighborhood helping inform her neighbors and get them prepared to vote in state and federal elections.

“We can make small, but impactful actions in our respective spheres of influence. I can do something, and you can do something – everyone can do something – and when you add all of these actions together, we can make a powerful statement together,” Brantley said.

She recently hosted an online “Voting Matters” panel discussion for Starbucks employees sponsored by the company’s Black Partner Network which covered a range of topics on voting history, access and how to get involved.

“Regardless of your political affiliation, you have the right to make your voice heard through the voting process,” she told Starbucks employees.

Along with voting, Brantley encouraged Starbucks partners to consider going to a local government meeting with a topic of interest on the agenda, volunteering for their local polling precinct or joining a phone bank to call people across the country to remind them to register to vote and to cast their ballot.

“You don’t have to run for senator tomorrow. You don’t even have to run a big community event. Just pick one thing that’s meaningful,” Brantley said. “COVID has forced us to think differently about how we connect and get information out, so you can do a lot of this right in the comfort of your home.”

Brantley credits her family for her passion. From a young age, she was instilled with the importance of finding ways to make her voice heard – and finding ways to help others know how their voices can be heard as well.

“I can’t talk about the power of using your voice without talking about my mom. She inspired my siblings and me and raised all of us to be engaged citizens. She wanted her children to not just think about themselves but to always think of how we can help others,” Brantley said. “When it comes to voting, she has always felt it is the least that we can do to honor people who fought – who were attacked by dogs and hosed down and, in some cases, even lost their lives to give us that right. Voting honors the legacy of those who fought for the right for us, and honors the legacy of our family, which is to use our voices on behalf of ourselves and on behalf of others.”

This week, Starbucks announced a plan to make sure no partner has to choose between working their shift or voting.

Fuel our democracy: Starbucks helps partners, customers prepare to vote

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This week, Starbucks announced a plan to make sure no partner has to choose between working their shift or voting, and to share resources and tools to support partner and customer voter engagement.

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Update: On July 14, 2021, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2021/starbucks-ceo-the-right-to-vote-is-core-to-our-democracy/">Starbucks ceo Kevin Johnson encouraged partners (employees)</a> to use their voice to make a difference in the communities it serves, reinforcing Starbucks commitment to civic engagement. This message also included an update that the company <a href="https://www.businessforvotingrights.com/letter-to-congress" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">joined the Business for Voting Rights Coalition</a> in calling on Congress to update the Voting Rights Act, to help ensure protection of the right to vote for all.

Update:&nbsp;Starting October 5, 2020 Starbucks will provide all U.S. partners with a free one-way Lyft ride up to $75 to the polls to vote, volunteer as a poll worker or drop off a ballot at a post office, ballot box or other official ballot drop location.

Update: Starting Sept. 8, 2020 customers can access voter registration resources through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fuelourdemocracy.com/">FuelOurDemocracy.com</a>&nbsp;and the Starbucks App.

In a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/a-message-from-starbucks-ceo-to-partners-and-customers-on-civic-responsibility/">letter to partners</a>, Starbucks ceo Kevin Johnson shared how the company is taking steps to promote equity, justice and community resiliency. As part of this effort, the company shared its position to continue supporting partners in their journey to register to vote and ensure their voices are heard. Johnson noted that no partner (employee) will have to choose between working their shift or voting on or before Election Day.

“We believe civic engagement is critical in building stronger communities and we will continue to provide tools and resources to help you use your voice to make a difference in your communities,” <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2021/starbucks-ceo-the-right-to-vote-is-core-to-our-democracy/">Johnson told partners in a 2021 message</a>. “Voting is one way this can come to life and protecting the right to vote for every eligible American, regardless of who they vote for, is core to the integrity of our Democracy. “

The first step in this plan begins with conversations between managers and partners to help ensure nearly 200,000 Starbucks partners have the tools and the time necessary to register and cast their vote. Key initiatives supplementing these conversations include:

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In 2020, nonpartisan civic engagement partners and advisors to the company provided the following comments:

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Steven Levine, Director, Civic Alliance said: “The Civic Alliance believes in companies' ability to strengthen our democracy. And we are proud to support Starbucks' strong, bipartisan commitment to ensuring all of their partners have the tools, time, and support they need to register and vote -- and by encouraging their customers to do the&nbsp;same. Starbucks is also leading the way in supporting employees who want to volunteeras poll workers, a crucial act of leadership that will help meet an urgent need during this pandemic."

Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP said: “The NAACP is thrilled to partner with Starbucks in their voter engagement efforts to ensure that democracy works for all. As an organization committed to protecting voting rights and encouraging the importance of voter mobilization, we understand the need for every voice to be heard. We are thrilled to have corporations like Starbucks who promote civic engagement and community resiliency in the fight with us.”

Vanita Gupta, President and CEO, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights said: “We applaud Starbucks for its commitment to democracy. No one should be forced to choose between sacrificing a paycheck and exercising their constitutional right to vote, but that is a reality for far too many. Our democracy works best when everyone participates. By arming employees with options for how to cast their vote, providing nonpartisan volunteer opportunities at select polling sites, advocating for robust policies for safe in-person voting, and aiding customers in registering to vote, Starbucks is doing its part to remove barriers to the ballot box and ensure all voices are heard in this election. We hope more employers will follow Starbucks’ example.”

Frankie Miranda, President, Hispanic Federation said: "We are proud to team up with Starbucks to ensure their partners not only have the information they need to register and safely vote, but to involve the communities they serve in local registration and voter engagement efforts. During these uncertain times, it is more important than ever for us to come together in these efforts which ensure that every community has a voice."

