December 13, 2024 5:29 AM
BEN-DMV hosts third annual 'Great Big Kid' event, celebrating largest Amazon-Boys & Girls Club partnership
Amazon's Black Employee Network (BEN-DMV) recently celebrated a monumental milestone in its ongoing partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, hosting the third annual "Great Big Kid" event at Amazon's HQ2. This year’s celebration was the largest and most impactful to date, highlighting the continued growth and success of this powerful initiative.
The “Great Big Kid” program, a six-week mentorship initiative, pairs Amazon volunteers with local youth, providing them with invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth. This year’s event saw over 200 attendees, including mentees, mentors, families, and Amazon leadership, all gathering at HQ2 to commemorate the program’s extraordinary achievements.
“What started as a simple sponsorship has grown into a dynamic, multi-faceted partnership,” said Cash Ashley, President of BEN-DMV. “We’ve gone from having just one mentor in the program to hosting field trips, providing multiple mentors, and even welcoming students to our AWS Skills Center.”
The event featured an inspiring keynote from Keyon Young, Director at Amazon, who shared his perspective on the power of mentorship. Drawing from his experiences as an executive director in Albany, NY, and his current role at Amazon, Keyon emphasized how mentorship profoundly impacts both mentors and mentees. Building on this theme, Gabrielle Webster, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, spoke to the transformative nature of the partnership, stating, "This collaboration with Amazon’s Black Employee Network goes beyond funding. It’s about building lasting connections and creating meaningful opportunities for our youth."
The partnership’s impact reaches far beyond the annual event. Two Amazonians now hold board seats across different Boys & Girls Club regions, reinforcing the deepening connection between the organizations and ensuring continued support for the next generation.
By the Numbers:
- 3 years of partnership
- $155,000 total investment over three years
- 7 Amazon mentors in this year’s program
- 2 field trips to AWS Skills Center
- 200+ attendees at the HQ2 celebration
- 26 Boys & Girls Club sites represented
- 12,000 youth impacted across the DMV area
This event highlights the impact we can achieve as a community. The passion of our affinity group and the dedication of volunteers like Quanteer have driven three years of success. Our collaboration shows that by uniting for a common cause, we can create lasting change and opportunities for youth in need.
November 22, 2024 9:55 AM
Amazon's HQ2 Community Day: celebrating one year of partnership and fun at National Landing
Lancer Photography, 2024. All rights reserved.This fall, Amazon hosted HQ2’s Community Day, a celebration commemorating HQ2’s one-year anniversary since opening its doors to employees and the community in National Landing.
HQ2 Community Day commemorated Amazon’s ongoing dedication to being a good neighbor and community partner in the region. Since announcing plans to build its second headquarters in Arlington, Amazon has worked each day to fulfill its commitment to becoming one of the region's most trusted business and community partners. Last year, Amazon donated more than $78 million to over 100 organizations in the area, making it the top corporate philanthropist in the region for the second consecutive year.
Lancer Photography, 2024. All rights reserved.
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At Community Day, more than 1,000 neighbors of all ages gathered in Met Park to enjoy a variety of activities. This included a “Taste of Met Park” that highlighted the small businesses and restaurants that call Met Park home. Other activities included a community library, law games, a Lego wall, face painting, and more. With over 50 local vendors, Met Park's Saturday Market offered produce, hot food and handcrafted art. A photo booth with themed props and a live DJ kept the energy lively throughout the day.
November 21, 2024 5:10 PM
Amazon launches high school Apprenticeship Program for D.C. and Virginia students in partnership with CityWorks DC
We are proud to welcome 21 high school students from Arlington County and D.C. to Amazon’s JumpStart Youth Apprenticeship Program in partnership with CityWorks DC, an affiliate of CareerWiseUSA. These students will work in a variety of technical and business operations roles under the guidance of several teams at Amazon’s HQ2, including Amazon Web Services, Prime Video, Finance, and Generative AI.
“This region’s dedication to education and workforce training were a significant factor in our decision to select Arlington for HQ2,” said Holly Sullivan, Amazon’s Vice President of Worldwide Economic Development. “We recognize that work-based learning programs are an important component for future academic and career success, and to help close the opportunity gap for the underrepresented and underserved. We are thrilled to welcome these incredible student leaders to Amazon.”
