Damon Brown knew he loved art from an early age. It started with cartoons and superheroes. Then on to Japanese anime and urban art, and his imagination began to explore the interplay of color, shape, story and texture. When he went to college, he studied classic art and painting techniques. “When I got out [of college] I was able to pull everything together – the animation, the street art, the graphic design, everything together to come up with my own style,” Brown said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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He returned to his hometown of Seattle after getting his degree at Washington State University and has made lasting contributions to the city’s artistic landscape – from large-scale public art projects to brand packaging and designs. He also created the mural on display at the Starbucks store at 1st and Walker in Seattle and designed a poster featuring the Siren in honour of the company’s 50th anniversary.&nbsp;

“I call it complex simplicity. I try to do a blend of shapes and movement and let your mind – the viewer’s mind – connect with the art and fill in your own blanks with your own imagination,” Brown said. “It’s a magic i’ve developed over the years.”&nbsp;

Now Brown’s art will be showcased in the latest of the&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2023/22485/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks Artist Collaboration Series,</a>&nbsp;which celebrates the unique stories of artists from all over the world. His pieces of drinkware will be available in participating U.S. and Canada Starbucks stores starting Jan. 30. He was inspired by the idea of community, deliberately integrating the viewer’s perspective into the artwork.&nbsp;

“It’s as if you’re walking down any street, they are walking with you,” he said. “It’s drawn like you’re behind them, or you’re in the community with them walking parallel as they go by.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

For the colour palette, he chose soothing shades of pale blue, green and cream with a 1960s vibe. “The colour is an intentional play on the classic color palette of red, black and green that you may typically see represented in Black art or during Black History Month— to make it more modern and purposeful.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The design’s graphic elements convey a modern sensibility. “There was a conscious effort to put a stylistic modern shape with this movement and put some hairstyles in there with some different braids and those kinds of things that you classically don’t see on merchandise,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Three pieces of drinkware are featured each one marked with Damon’s brand name, Creative Lou, based on a nickname from childhood:&nbsp;&nbsp;

A 24-ounce cold cup depicts two people looking outward together, almost holding hands. In the background, geometric shapes are open to interpretation.

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“In the background, the shapes show community,” he said. “I created them so that you feel represented, and you feel your place.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two people in motion walk toward each other in the design for a 16-ounce stainless steel tumbler and 24-ounce cold cup, with bright accents of red.

“My goal for this collection was for it not to feel that it’s one month only – but taking it farther and giving you something more artistic that can be enjoyed and celebrated beyond February – when it should be every day for us.”

Artist Damon Brown’s collection of drinkware for Starbucks Artist Collaboration Series celebrates Black culture and community through a modern fusion of artistic styles, available in U.S. and Canada Starbucks stores this winter.

Artist Damon Brown celebrates Black culture and community in Starbucks latest drinkware collection - Starbucks Canada

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Starbucks Canada

Artist Damon Brown celebrates Black culture and community in Starbucks latest drinkware collection

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2024/25933/

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In February, Starbucks Canada is proud to honour Black History Month and celebrate Black excellence and the many ways its partners (employees) and communities demonstrate it every day.

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Rudo, store manager

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"My journey is one of hard work and striving to achieve the impossible. I am bold, brave, and comfortable in a world that has different standards of beauty and where acceptance is a rare commodity. I’m proud to share my culture through love, song, dance, and a sense of community where everyone feels like a family. I reignite my self-confidence by knowing that I am a role model for others that would never be able to have the grace to be authentic and true to themselves. I celebrate those that welcome me and focus on the amazing humans that just love on everyone. I know the light within me will uplift, encourage, and touch many and I am meant for greater things. I am a proud Black woman.

Chris, district manager

“I've been a partner for 21 years and this year I had the privilege to become the A220 Black Partner Network (BPN) advocate lead. Reigniting and celebrating Black Excellence means to me that we pay homage and respect to the trailblazers who've made significant contributions within the Black community, the world and in culture.&nbsp; During the time of Black History Month, I take the time to listen, educate myself and peers, and share stories with my team.&nbsp; I believe it's vitally important to create an inclusive space and community for Black Partners. The BPN has become that space. They continue to advocate and celebrate Black Excellence every day. My goal is to continue to promote equity, education, allyship, partner development and creating an environment for partners to be their authentic selves.”

Nicole, barista

“I believe for a lot of young Black people, there is a high expectation to excel in every area of life such as work, school etc. I think the need to disprove stereotypes and live up to the standard of Black Excellence drives a lot of us to take on so much in our lives, which can lead to burnout. I know I’ve experienced this in high school, and again in university which led to my time off in school for the sake of my mental health. And so, I’d love for other young Black people to know, Black Excellence doesn’t necessarily mean taking on the weight of the world while continuing to be successful but accepting that your existence is enough to be excellent. Despite the odds of systemic racism and being such a minority in Canada, we can and will thrive. I believe, Black Excellence shouldn’t exist simply in the doing of Black people but in the being of Black people. You are enough!”

Brittany, store manager

This Black History Month, I am challenging myself to share more, to be present, and to embrace more of my accomplishments. Black Excellence is about connecting our diversities and our experiences. It is about spending the time to figure out what fills us up, and what enriches our lives. I work hard to show up for myself, create new experiences, and find ways to connect with other people.&nbsp; For me, I am living Black Excellence when I am actively working towards achieving my goals, when I am involved with projects, I am excited about, and when I take on opportunities that allow me to grow.

