Standing Together Against Racial Injustice

In a letter to all partners (employees) today, Starbucks Canada president Lori Digulla shared that Starbucks is committed to standing together against anti-black racism. 

“This is not a moment, it’s a movement. Our actions and our continued expression of belief and care can support the change and the healing that is required,” Digulla said.

Starbucks continues to listen to its partners about how they want to take a stand for justice, while proudly wearing the green apron and standing united together. The company believes it is critical to support the Black Lives Matter movement as its founders intended and will continue to work with its Starbucks Black Partner Network, community leaders and organizations to understand the role that Starbucks can play to show up in a positive way for its communities.

As its latest step towards this commitment, Starbucks is partnering with Starbucks Black Partner Network and allies to create and make t-shirts available to every store partner in Canada to demonstrate our allyship and show we stand together in unity.

Read Lori Digulla’s full letter below:

Dear partners,

We have always led with our Mission and Values. Through every moment in our history, and in every crisis, Starbucks has come together to show: We will not be bystanders. This has never been more true than today.

We have committed to a number of decisions and actions to stand together against anti-black racism, and this is just the beginning. We will do more, because more is needed.

We’ve heard you express your concern, your pain, your support, your passion, and this week we heard you ask for a way to express yourself at work. A way we can stand as black partners and allies in our clear belief:

We see you. We hear you. Black lives matter.

This is not a moment, it’s a movement. Our actions and our continued expression of belief and care can support the change and the healing that is required.

That’s one of the reasons we’re designing a new t-shirt with the graphic below, that we are making available to every store partner in Canada. This t-shirt will be available in English and French and you can expect to see these t-shirts in about a month. Until these arrive, and to answer your question, yes you can wear your BLM pin or t-shirt. Your passion, and heart, and care as always inspire us. We trust you to do what’s right while never forgetting Starbucks is a welcoming Third Place where all are treated with dignity and respect.

Designed for partners, by partners, our Starbucks Black Partner Network and allies in the U.S. created this t-shirt to demonstrate our allyship and show we stand together in unity. This t-shirt is in addition to t-shirts going to current members of the Canadian Black Partner network.

Sharing, listening and learning is so very important. By now, every district manager should have scheduled a virtual meeting to create space for you to share your feelings, your thoughts, your experiences. It’s voluntary for partners who want to engage, and we welcome you to this safe and important space.

We are in this together, always.

Your partner,
Lori Digulla