Starbucks’ social-impact film series launched in 2016 was called Upstanders. The series presented stories about people addressing social problems and trying to improve their communities.
Starbucks described the project as a way to highlight civic engagement and community action. The films covered subjects such as economic opportunity, neighborhood improvement, and efforts by individuals or groups to create positive change.
The title refers to people who actively respond to problems rather than remaining passive observers. It was part of Starbucks’ broader corporate storytelling around community involvement and social responsibility.
Upstanders is easy to confuse with Starbucks’ internal employee initiatives or its coffee-sourcing programs. It was specifically a public multimedia project, including short films and related written material, rather than a coffee product or store format.