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Alicia, shift supervisor

“I was born and raised in Toronto, ON in a Guyanese/Indian household. To me, Black Excellence for everyone looks a little different, but what I think remains the same is being unapologetically yourself. My journey to owning my Blackness took a hitch in the road after a DNA test when I was 18 turned out I was 47% Indian and 53% a mix of African descents. These results shouldn’t have technically changed anything for me: I still looked Black, grew up Black, and loved being Black, but somehow, I now doubted myself. I felt as though I was a fraud and that I could no longer identify myself as Black. None of that was true because being Black and owning everything excellent about it is not just your origins, but the sense of community and culture that comes with it. Understanding the trials and tribulations, but also celebrating the beauty and uniqueness. Remembering this helps me to wake up every day and be proud of who I am.”

Starbucks Canada is proud to honour Black History Month and celebrate Black excellence and the many ways its partners (employees) and communities demonstrate it every day.

In their own words: Starbucks partners on what owning and celebrating everyday Black excellence means to them - Starbucks Canada

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In their own words: Starbucks partners on what owning and celebrating everyday Black excellence means to them

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In February, Starbucks Canada is proud to honour Black History Month and celebrate Black excellence and the many ways its partners (employees) and communities demonstrate it every day

How the MentorME program is impacting the lives of Black youth&nbsp;

Madam CJ Walker was a force; her unyielding generosity only rivalled her fierce entrepreneurial spirit. A trailblazing entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and at one point the wealthiest Black woman in America, her never-give-up attitude and hustle have made her a role model for past and current generations. This is especially true for Valerie, a member of MentorME, a mentorship program developed in partnership with the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA), SAY IT LOUD, Mentor Canada and Starbucks Canada designed to equip young Black Canadians with the knowledge, guidance, resources, and support to help secure employment and overcome systemic barriers and long-standing biases and stereotypes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For two years, Valerie has been working with her mentor, Janel, a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2022/bhm-22-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks store manager</a>, to set goals, develop skills and access the tools she’ll need to excel academically while also accomplishing her dream of succeeding in business and following in her idol’s footsteps. The two immediately bonded over their shared experience of living in places with very little diversity.&nbsp;

Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Brantford, Ontario, Valerie is a recent graduate of Burman University, where she received a double degree in physiotherapy and wellness in Central Alberta. She currently runs and operates a haircare accessory business that sells satin-lined bonnets called <a href="http://www.crownedhandmade.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crowned By V</a>, “Because everyone should treat themselves like royalty – even on those days you don’t feel your best,” explained Valerie.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The marketing inspiration came, in part, from her mentor, Janel who provides guidance in both the business and academic arenas. “Janel connected me with someone in my field and it opened my eyes to the possibilities,” Valerie said. “We talk about strategies for finding the right clientele, and how I could improve my public speaking skills. She’s really helped me grow my confidence.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It was just lovely seeing another woman of colour in a high-ranking position. It shows that there are no limitations. And even though you may not have grown up seeing yourself represented, if you are determined, you can one day be that representation for someone else. I have two younger siblings, one of which just started high school,” said Valerie. “The lessons I learn with Janel are something I pass on to her, as well as my friends," said Valerie.

And Valerie is not alone in recognizing the value of mentorship. Sabrina’s passion for music led her to also connect with Janel.&nbsp; Under Janel’s mentorship, Sabrina has been offered resources and support on her journey and has begun to forge meaningful industry connections with music producers in New York.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“She is always super excited for me, and she’s really cool to talk to,” said Sabrina. “Both of us have parents who immigrated here from the Caribbean. To have a strong Black female that I connect with on a personal level but can also provide guidance and advice on a professional level has given me lessons that I carry with me every day.”&nbsp;

Growing up in a Jamaican household, music was everything for Sabrina. She often collaborated with her sister to DJ at events and make music. In ninth grade, she joined an after-school program offered by Unity Charity, an organization that&nbsp;provides youth in under-resourced communities access to hip hop programs and workshops to help them pursue their dreams through music. When she met Janel to discuss her plans to work in the music industry, she was thrilled to meet someone like-minded and genuinely interested in her craft.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It meant so much having that support because I am not someone who asks for help,” she added. “Whether about music or my community, having those conversations with Janel makes you want to keep going after it. It’s great knowing that someone out there is proud of what you’re doing.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Helping both young women expand their professional networks to find new opportunities in their fields is a big piece of the work Janel does and has been critical in their development and progress, but their work together goes deeper than that.&nbsp;

Addressing the inequality of opportunity for advantaged youth and marginalized communities has been a core focus for Starbucks in Canada. By working with powerful partners like Mentor Canada, the BBPA and SAY IT LOUD, the company believes mentorship is a powerful way to support young people in achieving their dreams and aspirations, invest in the communities it serves and address the opportunity divide for Black youth.&nbsp;

“Mentorship can act as a critical lifeline and a connection to hope and the future. Young people need this, especially in times of uncertainty like a global pandemic,” said Tracy Luca-Huger, the Senior Director Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at Mentor Canada. “MentorME is an important steppingstone to bridge meaningful connections to role models and support through mentoring.”&nbsp;

“Jamaican-Canadian billionaire Michael Lee Chin is quoted as saying, ‘Find a mentor. Find out what they did to get where they are and do exactly the same thing,” said SAY IT LOUD co-founders, Roderick Brereton and Farley Flex. “From the beginning of time, mentorship has been an integral part of Africa and Black Culture. Ancient traditions like the ‘Rites of Passage’ have relied on mentoring as a mechanism for passing down learning generationally. Mentoring can be integral to deepening the pool of brilliance, so that generations to come can manifest the stunted, yet undeniable, greatness of a people.”&nbsp;

To learn more and register for the MentorME program, visit <a href="https://sayitloudcanada.com/mentor-me/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.&nbsp;

Starbucks x Black History Month

This February, Starbuck Canada is proud to honour Black History Month and celebrate the many ways its partners (employees) and communities demonstrate Black excellence.

