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An unprecedented coalition of&nbsp;Canada's&nbsp;leading companies - Starbucks, Walmart, Chipotle, HMSHost, Tridel Corporation, The Source, Coast Capital Savings and TELUS - supported by MaRS Discovery District is coming together with government and community employment agencies to take action to provide jobs and training opportunities to youth who need it most.

Organized under the banner&nbsp;Opportunity For All Youth, the coalition has set an ambitious five-year goal to significantly impact the national NEET unemployment rate by providing meaningful employment to 40,000 NEET Youth (aged 16 to 29) with a focus on those who have been disconnected from the employment market for four months or longer.

Nearly&nbsp;one million young Canadians are not in school or holding down a job&nbsp;according to Statistics Canada. Of those, nearly 400,000 are actively seeking jobs. Low-skilled youth are particularly challenged in the labour market.&nbsp;Those who face one or more barriers to employment and educational development opportunities can be unemployed at three times the national average or more.

"Ensuring that youth have pathways to stable employment is critical to the long-term economic prosperity of communities across our nation. Our government is investing heavily in training programs, and this coalition is stepping up with opportunities for youth to succeed in the workforce," says&nbsp;Patricia Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.

CLOSING THE OPPORTUNITY DIVIDE Despite significant government funding and service agency focus, high rates of unemployment and disconnection from education continue for NEET youth. At the same time, Canadian businesses continue to experience labour shortages and job vacancies.

"The Opportunity For All Youth coalition recognizes that corporations play a unique role in helping tackle this societal challenge, and that they must work together with community organizations and governments to achieve maximum social impact" says&nbsp;Richard Derham, Lead Director, Opportunity For All Youth. "We want to ensure that every young adult has the chance to join the workforce, pursue their ambitions, and improve our shared future."

What has been missing to date is a coordinated effort by employers interested in connecting youth to meaningful employment opportunities that is national in scope. The Opportunity For All Youth coalition addresses this and will make it easier for employers to learn from one another, share best practices, and accelerate what is working.

"We're appealing to the business community to join forces and take action to transform lives," says&nbsp;Michael Conway, president, Starbucks Canada. "Our experience tells us vulnerable youth are a remarkable source of untapped talent and possibility. They consistently demonstrate high engagement and long tenure."

INVESTING IN OUR NATION'S FUTURE WORKFORCE Hiring events specifically focusing on connecting NEET youth with jobs will be hosted across&nbsp;Canada. The first hiring event will be held in&nbsp;Toronto&nbsp;in June with others to follow in&nbsp;Vancouver,&nbsp;Calgary,&nbsp;Ottawa&nbsp;and&nbsp;Montreal&nbsp;later this year. Hiring events in other cities will follow.

"Tackling youth unemployment has been a major focus for City Council over the last few years," says&nbsp;Toronto&nbsp;Mayor&nbsp;John Tory. "Through Partnership to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE), the City has connected thousands of young people to great employment opportunities with hundreds of employers across&nbsp;Toronto. I am pleased that a national campaign based on our successful PAYE model is being launched to create more opportunities for young people that need them the most in&nbsp;Toronto&nbsp;and across the country."

Organized under the banner Opportunity For All Youth, the coalition has set an ambitious five-year goal to significantly impact the national NEET unemployment rate by providing meaningful employment to 40,000 NEET Youth (aged 16 to 29) with a focus on those who have been disconnected from the employment market for four months or longer.

Leading Canadian Companies Take Action To Provide Meaningful Employment For 40,000 Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Youth - Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Canada

Leading Canadian Companies Take Action To Provide Meaningful Employment For 40,000 Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Youth

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2018/leading-canadian-companies-take-action-to-provide-meaningful-employment-for-40000-disadvantaged-and-vulnerable-youth/

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Today, Starbucks Canada announced in partnership with &nbsp;the Société de développement social de&nbsp;Ville-Marie&nbsp;(SDSVM) and of Montréal City Mayor, Mr.&nbsp;Denis Coderre, the establishment of a hiring commitment that will help tackle unemployment and subsequenly prevent homelessness amongst Opportunity Youth in Montréal.

As one of the country's leading employers for young people, the company is taking a leadership position by committing 10&nbsp;% of its store hires to Opportunity Youth, which are young people ages 16-24 who are not working and are not going to school. These are motivated young people who have a strong desire to work, but are facing various systemic barriers to employment and require even more support in finding pathways to opportunity. The program will generate in excess of 180 jobs for Opportunity Youth in Montréal over the next three years.

At the same time, Starbucks is continuing its long-term commitment to providing non-work-ready youth with the tools necessary to achieve gainful employment by introducing a work placement program. Combined, these programs will generate 330 jobs and work placements over the next three years.