The two-year program for rising high school juniors and seniors is designed to be an options multiplier for students—accelerating both their future academic and career prospects. Throughout JumpStart, apprentices complete an 11-week cohort-based onboarding program followed by paid part-time work at Amazon as a complement to their high school coursework.
“We know that talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not,” said Jennifer C. Niles, President and CEO of CityWorks DC. “Creating a direct pathway into Amazon from our public high schools is the bold action we need to truly create a local talent pipeline into high-wage, high-demand careers. We have the talent and JumpStart is the opportunity."
"We are proud of our students and look forward to seeing the positive impact this experience will have on their future academic and career trajectories,” said Dr. Francisco Durán, Superintendent, Arlington Public Schools. “JumpStart is an extraordinary opportunity for our students to gain new skills working alongside professionals at one of the world’s leading companies. We are grateful for Amazon's commitment to education and look forward to seeing all our students will achieve.”
“Meaningful, cross-sector collaborations like JumpStart bridge critical gaps between education systems and the workforce, and apprenticeships provide invaluable opportunities to shape the career paths and futures of our students,” said DC Public Schools Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee. “We know these experiences not only equip our young people with essential skills, but they also enhance their mobility and prepare them for success well beyond their time with DC Public Schools.
"We are excited to partner with Amazon and CityWorks DC to provide our students with real-world training in high-demand fields while still in high school,” said Patricia Brantley, CEO of Friendship Public Charter Schools. “Through this apprenticeship, Amazon will help our students gain valuable skills, earn a competitive wage, and build meaningful pathways to college and careers. At Friendship Public Charter School, we are committed to providing every opportunity for our students' success. Amazon is making that possible. We look forward to seeing our students thrive and make a positive impact at Amazon and beyond."
Amazon’s JumpStart program first began in New York in 2019. Nearly 200 NYC students have participated in the program and are now pursuing college coursework and/or working in roles at Amazon, including in software development. Learn more about a recent Amazon JumpStart youth apprentice and Amazon UX Designer.
November 12, 2024 6:00 AM
Amazon showcases commitment to National Capital Region in latest Community Impact Report
At Amazon, we live our mission of making our customers’ lives better and easier every day. We also bring this innovative, inventive spirit to empower the communities we call home, using our scale and abilities to take on some of society’s most pressing challenges. Working side-by-side with community partners, we’re increasing access to affordable housing and alleviating hunger. We’re strengthening education, promoting literacy, and helping people gain skills for the future.
Our most recent Community Impact Report showcases the progress we’re making and the positive impact we believe we’re having on everyday life for our National Capital Region neighbors. Highlights include:
- We contributed $78 million last year in support of more than 90 community partners dedicated to making the National Capital Region a better place to live. Through initiatives large and small, our partners’ work has an indelible impact—providing essential social services to those who need them most, ensuring young people have access to learning opportunities, revitalizing our parks and green spaces, and continuing beloved area traditions like the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Arlington County Fair.
- Since launching the Amazon Housing Equity Fund in 2021, we have committed over $1.2 billion to help create or preserve affordable housing for more than 20,700 low- to moderate-income individuals so they can live in the communities they serve and love. This is especially important for first responders, teachers, nurses, and service industry employees who are getting priced out of expensive metro areas like ours.
- We’ve donated more than $2.7 million since 2021 to local organizations tackling food insecurity and hunger across the National Capital Region. Our support recently helped the Capital Area Food Bank build its new warehouse in Lorton, Virginia, enabling the distribution of 13 million meals annually to Northern Virginia residents experiencing food insecurity.
- We continue to invest in programs to help children in grades K-12, higher-education students, and adult learners unlock their potential. By focusing on critical digital skills, we prepare these individuals for the jobs of the future. Through Amazon Future Engineer— our childhood-to-career computer science program—we delivered 74,000 student hours of STEM education, literacy, and career exploration courses across the National Capital Region. And over 55,000 learners have accessed free training and education at the AWS Skills Center in Arlington.
These are just a few of the ways that we are giving back to the region that’s become our second home. We are committed to supporting and collaborating with our neighbors and communities throughout the National Capital Region. We know that—working together—we can build an even brighter future.