How Starbucks is Investing in its Communities by Building Future Leaders - Starbucks Canada

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How Starbucks is Investing in its Communities by Building Future Leaders

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This February, Starbuck Canada is proud to honour Black History Month and celebrate the many ways its partners (employees) and communities demonstrate Black excellence.

"What is Black Excellence? I have reflected on this question for the last decade. Ten years ago, I migrated from Cameroon in West Africa to Canada on a student visa. As an aspiring Engineer, that was the best decision I could ever make to reach my full potential. While making this decision, I didn't account for the cultural shock/difference, cold winters, and limited Black communities or networks in Canada. Why did I believe I had to move to Canada to achieve Black Excellence? These are questions that I continue to reflect on to this day. I have moved from international student to permanent resident in the last decade and am now a Canadian citizen.

In a workplace, the organization must create an inclusive, positive, expressive environment that makes Black people comfortable to work to their fullest potential. We should be free to have honest conversations about our culture and views without fear of prejudice or judgement. Working for Starbucks gives me so much hope and confidence that companies are now beginning to listen to us and are willing to help us reach the Black Excellence we need."

"For me the first step in any area of allyship is to take responsibility for your own personal education surrounding the experiences of the community you are standing alongside. I think part of the role of an ally in recognizing Black Excellence is to make every effort to intentionally support Black-owned businesses, artists, and restaurants. When I think about the theme of recognizing Black Excellence, I believe it’s critical to provide allyship to the Black community to support and celebrate not only small businesses and entrepreneurs, but also the development of partners in their career path here at Starbucks."

Jordan, senior marketing coordinator

"For me, Black Excellence is about owning your story and journey, both where you’re at and where you’re going. It’s about a grounded, warranted belief in self both as a person of colour and as a person, period. My journey as a bi-racial person started not at all understanding what it meant to be Black or White for that matter. It was much later in my life that I began to process the reality of my visible colour and my undeniable heritage. Not quickly and not simply, I began to accept and celebrate my Blackness and seek to understand what it meant for me or those closest to me. It has called for me to be reflective and gentle with myself as I explore, at my own pace, what a bi-racial existence feels like while also being a queer person. I’ve learned to not shy away from the complexity that comes with intersectionality. It drives me to show compassion and give grace to others who are also taking their time to live in their own Black Excellence.

Just know, because you’re alive, you deserve to take up space, to be heard, seen and to succeed on your own terms. That’s excellence – it belongs to you."

"The term ‘excellence’ is defined as “extremely good; outstanding.” In other words, success. But success is such a broad and biased term in society and when most people think of success they think of going to school, getting a degree and working a high paying job. But that is not how I view Black Excellence &amp; success.

As humans, we make mistakes along the way, but that’s how we learn. The term ‘excellence’ should not be portrayed as perfect as described in the definition, but portrayed as a journey towards success. Success is looking back at your mistakes and realizing your accomplishments and achievements. In conclusion, Black Excellence should not be viewed in a stereotypical way but viewed as Black people working towards the achievement for the future. That's Black excellence.&nbsp;"

Brooklyn, shift supervisor

"I’ve been a partner for almost three years now. For me, Black Excellence is a way of honouring my people. There are enough external forces telling Black people that they are not good enough. Black people are magic, and I make a point to remember that. I think it’s part of my duty as a Black womxn to be a positive force in the lives of those around me. I believe that power comes from even the smallest of things; a simple compliment goes a long way in brightening someone’s day. Lifting others up by supporting their small businesses, offering a helping hand and advocating for those who are silenced are ways that I look to support my community.&nbsp; Being an ally is truly important. The first step is to listen and learn, seek out resources and humble yourself to learn."

In their own words: Starbucks partners on what defining and recognizing everyday Black excellence means to them - Starbucks Canada

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In their own words: Starbucks partners on what defining and recognizing everyday Black excellence means to them

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How the MentorME program is providing opportunities for Black youth

Janel, a three-year Starbucks partner, grew up in Smith Falls, Ontario—a small town in the Ottawa Valley. As a Black woman navigating rural Ontario, a lack of diversity and inclusion was an ever-present factor in her upbringing.

While her mother is a white, life-long resident of the Ottawa Valley, her father immigrated to Canada from Trinidad and was tasked with integrating into a community where very few Black families resided. The discrimination he faced left a lasting impression on Janel and further fueled her passion for helping others.

Janel left Smith Falls for work in Toronto for a few years, gaining experience in the retail management space, but returned to Smith Falls in 2019 to begin her career with Starbucks. Back in her hometown, Janel helped open a brand-new Starbucks location which she currently manages. &nbsp;Wanting to create positive change in the place she grew up, Janel was inspired by her district manager’s commitment to creating space for important dialogues and check-ins for partners to discuss anti-Black racism and its impacts in their communities and joined the Smiths Falls Racism and Discrimination Task Force. &nbsp;Collaborating directly with the community and members of the Smith Falls Police Service, Janel is part of a team working to help eliminate hate crimes and symbols of hate in their neighbourhoods, bringing important matters to the attention of municipal government as part of their mission to create real change.