Jeremy Butler, CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America said: “Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) applauds&nbsp;Starbucks' focus on ensuring employees have the opportunity to be heard and is honored to join with them in the commitment to elevate civic engagement before and on Election Day. Our military literally fights for the protection of American democracy&nbsp;and, as veterans, we continue that fight out of uniform by working to ensure that everyone has safe and secure access to the ballot box. We thank Starbucks for being a leading ally in that effort."&nbsp;

Maya Enista Smith, Executive Director, Born This Way Foundation said: “Starbucks’ emphasis on providing partners with the tools, resources and supporting a plan to vote is the kind of approach that will help make more voices heard – because we know that when people create a plan to vote they are more likely to vote. On Election Day and always, it's important that our communities know their voices matter.”

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As part of this effort, the company unveiled its plan to support partners in their journey to register to vote and ensure their voices are heard.

Starbucks unveils plan to support partner and customer voter engagement

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Kevin Johnson unveils the voter registration initiatives Starbucks is launching to ensure partners and customers have the opportunity for their voices to be heard.

The struggle for civil rights and racial equity in America requires continuous conversations and daily work. This is especially true for a business like ours that lives its mission grounded in humanity and that touches the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world.&nbsp;

Over the recent weeks, I, along with the entire leadership team, have revisited the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2019/01/Covington-Report-to-Starbucks-Jan-23-2019.pdf">Civil Rights Assessment</a> of Starbucks that was conducted by Covington &amp; Burling, under the leadership of former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. That assessment, and the one-year update published <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2020/an-update-on-starbucks-civil-rights-assessment/">in February</a>, do a good job summarizing the actions Starbucks has taken to promote civil rights—for partners, for customers, and for the communities we serve. It shows the different ways that, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2019/starbucks-equity-and-inclusion-timeline/">for years</a>, Starbucks has facilitated that conversation and engaged in the daily work.&nbsp;

However, the potency—and the potential—of this national moment highlights that, although we have made progress, there is still so much more for us to do. We approach this as a quest to stand up for racial justice and equity, create opportunity for others, and strengthen every community we serve and in which we live.

Roz and I have met with leaders of all our business resource groups and with retail leaders to reflect on our journey together, and to share and solicit ideas about how Starbucks and Starbucks partners can continue to do more. As a company, we know the benefit of being thoughtful and intentional, listening to our partners and stakeholders and making decisions that ensure our partners feel seen, heard and valued.&nbsp;That is exactly what we have been doing.

The upcoming election is a reminder that we, as citizens, play an active role in our society by simply getting involved and voting. Who you vote for is a very personal decision that you make as a citizen. It is one way for you to be heard. It is how democracy works. Yet we know that barriers exist, notably in Black and Brown communities throughout the nation, that lend to systemic racism and require greater voter access and protections. I&nbsp;want to share how we are working, in a uniquely Starbucks way, to ensure you&nbsp;have the&nbsp;opportunity for your voice to be heard.

Starbucks is taking a major step forward this year to ensure that no partner will have to choose between working their shift or voting on or before Election Day. Through conversations between managers and nearly 200,000 partners, we’ll ensure you have the tools and the time necessary to register and cast your vote. To further enable this, partners have created a new <a href="http://www.StarbucksPartnersVote.com">portal</a> with tools and resources to support your civic engagement, includinginformation onhow to register to vote, request a mail-in ballot, and volunteer to help make this year’s election safe and accessible.

Voting, while essential, is just one step toward addressing many of the issues in front of us as a society. In the coming weeks and months, you can expect to hear more about the principles we are developing and commitments we will make to further racial equity, justice and opportunity. You will hear about greater transparency into diversity and inclusion data when it comes to hiring, developing and advancing partners across all roles within the company. You will hear about us partnering with civil rights groups, non-profits, governments and first responders who share our belief that every single human being—including Black, Indigenous and people of color—feels safe, welcome and respected. You’ll also hear about other ways we are further using our scale for good in the communities we serve. The bottom line being: Starbucks will not wait for change, we will make change of our own.&nbsp;

THREE CRITICAL QUESTIONS

As we continue to build on all that we have done over the past several years, we are focusing on three important questions&nbsp;for each of us to consider. These questions serve as a framework for thoughtful conversation and action:

As a citizen, what is my role and responsibility?

As a Starbucks partner, what is my role and responsibility to promote a culture of inclusion, allyship, diversity, and equity, both in our stores and throughout our extended work environment?

As a company, what is Starbucks role and responsibility to step up our commitment to promote justice, equity, opportunity and resiliency in all communities we serve?&nbsp;

We will use these questions to guide an ongoing conversation, informed by the Civil Rights Audit and by suggestions from partners around the world, and by our 50-year journey as a company. I encourage all Starbucks partners to take part in this conversation. There are&nbsp; simple actions we can all consider taking now, such as re-reading the audit or signing up for a <a href="https://tobewelcoming.com/">To Be Welcoming</a> course, which we developed together with Arizona State University.

We have a responsibility to promote justice and build bridges, and a mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit. To truly accomplish that requires recognition of, daily commitment to, and investment in racial justice in America.&nbsp;Our journey continues.

With respect and gratitude, Kevin&nbsp;

Kevin Johnson unveils the voter registration initiatives Starbucks is launching to ensure partners and customers have the opportunity for their voices to be heard.

A message from Starbucks ceo to partners and customers on civic responsibility

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