Starbucks

Long Beach Starbucks Hires Local Youths With Disadvantaged Backgrounds

It's all part of the chain's initiative to improve conditions in troubled communities

Through a partnership with Pacific Gateway, a local non-profit organization, a new Starbucks location hired 15 Long Beach youths from disadvantaged backgrounds.

It's all part of the chain's initiative to partner with local non-profits in six U.S. cities to hire young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and improve conditions in troubled communities.

Charles Harris, 20, said he loves his new position as a Starbucks barista. He has been bouncing around from job to job for the past few years following a troubled past.

Born to a drug-addicted mother, he ended up in foster care. His adoptive mother died when he was just 13 years old, so he was raised by an older sister

"There's a lot of stuff around us you can get caught up in," Harris said. "I felt I was different and didn't want to do any other things like gang banging."

The new hires are already impressing.

"I have never met a group of people more enthusiastic about employment," said Starbucks manager Nadine Doremus. "They were inspiring. They brought some of us to tears sometimes during the interview."

The Starbucks stores in this initiative include a community room that can be used by local charities for job training.

Harris says he hopes to use his new job as a stepping stone to study design and start his own clothing line.

"I'm really focused on my clothing line and spreading my word," Harris said. "Telling people my story and how hard it's been and how you can overcome anything as long as you put God first."

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