November 11, 2024 8:01 AM
Operation Green Light at HQ2: a powerful partnership to honor veterans
Amazon's HQ2 is glowing a vivid green again in observance of veterans of the armed forces. Starting on November 4 and running through November 11, 2024, this inspirational display symbolizes Amazon's ongoing support of Operation Green Light for Veterans. In partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO), this nationwide initiative aims to highlight the resources available to support veterans and their families while bringing attention to the significant challenges they face.
Why Green?
The color green is a universal representation of honor, rebirth, and unwavering courage. Lighting up our headquarters in this empowering color not only honors Veterans Day but also visually affirms our support and raises public awareness of our veterans' ongoing needs.
A Global Commitment
Amazon is committed to this cause, even beyond the image. More than 150 of Amazon’s operations locations across the country are participating in this powerful and luminary initiative. Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11, invites everyone to reflect on the bravery and sacrifices made by veterans. Amazon is proud to play a role in this reflection and acknowledgment, ensuring that the valor and hardships of veterans remain at the forefront of our national conversation.
"As we light over 150 operations sites and buildings across the country for Operation Green Light, we are proud to continue our partnership with the National Association of Counties and encourage organizations across the country to join us in support of and celebration of our veterans,” said Charlotte LaBelle, Leader of Amazon’s Global Military Affairs and Army veteran. “At Amazon, we value the unique skills and experience that the military community brings to our company. This year we surpassed our goal of hiring 100,000 veterans and military spouses and are committed to continue supporting our military-affiliated community and to helping veterans transition into roles in the private sector.”
Throughout the week, the green glow will represent appreciation and solidarity for residents of Arlington County, Virginia, and other participating communities. It is a simple but powerful reminder of our support to those who have served and protected us while in uniform.
Thank You
Our special thanks goes out to our Warriors@Amazon affinity group, who have worked tirelessly to ensure that our military community is acknowledged.
“With more than 600 chapters and 20,000 members globally, we rely on our chapter leaders to recognize this community and develop resources for transitioning veterans. We appreciate everyone who continues to stand by those who have served and are currently serving,” says Michelle Marchiano, President of Warriors@Amazon.
October 11, 2024 9:03 AM
HQ2 prepares to welcome Arlington Community High School to Metropolitan Park in 2026
As part of our commitment to providing a home for Arlington Community High School (ACHS) by 2026, we are finalizing plans to welcome more than 250 ACHS students, faculty, and staff to HQ2’s Metropolitan Park in time for the 2026-2027 school year. Since we selected Arlington as the home of our second headquarters in 2018, we have worked closely with the county and School Board to address one of the community’s most pressing issues—finding a location for ACHS which has never had a permanent home.
“We look forward to this bright and exciting new chapter for Arlington Community High School and our students and staff. Having a new dedicated learning space, custom-built to serve their needs in an accessible location, will make a world of difference for our students as they pursue their academic and professional goals,” said Dr. Francisco Durán, superintendent, Arlington Public Schools. “We thank Amazon for their ongoing partnership in serving our students and commitment toward advancing equity and education in Arlington.”
“Arlington Community High School plays a vital role in the educational and career development of these 250 students and we’re thrilled to welcome them to our second headquarters in 2026,” said Holly Sullivan, Amazon’s vice president of worldwide economic development. “By providing a new location for ACHS, we’re able to help deliver on our commitment to the Arlington community, while helping to unlock new economic and job opportunities for our neighbors, today and in the future.”
Arlington Community High School serves a diverse student body of students ages 16 and older from across Arlington County, many of whom work full- or part-time jobs to support their families as they earn their high school diplomas. In addition to dedicated learning space at HQ2, students will have access to an adjacent 2.5 acre public park, community garden, dog run, and 14 local, small businesses.
Amazon’s partnership with ACHS is an important piece of the company’s broad commitment to being a good neighbor and trusted community partner. We have continued to focus our effort, time, and resources on partnering with nonprofits and community groups to address challenges like equity in education, sustainability, and affordable housing. To date, we have donated more than $239 million to local community organizations and our commitment to providing a home for ACHS will also reduce the long-term operating and capital cost for Arlington Public Schools.