In an effort to continue supporting Black individuals in creating their own success, Janel joined <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2020/taking-action-supporting-canadian-black-youth-through-the-power-of-mentorship/">MentorME</a> when it launched in 2020 and never looked back.

Developed in partnership with the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA), SAY IT LOUD, MentorCanada and Starbucks Canada, the program is designed to equip young Black Canadians with the knowledge, guidance, resources, and support to help secure employment and overcome systemic barriers and long-standing biases and stereotypes. It also helps them fulfill their potential in the workplace, build resilience and find resources for educational completion and achievement.&nbsp;

“When I had a chance to join the MentorME program as a mentor, it was a no-brainer for me,” Janel said. “This is something I'm truly passionate about—helping a community that I belong to. It’s just such a rewarding experience. It’s been great to provide support and be a part of that community, whether through allyship or because they are members of the Black community.”

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In her role as a mentor, she provides tools, resources, personal coaching and networking opportunities to young Black women working to establish their careers. Finding parallels in her journey, she empowers her mentees to believe in themselves and act on their goals, moving intentionally towards their dreams and growing as professionals.

As both a mentor and now co-chair of Starbucks Canada’s Black Partner Network Ottawa chapter, she is using her voice to create change, support Black women and youth in her community realize their potential and help advance the purpose of the Black Partner Network: to share the heritage of the African diaspora to develop partners, advise our business and enrich Starbucks contribution to our customers and communities.

“There is no script to how you can be there for somebody. I doubted myself at times and wondered how I could help [my mentees],” she said. “In my experience, it helps to have that encouragement, and that’s something that people from our community haven’t always had,” she said. “If I can help inspire somebody or impact that idea of Black excellence earlier in their lives. I want to inspire others to challenge themselves and become mentors.”

In addition to the MentorME program and task force, Janel also serves on the Board of Care Masters, a non-profit organization delivering programs and services to celebrate, empower, and support African/Caribbean/Black mental wellness women and families in the GTA.

“I have always thought of my purpose in life to is to make the world a better place for the next generation,” said Janel. “I am grateful for the wisdom of others and their journeys, and all the people around me, who have helped me grow. The truth is we can influence this through everyday life. By making someone smile, by protecting our environment or by creating space to show up in our community through mentorship. Afterall, there is something special about helping others see how amazing they are.”

Celebrating Black History Month by supporting the future of Black Youth in Canada - Starbucks Canada

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Celebrating Black History Month by supporting the future of Black Youth in Canada

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Throughout February, Starbucks Canada is celebrating Black History Month by sharing the unique stories and experiences of its Black partners (employees) each week on Starbucks Stories.

Concluding the month-long series are two Montreal-based Starbucks partners, store manager, Virginia and Carine, a Starbucks real-estate representative. They are proud members of Starbucks Canada’s Black Partner Network and the co-chairs of the Montreal chapter.

Here, the two partners reflect on the importance of BPN’s presence in Quebec and the changes networks like theirs can have in the lives of Black professionals.

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Born and raised in Montreal, I’ve had the benefit of being surrounded by people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds throughout my entire life. However, despite Montreal’s diversity, many large companies with a strong Québécoise presence still fail to have that diversity reflected among their employees. Being in a francophone province, I believe it’s especially important that our partners who are racialized minorities or BIPOC have the same space, support and resources as their anglophone counterparts throughout the rest of Canada. This belief was the driving force behind establishing our local chapter of the Canada Black Partner Network – giving Black French-Canadian partners the opportunity to take up space and to ensure that other Black Starbucks partners feel our presence and understand that Starbucks values our contributions to the company and to all the communities where our cafes are found.

I love being a Starbucks partner because the work that I do, both as a store manager and as co-chair of BPN, allows me to pursue my purpose and personal goal of positively impacting as many people as possible. The continued growth and evolution of BPN has amplified my ability to impact my community as I broaden my network and collaborate with partners across Canada. Together, we are stronger, and united, we can achieve so much more than we ever could apart, by helping shape both our business and our communities.

I’m really excited we are celebrating Black History Month in such a big way thanks to the collaboration of BPN and so many partners. I’m learning a lot about the history of Black Canadians, whose contributions to society we don’t often take time to recognize. Since establishing our BPN chapter last August, our focus has been on the engagement and education of partners, but as we move forward, I hope to work more closely with our local Black community in Montreal.

As our first year with the Black Partner Network comes to a close, we anticipate the years ahead, creating change and continuing to heighten our impact in the communities we call home by sharing resources and leveraging moments of connection.

I immigrated to Canada in 2018, and when I arrived, I was surprised to discover the existence of Black professional networks - a resource that is practically non-existent where I grew up in France. &nbsp;These networks offer a great deal of value by supporting members of the Black community to advance their careers and further their professional development. As someone brand new to the Canadian job market, tapping into these networks introduced me to job-search workshops, networking and mentoring events and helped me connect with other professionals.

These opportunities and experiences helped me successfully navigate my job search and connect with Black professionals to expand my network. Through these new connections, I received support and advice from people who understood my reality as a Black person, and I began to recognize the importance of having a network in order to find a job in Canada, a network that Black people are often lacking.