Youth unemployment and lack of job security pose a significant threat to the social and economic wellbeing of&nbsp;Canada's&nbsp;future. In Montréal, the youth unemployment rate (15.7&nbsp;%) is almost double the adult average (8.2&nbsp;%). Starbucks is committed to having a positive impact on this issue by offering meaningful employment opportunities with a focus on Opportunity Youth. These youth represent a vital and untapped resource of talent that have the potential to contribute to the success of business.

"At Starbucks we believe that everyone who wants a job should have a job." says Nash Abdrabo, Regional Director Operations, Québec, Starbucks Canada. "Every business has a role to play in creating opportunities to help Canadian youth succeed in today's economy and we are pleased to have developed ground-breaking partnerships that allow us to provide real solutions. By supporting these young people we will create real pathways to opportunity for them while driving our business forward and strengthening the communities we serve."

Beyond employment and work readiness, further opportunities are created by providing part-time employees with "full time" benefits. Partners (employees) who work a minimum of 20 hours a week receive medical and dental benefits, tuition reimbursements, stocks, future savings along with career and personal support services. With 73&nbsp;% of its store partners under the age of 24, Starbucks is committed to offering employment conditions that provide young people with the early support they need to be successful.

In Montréal, Starbucks partner for implementing these programs will be the SDSVM. The&nbsp;Société&nbsp;is the first social broker in&nbsp;North America. As such, it acts as an intermediary between the business world and the community for carrying out concrete projects, like Starbucks program. Since being founded in 2008, the SDSVM, with assistance from its partner companies, has funded over 150,000&nbsp;hours for social reintegration of people into the workplace and has collected over $3&nbsp;million&nbsp;in financial and in-kind donations.

"We are very pleased to work with Starbucks in implementing their youth employment programs in Montréal. Young people are among the populations most affected by social exclusion, and employment continues to be an undeniable means of re-integration for them.&nbsp;As a partner of the City of Montréal, the SDSVM has the objective of generating 175&nbsp;employment contracts per year for people who wish to reintegrate the workplace. Through this partnership with Starbucks, we will fill between 50 and 75&nbsp;contracts in Starbucks Montréal cafés each year" stated Ms.&nbsp;Oona Stock, Chair of the SDSVM's Board of Directors.

Through its project, Starbucks enables disadvantaged young people to acquire their first meaningful work experience that can lead to a steady employment opportunity. As the project manager, the SDSVM will ensure that a maximum number of re-integration organizations can take part in the program in order for their candidates all across the Island to benefit from it. This partnership will allow the SDSVM to act beforehand and prevent homelessness amongst at risk youth. By steering them away from the path of instability through employment that will help them play an active role in society, the SDSVM offers an alternative to homelessness, in accordance with one of the four pillars of Montréal's homelessness action plan.

"As in all large urban centres,&nbsp;Montreal&nbsp;faces social problems with multiple causes. The fight against homelessness is a priority for me. It is a complex problem which demands innovative solutions and we are all working together to find them," said&nbsp;Montreal&nbsp;mayor, Mr.&nbsp;Denis Coderre. "One of the best ways to prevent homelessness is to have a stable job. With respect to homelessness issues, prevention is better than cure. That is why I give my 100% support to the innovative project from Starbucks and the Société de développement social de&nbsp;Ville-Marie," concluded the mayor.

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality&nbsp;arabica&nbsp;coffee. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique&nbsp;Starbucks Experience&nbsp;to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.starbucks.ca/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">www.starbucks.ca</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;the Starbucks Newsroom at&nbsp;<a href="http://news.starbucks.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">www.news.starbucks.com</a>.

About Société de développement social de&nbsp;Ville-Marie&nbsp;(SDSVM)

Since 2008, the SDSVM has been acting as the first social stockbroker in&nbsp;North America. By creating the connection between private companies and NPOs, it establishes quantifiable, concrete projects that help combat poverty and homelessness.&nbsp;

As one of the country's leading employers for young people, the company is taking a leadership position by committing 10 % of its store hires to Opportunity Youth, which are young people ages 16-24 who are not working and are not going to school.

Starbucks Canada commits 10 % of all store hires to Opportunity Youth - Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Canada commits 10 % of all store hires to Opportunity Youth

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2015/starbucks-canada-commits-10-of-all-store-hires-to-opportunity-youth/

Company commits 10 per cent of all store new hires to Opportunity Youth and will further create 600 work placements for Non-Job-Ready Youth over the next three years

Starbucks Canada announced today that, in partnership with various levels of government and local social agencies, it is taking real action to tackle the country's critical youth unemployment rates. As one of the country's leading employers for young people, the company is taking a leadership position by committing 10 per cent of its store hires to Opportunity Youth, which are young people ages 16-24 who are not working and are not going to school. These are motivated young people who have a strong desire to work, but are facing various systemic barriers to employment and require even more support in finding pathways to opportunity. They represent a vital and untapped resource of talent that has the potential to contribute to the success of business.

