The Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans will receive portion of Starbucks store profits supporting Houston communities; Harlem and Crenshaw Community Stores share nearly $245,000 in funding
Starbucks Coffee Company today announced the opening of its third profit sharing Community Store in the East End neighborhood of Houston.
As part of Starbucks unique community-centric business model, Starbucks Coffee Company will contribute funds based on the performance of the Gulfgate Center Mall to The Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA), giving Starbucks partners (employees) and customers the opportunity to collectively create positive change within the East End community. The Gulfgate store has undergone an extensive remodel so that the store now reflects the unique nature of the relationship through an outdoor mural and indoor artwork that aims to promote community gathering in a creative and aspirational setting.
“This is an important moment for Starbucks as we take what we have learned over the last year and reaffirm our commitment to collaborate with change making organizations in the nonprofit community,” said Blair Taylor, chief community officer, Starbucks. “By expanding upon our Community Store model with this third location in Houston, our hope is that as we continue to embrace the opportunity we have to support the rebuilding of the neighborhoods that we serve, we can inspire other like-minded corporations to do the same, creating long term, sustainable impact.”
Expansion into Houston Market
The Houston location is an expansion of the already successful Starbucks Community Store pilot program and becomes the third store in the U.S. to collaborate with nonprofits in this way. The launch of the Houston store falls on the anniversary of the pilot stores in the Harlem and Crenshaw neighborhoods of New York and Los Angeles.
By selecting nonprofits committed to addressing the unique needs of the communities they serve with proven programs, Starbucks helps organizations extend the impact and potential reach of their work. The partnership with AAMA will help to advance the lives of at-risk and disadvantaged youth and families through an array of innovative programs in the areas of education and health and human services. It also reflects Starbucks ongoing interest in supporting the development of leadership skills across communities and cultures. AAMA is a grassroots organization serving nearly 30,000 people in the Mexican American and broader Latino and new immigrant communities of Houston and was recently recognized by The National Council of La Raza – the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States – as Affiliate of the Year.
“Working together with Starbucks on this shared growth model is exciting and fits perfectly with AAMA’s culture of collaboration and community engagement,” said Beatrice Garza, President and CEO of AAMA. “We admire Starbucks ongoing commitment to the communities it serves and cultivation of best practices. We believe there is such potential to learn from each other and work together to create opportunities that empower and inspire Latino families in Houston’s East End.”
Pilot Program – One Year Later
Additionally, the stores in Harlem and Crenshaw will also be celebrating their first year anniversary, by reflecting on the personal and financial impact the relationship has had over the past twelve months. In total, these stores have received nearly $245,000 in funding.
“We have learned so much in the last year about how to create a successful community store model,” said Cecilia Carter, vice president of Global Diversity, Community and Advocacy, Starbucks. “While the financial support is important, more than anything we have heard so much about the value of integration so that both the store and the nonprofit can be advocates for one another and especially how the store can serve as convener of conversation and interaction, shedding light on the role each can play in creating community connection.”