A Conversation about Race: Starbucks engages race in stores and beyond

This past week I attended the Association of Governing Boards 2019 Foundation Leadership Forum and had the privilege to listen to Rosalind Brewer, COO of Starbucks. She shared how the company dealt with the racial incident at one of their Philadelphia stores in April of 2018. Many of us heard they closed their stores around the country for the day, but most of us didn’t know know what they did with that time.

Here is the video they created and shared with all their employees in response to this incident — a must watch 8 minutes.

This short film by Stanley Nelson explores the impact of bias within public accommodations as well as the possibilities for a better future. https://starbuckschannel.com/thethirdplace On May 29, we closed 8,000 Starbucks stores in the United States for four hours-so 175,000 Starbucks partners could come together for a conversation and learning session on racial bias.

If you’re moved by this, please share this post with others who may benefit from seeing this candid and vulnerable story bringing forth what it is to be black in America, and comment below — what does this provoke in you and the role you play in education?