The program, which launched in&nbsp;Toronto&nbsp;in April, is on track to exceed the 10 per cent goal (150 jobs) within the first year, which validates that there is a demand for this kind of programming. In the first six months 109 young people have found meaningful employment at Starbucks. Following this success, the program is now being expanded nationally starting with&nbsp;Montreal&nbsp;and&nbsp;Vancouver, with more cities to come. At the same time, Starbucks is continuing its long-term commitment to providing non-work-ready youth with the tools necessary to achieve gainful employment. The company is expanding the thriving work placement program, which currently operates in&nbsp;Surrey,&nbsp;Vancouver,&nbsp;Toronto&nbsp;and&nbsp;Calgary&nbsp;to include&nbsp;Montreal. Combined, these programs will create 4,100 jobs and work placements over the next three years.

"Youth unemployment is an issue that requires immediate attention. We simply can't have a generation of unemployed and disconnected youth," says&nbsp;Rossann Williams, President, Starbucks Canada. "This generation deserves the same opportunity previous generations have enjoyed. Closing the opportunity divide requires bold leadership and innovation across all sectors, and we are proud to be working with community organizations and municipalities to do our part. By supporting these young people, we believe we can create real pathways to opportunity for these new hires while driving our business forward and strengthening the communities we serve."

Youth unemployment poses a significant threat to the social and economic wellbeing of&nbsp;Canada's&nbsp;future. The youth unemployment rate (13.5 per cent) is nearly double the national adult average (7.1 per cent). Starbucks is committed to having a positive impact on this issue, with a focus on Opportunity Youth. This ambition is made possible by ground-breaking partnerships with The Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation in&nbsp;Vancouver,&nbsp;City of Toronto&nbsp;and Partnership to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE) in&nbsp;Toronto&nbsp;as well as Société de développement social de&nbsp;Ville-Marie&nbsp;(SDSVM) in&nbsp;Montreal.

Beyond employment and work readiness, further opportunities are created by providing part-time employees with "full-time" benefits. Partners (employees) who work a minimum of 20 hours a week receive medical and dental benefits, tuition reimbursements, stocks, future savings along with career and personal support services. With 73 per cent of its store partners under the age of 24, Starbucks is committed to offering employment conditions that provide young people with the early support they need to be successful.

About the Starbucks Barista Work Placement Program

Over the last 13 years, Starbucks, in partnership with Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS) in&nbsp;Surrey B.C., has been investing in creating opportunities for some of the province's non-job-ready youth through the work placement program. This program couples in-class life and employability skills training with in-store Barista work experience, in order to provide the skills and work experience these youth need to become gainfully employed.&nbsp; Since its inception, the program has successfully graduated more than 500 youth, with a current annual commitment of 100 work placements between&nbsp;Surrey&nbsp;and&nbsp;Vancouver. The goal of the program is for graduates to either secure employment (with Starbucks or others) or go back to school within 12 weeks of graduating. In 2014, Starbucks expanded this program to include&nbsp;Vancouver,&nbsp;Calgary&nbsp;and&nbsp;Toronto, supporting an additional 100 youth each year and is now expanding the program to&nbsp;Montreal&nbsp;taking the total to 200.

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality&nbsp;arabica&nbsp;coffee. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique&nbsp;Starbucks Experience&nbsp;to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.starbucks.ca/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">www.starbucks.ca</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;the Starbucks Newsroom at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.news.starbucks.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">www.news.starbucks.com</a>.

About Partnership to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE)

The Partnership to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE) is a joint initiative between private-sector employers, the&nbsp;City of Toronto&nbsp;and an extensive network of community-based employment service providers. Since 2009, PAYE has successfully connected hundreds of youth (aged 18-29) from diverse neighbourhoods to job opportunities and vital employment preparation supports provided by the City and community partners.

About Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation

The Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation provides British Columbians in need with a system of supports that can help them participate more fully in their communities and achieve their social and economic potential. In 2015/16, the Ministry will invest&nbsp;$331 million&nbsp;in the Employment Program of BC, offering employment and labour market programs for all residents, including people who experience barriers to employment. This funding supports 84 WorkBC Employment Service Centres that can help youth aged 16 to 30, who are no longer in school, find a job, access training, or pursue self-employment. Approximately 50,000 youth have received case managed services from WorkBC since April 2012.&nbsp;

About Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS)

Pacific Community Resources is an award winning, accredited non-profit community agency providing a range of services, including employment services, education programs, housing, and addiction counselling and prevention programs for youth, adults and families from a variety of backgrounds and orientations.

Starbucks Canada announced today that, in partnership with various levels of government and local social agencies, it is taking real action to tackle the country's critical youth unemployment rates.

Starbucks Canada Takes Bold Steps to Tackle National Youth Unemployment - Starbucks Canada

Starbucks Canada Takes Bold Steps to Tackle National Youth Unemployment

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2015/starbucks-canada-takes-bold-steps-to-tackle-national-youth-unemployment/