August 27, 2024 5:00 AM
Amazon Fresh cultivates healthy eating habits and educational opportunities in the Washington D.C. metro region
Amazon Fresh has teamed up with Whole Foods Market Foundation by donating $250,000 to fund 83 school gardens across the country, including local schools across the Washington D.C. metro region. This initiative aligns with Amazon Fresh's long-term vision of positively impacting local communities by promoting healthy eating habits and educational initiatives.
Among the beneficiaries are Montessori Public School of Arlington, Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary, Oakridge Elementary, and Gunston Middle School in Arlington, as well as Herndon High in Herndon, Virginia. Hillcrest Heights ES Planet Protectors in Temple Hill, Capital City Lower Public Charter School in Washington, Takoma Park Elementary in Takoma Park, East Silver Spring Elementary School, and New Hampshire Estates Elementary School in Silver Spring will also receive Whole Kids Garden Grants. These grants will enable the schools to establish or enhance their edible gardens and engage students in hands-on learning about growing and enjoying fresh produce.
"We're thrilled to support these local schools and their efforts to cultivate a love for nutritious foods among students," said Jim Gillespie, regional manager for Amazon Fresh in the HQ2 region. "By providing access to edible gardens, we aim to inspire a new generation of kids to develop an appreciation for where their food comes from."
"When kids have a hand in growing fruits and vegetables, they are more likely to try them, enjoy them, and inspire other kids to do the same. Additionally, kids who grow up enjoying fruits and vegetables are more likely to continue eating them through adulthood,” said Carol Medeiros, executive director of Whole Foods Market Foundation. “We’re so grateful to Amazon Fresh whose generous donation in the Whole Kids Garden Grant program this year will allow more students to get a jumpstart on a lifetime of enjoying healthy food."
Through this collaboration, Amazon Fresh reinforces its commitment to investing in the well-being of local communities in the HQ2 region. By nurturing a love for fresh produce and sustainable practices from an early age, the company hopes to inspire positive change and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future for all.
August 26, 2024 4:00 PM
Highlights from Amazon’s Affordable Housing Summit at HQ2
When Amazon chose Arlington as the home of HQ2, we made a commitment to be a trusted business and community partner in the region. The work to become a part of the fabric of this community reflects that commitment daily.
We partner with many community leaders and organizations to ensure we’re making the most impactful contributions—our Housing Equity Fund (HEF) is a powerful example of how we can address community needs through innovative partnerships. In an effort to bring together and celebrate our community and public-sector partners, Amazon recently hosted an Affordable Housing Summit at HQ2's Amazon Visitor Landing. The summit gathered policymakers, affordable housing partners, and community leaders for a discussion about housing challenges, and how we can work together to identify and implement solutions. The event came on the heels of Amazon’s announcement that the company’s HEF would extend its commitment to include an additional $1.4 billion to create and preserve an additional 14,000 homes in our hometown communities, including Arlington.
Since the HEF launched in 2021, positive impacts in the HQ2 region have been significant. To date, we have:
- Committed $1.1 billion to help create and preserve more than 9,400 affordable homes across the National Capital region
- Amazon’s funding has helped increase affordable housing by 23% in Arlington, VA
- 58% of Amazon-funded affordable homes across the region will serve households earning less than 60% of the area median income (AMI)
More than 80 community leaders and affordable housing advocates attended the Affordable Housing Summit, which included a fireside chat with Senator Mark Warner (VA) and a panel discussion with Amazon Housing Equity Fund’s Managing Principal Senthil Sankaran, Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing President Carmen Romero, and LEO Impact Capital President Brian Allan “AJ” Jackson. Participants focused on the importance of public-private partnerships to make a meaningful difference for thousands of families across Virginia. Both discussions were moderated by WTOP’s Capitol Hill Correspondent, Mitchell Miller.
July 5, 2024 9:58 AM
Explore the Met Park Butterfly Garden at Amazon’s HQ2
Met Park is home to many things—over a dozen women- and minority-owned small businesses, works of art that honor the National Capital Region, world-leading sustainable buildings, and more. Now it’s home to butterflies, too.
Met Park’s Butterfly Garden opened on June 20 to a crowd of Amazon employees and their families, children from the Celebree School of National Landing, and members of the community, who all showed up to see these little natural wonders. The Butterfly Garden is a deeply precious community attraction that sits at the crossing point of two of Amazon’s priorities: being a leader in sustainability and being a good neighbor to the Arlington community.
