Recapping our 2018-2019 Starbucks Service Fellows!
February 25th, 2019
In early 2018, Starbucks and Points of Light teamed up to launch a fellowship program that combines Starbucks’ mission of inspiring and nurturing the human spirit with Points of Light’s mission to inspire, equip, and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. The Starbucks Service Fellows program brought local Points of Light affiliates and Starbucks partners together to create a unique six month long service program. 36 Starbucks partners from all over the United States were chosen to split their time between their Starbucks store and a local Points of Light affiliate office, working on a wide array of programs and activities. HandsOn Bay Area was fortunate enough to have two amazing Starbucks partners, Emma Massick and Donna Lum, join us in our mission to make the Bay Area a more beautiful and inclusive place for everyone.
Last August, Starbucks partners and their affiliate leaders met at Starbucks headquarters in Seattle for a kickoff summit full of information and fun activities. It was such a great experience to be able to meet our fellow fellows, all while geeking out about coffee, and learning some great things about service leadership! Once we returned back home to the foggy Bay Area, we arrived at HandsOn Bay Area and our work began - but the fun and learning continued.
Emma updated and streamlined the curriculum for HandsOn Tomorrow, a two-week long summer service learning and leadership program for Bay Area teenagers. She updated the activities and daily agenda to be more age-appropriate and provided opportunities for customization based on the issue areas of partnering nonprofits. She also supported several of HandsOn Bay Area’s corporate days of service, and helped volunteers learn how they could make a difference by helping to beautify the spaces in their community. She says, “I have loved seeing how our community is connected through the hearts of the volunteers that donate their time and energy toward making it better. It gives me hope for the future, and I have had an awesome time being a part of it!”
Donna worked specifically with one of our amazing Community Relations Managers, Katerina. Together they developed four volunteer events that connected San Francisco residents to organizations serving at-risk youth. They created a specialized TeamWork series and attendance turned out better than projected! Through TeamWorks, local youth were able to participate in mock interviews, have a cleaned and organized space to relax and grow in, and listen to inspiring real-life experiences from the volunteers. Above all else, these young residents were able to connect with volunteers, and in Donna’s words, “it was such a heartwarming sight to see.” In addition to working with peers who were always willing to help and guide her, Donna also got be a part of HandsOn Bay Area projects, and volunteer on her own! Not only did this fellowship help her learn more about herself, she also learned more about her community. She says, “I was able to learn how nonprofits work- sit in on meetings, organize events, access and learn how to use Salesforce, and so much more. Seeing the faces of those you impact is so heartwarming, and I encourage everyone to volunteer! Thank you, Starbucks, Points of Light and HandsOn Bay Area for this opportunity.”
A huge thank you to Emma and Donna for all of your hard work these last six months, and to our friends at Starbucks and Points of Light for making this program possible!