During my recruiting process with Starbucks, the very first person to contact me was a Black partner named François. Knowing my first interview was with a Black person like me helped put me at ease. I knew I would be judged objectively based on my qualifications, skills and work experience. My skin colour and my ethnic origin would not be seen as a disability. I was confident that I would be treated like any other applicant, and I was. My interview with François went extremely well, as did the other interviews with my team’s leaders, and the experience increased my confidence in both myself and my abilities, and I knew that, by joining Starbucks, I would be joining a company and a team where diversity and inclusion are important values. I shared my experience with Francois to show the importance of having representation of Black people in an organization and the impact it has on us. Having Black people in a company is the best way to demonstrate that we're welcome there.

These experiences are why it was natural for me to find a way to give back and provide others with the support and resources that helped me on my professional path. Together, Virginia and I founded the Black Partner Network’s Montreal chapter with the goal of supporting members of the community by helping them with their development and creating a forum for discussion where everyone is welcome, Black people and allies alike!

While we look back on our first six months as a network with pride, we look forward to the important work ahead. We look forward to growing our network, hearing their voices and being part of their professional journey.&nbsp;

Montreal-based Starbucks partners reflect on the importance of BPN’s presence in Quebec and the changes networks like theirs can have in the lives of Black professionals.

Behind the Green Apron: Québécoise Black Partner Network Co-Chairs Discuss the Importance of Professional Networks for the Black Community - Starbucks Canada

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Behind the Green Apron: Québécoise Black Partner Network Co-Chairs Discuss the Importance of Professional Networks for the Black Community

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/quebecoise-bpn-co-chairs-discuss-professional-networks-black-community/

@blackpowerbarbie, is a self-taught illustrator and animator, known for her stunning illustrations of Black femmes. A compassionate and driven storyteller, @blackpowerbarbie aims to produce creative representations of communities who face a great deal of misrepresentation in today’s media.

@blackpowerbarbie partnered with Starbucks Canada to create the artwork for the Black Partner Network - Say it Loud playlist, and crafted the illustrations that accompany the “Behind the Green Apron” partner features for Black History Month.

Below, she discusses the path she took to becoming an animator, the inspiration behind her work and her partnership with Starbucks.

Q: Can you tell us about where you’re from and what you do?

A: I am from Toronto; I grew up in Toronto around the GTA, but I was born in Brooklyn, NY. And that’s where I live now. I’ve been living here for about a year and a half. I moved because I am a freelance artist, so I had the freedom to be wherever. I am an illustrator and an animator and a director.

Q: How did you become an illustrator?

A: Growing up, I had always liked drawing, and I didn’t think I was very good at it, but I was creative, so I found other things to do. I got really into musical theatre and performance art, and that’s what my main focus and unofficial first career was. Then, in university I had gotten into a performance art school in New York, but it was very expensive. I couldn’t justify the cost, so I ended up staying in Toronto, and I went to Ryerson for radio and television broadcast. The thought was that I’d train to be an on-camera personality. It was the most pragmatic way for me to achieve my goals.&nbsp;

In my second year, I had a digital media course, and there was an animation unit. The professor for that class was a huge mentor of mine and very supportive. The class had an animation section that I really enjoyed. The project I created was the most fun I had had making anything for school in a long time. The class loved it; my teacher loved it and was like, “You need to do more of these.” So, from my second year of university until I graduated, I became a self-taught animator..&nbsp;

From there, illustration came through as a different outlet. I connected with it in a way I hadn’t connected with other ways of being creative, mostly because I was able to be independent. At the time, I was still trying to do theatre while I was in school. I was taking acting classes and doing shows and all that stuff, but it was really hard. You have to rely on other people to give you opportunities, and I found with animation and illustration, if there’s a story you want to tell or a way you want to express yourself, you can, from top to bottom, be in control of that production and create whatever you want without waiting to hear “yes” from a bunch of other people. That’s how it happened, and I eventually started charging people for my work. Four years later, it’s my full time job and I get to do cool stuff that I never imagined.&nbsp;

Q: Why was it important to you to work with Starbucks Canada on this project?

A: To get to where I am, I took a very non-traditional route, and a lot of my work has centred around representing myself and my community. Whatever success or opportunities I’ve gotten, I’ve tried not to fold on my principles or do the easy thing or just make the things that people wanted me to. My community has been really supportive in making that happen.

I don’t think many people, at least not me, someone who, over the course of my teen years, consumed a lot of Starbucks, ever thought Starbucks would be interested in my work, or that the things that I like to make would be something that they would be supportive of. I think it’s really important, as brands evolve, to be a part of initiatives that bridge communities and expand the ways we think about certain communities engaging with certain brands. I was really honoured and flattered to be asked to collaborate, and I also thought it was important to make time to do it because it symbolizes a lot of growth for myself, and I think it’s important for other people to be able to make those connections when they see the work.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Q: Can you talk through the inspiration behind the artwork you did for Starbucks playlist? Why did you choose this artistic representation?

A: I usually don’t do a lot of silhouettes. My illustrations tend to be more detailed, but with this, I knew different baristas and customers might be engaging with it, so I didn’t want the cover for the playlist to have representations of specific people. I wanted it to be more of an overarching representation of the Black community within the context of Starbucks branding, so people could project their own connections onto it.&nbsp;

I still wanted to have very strong Black signifying elements in the illustration, like the hairstyles and genders. I usually don’t draw men, but I thought I should include male identifying people as well. What I wanted to do was take the branding of Starbucks, the waves of the Siren, and repurpose that in my own special way to subvert the Starbucks branding for a Black audience with my aesthetic.

