By Anne Cacherell

In their continuous effort to keep their image as a model of corporate responsibility, Starbucks, together with 15 other top US-based companies launched the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative. Spearheaded by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, the program has a collective goal to engage 100,000 unemployed and out-of-school youths, 16-24 years old, from poor neighborhoods by offering job training, apprenticeships and internships. Among the companies that pledged to participate in this nationwide initiative are Walmart, Microsoft, CVS Pharmacy and Taco Bell.

The first hiring burst in the campaign will be held on August 13, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois and will be hosted by actor and rap artist, Common. It will soon be followed by a series of more job fairs in other cities in coming months.

It would be nice if more companies would engage in these types of job initiatives to help young people get some work experience and possibly start their careers at an early age. What can you say about this program in terms of developing potentials of young workers? Tell us what’s on your mind.