Q: Can you explain some of the recurring themes of your work? What inspires you when you start a project?

A: My projects, especially my personal projects, usually start from an emotional impulse - a need to tell a story, a need to condense a certain feeling or experience into a singular image or animation. I try as hard as I can to keep my ego out of work and focus on what’s true, how I actually feel and what I’m trying to communicate to other people.&nbsp;

As someone who goes by the name of “Black Power Barbie”, what I want is for Black women, specifically, to feel a sense of resonance with my work and to have an emotional connection to the pieces. So, being honest and being true is really important. The reason I focus on the community that I do in my work is because there are many misrepresentations of us that we’re not in control of. I think it’s important that people have control over their own stories and are participating in their cultural narratives. That way, for all the misrepresentations, at least we’re contributing things we can meaningfully see ourselves in. That’s always the place that I’m coming from, “Is this helpful? Is this honest? Is this true? How do I feel about this existing outside of my body? Is this a piece of work that is representing other Black fem-identifying people or queer people?” Those are the common themes that I start with.&nbsp;

Q: As an artist, what have you learned about the power of representation in media?

A: The way that we engage with media is so instantaneous. So, when you don’t see things, you forget that they exist. Your world really gets siloed into whatever you’re watching on Netflix or whatever the algorithm feeds you, and everything that falls outside of that fades away into the background. When you’re part of a community where you feel you’re not seeing yourself often, and when you do, you’re not seeing yourself accurately, it has a negative toll on the way you perceive yourself and your social positioning as a human being.&nbsp;

I think it’s really important that people are not only seeing reflections of themselves, but other communities as well. It’s important to engage in content that’s not just an echo chamber of what I am and what I see. The purpose of art, beyond just looking at it, is to share stories and information so people can foster connections with those communities.&nbsp;

Q: What sparked your interest in the arts in the first place? Who are your creative influences and inspirations?

A: I feel like I’m influenced by a lot of different things. I would say, Basquiat of course, Kerry James Marshall, people like Solange and Janelle Monáe, folks who are unapologetically Black and creative and take opportunities to tell really honest and creative stories that centre around Blackness. Those are my main criteria, and there’s so many different people who fall into that category, who have that type of influence.&nbsp;

Beyond that, I’m inspired by my own life, by music, by film, by dance. I think when I see other people having fun and being free and just creating for the sake of creating, that’s inspirational to me. No matter what the artistic medium is. I find the world around me inspiring. There’s always a story or something deeper to discover just from everyday life.

Q: What do you hope people will learn from your work?

A: It honestly depends on the person who’s engaging with it. If you find yourself represented in my work, or you think that you’re within the fold of the community that my work represents, whether that’s through your womanhood or femininity or your queerness, your Blackness, I don’t necessarily&nbsp; hope that you learn anything, I hope that you feel something. I hope that you feel seen, and that your existence is affirmed and recognized in a loving and vulnerable way.&nbsp;

If you don’t see yourself reflected in my work, I hope the thing you learn is that these types of people exist in these contexts. This is a representation of who they are and how they feel, and that’s valid. If you look at it and you appreciate it, what you’re learning is that you can appreciate things in people and forge connections with people who you have differences with. I didn’t assume that a lot of non-Black people would appreciate my work, but my Instagram following says the contrary, and I love that. If you can sit there and listen to me talk about the things that I talk about and appreciate the art that I make, even though you’re not the target audience, I feel like there’s some value in that because the work is the entry point into you having a connection to these folks and deepening your understanding of their humanity.&nbsp;

I try to be as vulnerable as possible, and by putting myself out there, I’m trying to let people know that it’s okay to do that, and I encourage them to do that as well. You don’t have to put on a brave face or hide behind stereotypes people think apply to you when you know you’re so much more. It’s okay to be soft and open because the more we do it, the more normal it feels, and we can all feel a little less lonely.&nbsp;

Amika partnered with Starbucks Canada to create the artwork for the Black Partner Network - Say it Loud playlist, and crafted the illustrations that accompany the “Behind the Green Apron” partner features for Black History Month.

Meet @blackpowerbarbie - the artist behind the artwork of the Black Partner Network Playlist. - Starbucks Canada

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Meet @blackpowerbarbie &#8211; the artist behind the artwork of the Black Partner Network Playlist.

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/amika-cooper-bpn-playlist-artist/

Meet @blackpowerbarbie – the artist behind the artwork of the Black Partner Network Playlist.

Kimberly Robin began as a council member of the Starbucks Canada Black Partner Network from the start and has served as the network’s co-chair for the past year. She is a 4-year Starbucks partner who began her journey as a store supervisor.

Here, Kimberly discusses celebrating Black History Month, the impact the Black Partner Network has had in the year since its founding and the outcomes of the network’s efforts.

Being co-chair of the Canada Black Partner Network takes a great deal of time, passion and care, but I cannot begin to describe how rewarding the work is. As we approach our one-year anniversary as a network, it’s gratifying to look back on the last 12 months and feel proud of the meaningful change we have affected.

Our purpose within the Black Partner Network is to share and celebrate the heritage of the African diaspora and ensure our perspective is respected and our lens considered as we develop partnerships, advise on business and enrich Starbucks contributions to our customer’s communities.

As a proud Black Canadian, I have experienced moments of celebration, as well as moments of challenge, both in my personal life and in the workplace, often through microaggressions, which reinforce privilege and undermine a culture of inclusion. I have had White colleagues remark on my hair - a frequent experience for Black women. Whether it is textured or smooth it is my choice how I wear it, and that choice should not concern anyone; it does not affect my professionalism. I’ve had co-workers say to me, ‘You’re so articulate,” which gives the impression that Black people are less communicative and eloquent. When I experience microaggressions, I try to respond immediately, calling them out because denouncing these actions in the moment lets others know they will not and should not be tolerated. Silence is never the answer and is part of the reason I wanted to be involved in the BPN.

In just a year, we’ve made great strides in our purpose by educating partners about our roots through coffee tastings and engagement activations on social media. I’m particularly proud of the partner (employee) open forum we hosted last year during the difficult time following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Partners came together to grieve, express their frustrations, and stand in solidarity. They were able to freely discuss challenges they face in the workplace when encountering racist customers, and we were able to provide a space where partners could be vulnerable and share their thoughts safely. The experience was extremely emotional but incredibly important.

Feedback and sharing from this open forum helped to inform Starbucks Canada’s detailed Anti-Black Racism plan. With the help of the BPN, this plan is intended to&nbsp;combat inequality and stand and take action against racism at Starbucks with an immediate focus on anti-Black racism. This plan includes the first-ever mentorship program dedicated to Black Canadian youth called MentorMe Canada.&nbsp;&nbsp;

When I reflect on the work I am doing with BPN, I think of Canadian pioneer Lulu Anderson who challenged a theatre's discriminatory policies in court after being denied entry due to her race. She challenged the status quo and fought to create change, which inspires me to be bold and unapologetic and to connect change to something bigger.

This Black History Month is particularly special to me personally and professionally, as it is the first year we are celebrating on such a large scale at Starbucks. The high level of partner engagement with BPN reaffirms the importance of the network’s initiatives and shows this work has been highly anticipated by partners.

Being co-chair of the Canada Black Partner Network takes a great deal of time, passion and care, but I cannot begin to describe how rewarding the work is.

Behind the Green Apron: A year in review – Co-chair reflects on Starbucks Black Partner Network’s first year - Starbucks Canada

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Behind the Green Apron: A year in review – Co-chair reflects on Starbucks Black Partner Network’s first year

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/co-chair-reflects-on-starbucks-black-partner-network/

This week, Toronto store manager Chelsea Gayle discusses how a lack of awareness and acknowledgment of Black contributions in Canadian history left her feeling aliented in her youth and why founding Starbucks Black Partner Network in Canada helped her reclaim her identity.

Roots are an important foundation for cultural life. Strong roots ground us, nurture us, support and sustain us. They guide us and give us awareness of cultural connections. Imagine what life would be like without having any understanding or exposure to the depth of your roots. Welcome to the life of this Afro-Canadian.

As a Black woman of Caribbean descent, it is very hard for me to trace my roots. My great-grandparents, grandparents and parents were all born on the island of Jamaica. Besides this, there isn’t much else I am aware of. This ignorance to the extent of our roots is the reality of many people of afro Caribbean and Afro-Canadian descent.

I remember sitting in history class learning about the accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman and her contributions to the Underground Railroad that made its way into Canada. But growing up in the Canadian school system, I didn’t learn about the contributions of Canadian visible minorities or the contributions of people from African descent. &nbsp;There was nothing about Viola Desmond, Josiah Henson, or Mary Ann Shadd. &nbsp;I relied on my mother’s teachings and my own curiosity to uncover Black contributions to Canadian history and to the Black experience in Canada.

You can only imagine the look on my face when I learned for the first time that my ancestors not only came from Africa, but that the African continent was a place of royalty. Imagine the pride and self-esteem young girls like me would have felt in knowing that we are among the descendants of people like Amina, the Queen of Zaria; Kandake, the Empress of Ethiopia; Makeda, the Queen of Sheba; or the more well-known Nefertiti, Queen of Egypt and wife of well-known pharaoh Akhenaten.

Not only was I missing cultural awareness, but as a young, dark-skinned girl, I faced a lot of discrimination. My experience ranges from being bullied because of the pigment in my skin to being ridiculed for my tight curls and texture of my hair. Growing up Black in Canada was not easy and it didn’t help that media rarely portrayed Black girls who looked like me. It also didn’t help that the majority of my elementary school educators were white and could not understand the hurt they caused when they recommended I straighten my hair for picture days to illustrate the “best version of myself.” Why does mutilating my hair and damaging my natural locks represent the best version of me?

Last year, I founded the first Canadian chapter of the Starbucks Black Partner Network not only as a way for me to build a community to celebrate our cultures and the accomplishments of historically significant Black Canadians, but to create a space to embrace other Black partners (employees) and celebrate the contributions we make every day, in our stores, in our offices, in our communities. 

This year, as founder of the Black Partner Network, I am so proud to celebrate Black History Month on a national stage at Starbucks. This spotlight to educate and celebrate Black culture is the first of many to come. Launching the Starbucks Canada Black Partner Network has made me a pioneer in this process, which is an honour that I am grateful to share with my co-chair Kimberly Robin. Together with our fellow members, the Black Partner Network has high aspirations: to support the acknowledgement and sharing of the heritage of the African diaspora with other Starbucks partners who, like me, want to continue to build our understanding of our history amplify the many successes and contributions of the Black community; and to help advise Starbucks Canada on how together, we can create a more safe and diverse space for Black partners.

This Black History Month is a time for celebration – a time to adjust and recreate the narrative; a time for Black people to be rooted in both culture and an unbiased history; a time to make our contributions &nbsp;to Canadian society known. &nbsp;We will celebrate Black excellence and that Black is beautiful in all forms. We will highlight the accomplishments and unapologetically brag about the beauty we’ve been told was unacceptable and unprofessional for years. &nbsp;

Amanda Gorman's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ055ilIiN4">2021 presidential inaugural poem</a> leaves us with hope when she says, “For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it.”

I want every young Black person to know we are capable of so many things. Our colonial oppressors may have tried in vain to break our spirit and dim our light but we are resilient. And we remain capable of doing so many great things.

Chelsea Gayle discusses why co-founding Starbucks Black Partner Network in Canada helped her reclaim her identity.

Behind the Green Apron: Store Manager Reveals How Launching Starbucks Black Partner Network Helped her Reconnect to her Afro-Canadian Roots - Starbucks Canada

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Behind the Green Apron: Store Manager Reveals How Launching Starbucks Black Partner Network Helped her Reconnect to her Afro-Canadian Roots

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/bpn-reconnect-afro-canadian-roots/

To kick off the month are two Brampton, Ont. store partners, Zoe Clarke-Singh and Cristyn Gilpin-Payne. As members of Starbucks Canada’s Black Partner Network, they helped Starbucks curate a <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2021/celebrating-black-history-month/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en/stories/2021/celebrating-black-history-month/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">special playlist</a> in partnership with the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) and SAY IT LOUD to celebrate Black culture and Black excellence.

Here, the two partners share what this playlist means to them, their personal connection to music and how songs about Black hair help them feel empowered.

Music had the biggest influence on us while growing up. Music connected us to our Black brothers and sisters. It changed our mood and uplifted us. It told us stories through calypso and taught us to dance through soca.

That’s why working on a dedicated playlist for Black History Month on behalf of Starbucks Canada’s Black Partner Network meant more to us than just having good music to work to. For us, it meant that we could showcase our diversity within the Black community through soca, afrobeat, reggae, mainstream hip-hop, and R&amp;B.

What stuck most with us while curating this playlist were the songs dedicated to empowering Black women. Growing up in Caribbean-Canadian households was challenging for both of us in our youth. We faced many societal challenges, like being forced to choose between embracing our Caribbean roots and being our authentic selves or adjusting our lingo and nuances to please our peers or fit certain environments. This shift in personality (often considered code-switching) caused quite the contention amongst our Black peers, resulting in us being called “whitewashed” for not being culturally connected to our heritage.

But despite this, music always helped us feel rooted in our Afro-Canadian culture, especially empowering songs about Black hair. One of the many things we love about being Black women is our ability to manipulate our hairstyles constantly, as it is an expression of our personalities. We are trend setters, we are artistic, and we are creative. Our drive to constantly break down the barriers placed around us is endless.

Below are two of our favourite songs from the playlist meant to empower Black girls and why they mean so much to us.

Peng Black Girls Remix by ENNY ft. Jorja Smith

This song celebrates what makes Black girls so beautiful. It emphasizes that our physical traits are beautiful no matter what shade of black we are. This is significant because colourism — although a learned behaviour stemming from racism — is very prevalent within the Black community. Many young dark-skinned Black girls are often made to feel less than or inadequate compared to their lighter-skinned peers. The song says, “Never wanna put us in the media,” which references the lack of heavy melanated skin represented in the media.

On the contrary, colourism works both ways within the community. Those with lighter skin often feel like they are not Black enough. These thoughts in a young unnurtured mind could be greatly detrimental and often leads to being ostracized. We’ve personally felt neglected or singled out for having fair skin, but with the help of our family and close friends, we’ve learned to love ourselves.

I Am Not My Hair by India. Arie

“Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?” This is one of the questions the song asks. The style of our hair should not be the reason why Black women are ineligible for employment. Our skills and education for the position is what matters. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for us to be overlooked because of our hair and we know many people who have experienced this, both women and men.

“I couldn’t get no job / Cause corporate wouldn't hire no dreadlocks,” the song says. I (Cristyn) rarely see individuals in corporate-level positions with their hair like mine (loc style) due to the negative imagery associated with them. The misconception that our hair is dirty and unkept is untrue. Our creativity flows through our hair. It is our crown and how we style our crown should not determine our worth.

After listening to Starbucks playlist for Black History Month, we hope partners feel connected and deeply rooted to various Black cultures. As well, we hope it makes people feel good and want to dance! Black culture is about celebration and the various musical ways our story is told.

As members of Starbucks Canada’s Black Partner Network, Zoe Clarke-Singh and Cristyn Gilpin-Payne helped Starbucks curate a special playlist in partnership with the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) and SAY IT LOUD to celebrate Black culture and Black excellence.

Behind the Green Apron: Two Starbucks Partners Reveal How They Found Empowerment through Songs About Black Hair

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https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2021/starbucks-partners-reveal-how-they-found-empowerment-through-songs-about-black-hair/

The playlist was created in collaboration with the Starbucks Black Partner Network (BPN), the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) and SAY IT LOUD to celebrate Black excellence.

Black History Month