“Our 2.5-acre public park is home to a diverse range of native plants that both beautify the surrounding area and nourish the soil in which they are planted,” said Lead Horticulturist Dillan Clark. “Once we realized that our park grounds already included many of the attributes and native plants that are needed to foster a home for butterflies, we partnered with the North American Butterfly Association to explore an expansion of Amazon’s horticultural attractions and bring the butterfly garden to life.”
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Met Park was planned with native and adaptive plantings that are conducive to the Arlington climate—the soil is engineered to retain water and promote root growth while smart and low-flow irrigation systems are optimized to reduce water consumption by providing only what the native plants need. The garden currently includes ten Painted Lady butterflies that are currently in their chrysalises metamorphosing from caterpillar into butterfly—but they’ll be spreading their wings soon.
Amazon’s second headquarters was built with sustainability at its core, including two acres (or nearly 100,000 square feet) of green roofs with native plantings where visitors and employees alike can find respite and connect to nature. The Amazon Horticulture team leads a program in partnership with the local Love and Carrots organization, grows fresh produce that gets delivered to the local nonprofit Kitchen of Purpose, with 800 pounds of produce contributing to over 600 meals per week.
Thank you to the horticulturists, volunteers, and employees, who have been pivotal in the launch of Met Park’s Butterfly Garden.
June 11, 2024 2:38 PM
Amazon adds $1.4 billion to the Housing Equity Fund to create and preserve more affordable homes in the National Capital region
We’re now extending our commitment to the Amazon Housing Equity Fund with an additional $1.4 billion in funding to create and preserve 14,000 more homes in three of its hometown communities—Washington State's Puget Sound region; the Arlington, Virginia/National Capital region; and Nashville, Tennessee. This brings the total to more than $3.6 billion to fund more than 35,000 affordable homes across these three regions. The extension of the Housing Equity Fund underscores our commitment to affordable housing and to helping thousands of families live closer to where they work or near transportation hubs, removing a major barrier to success. To date, Amazon's Housing Equity Fund has helped create and preserve 9,500+ homes across the National Capital region and increased Arlington, VA’s affordable housing stock by 23%.
Learn more about this extension of the Housing Equity Fund and how the Amazon Housing Equity Fund is helping create affordable housing across communities that Amazon calls home.
May 22, 2024 6:11 AM
HQ2 receives Urban Land Institute Washington’s top recognition for Excellence in Sustainability
Amazon PR and HQ2's project partners accept award.Amazon’s Metropolitan Park at HQ2 was recently recognized as Urban Land Institute (ULI) Washington’s Excellence in Sustainability recipient during their 2024 awards for excellence. The award recognized HQ2 as a project that made outstanding contributions to development within the D.C. region, and one that exemplifies innovation and creativity that inspires vibrant communities.
HQ2 was built with sustainability at its core, and we are proud that Met Park’s towers are the largest buildings in the world to be LEED Platinum v4 certified by the US Green Building Council. Met Park is all electric and powered by 100% renewable energy—including each of the 13 retailers on our ground floor. Sustainability-focused initiatives are prevalent throughout Met Park, including lower-carbon concrete, mass timber, advanced ways to reuse water, and even bird-friendly glass to protect wildlife on their important migratory path.
Amazon congratulates fellow ULI award recipients who are working to collectively drive transformative change across the region.
Learn more about HQ2’s sustainability-focused construction and design.
May 13, 2024 1:09 PM
Isabel Guzman, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, visits Amazon's HQ2 retailers
Amazon’s vision for its HQ2 has been to bring together employees, local residents, and visitors to enjoy a vibrant, 18-hour neighborhood. We are proud to offer more than 50,000 square feet of retail space for 13 small businesses at HQ2’s Metropolitan Park, many of which are minority and women-owned.
We were honored to welcome the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Isabel Guzman to HQ2 to meet several of the business owners and employees who are part of our retail community. Administrator Guzman serves in President Biden’s Cabinet as the leading advocate for America’s 33 million small businesses and innovative startups. Watch the recap of Administrator Guzman’s visit.
March 11, 2024 9:27 AM
Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) Arlington studio and store now open at Amazon HQ2
The Innovation Studio + Store showcases contemporary art and adds to a growing list of vibrant local retailers at Metropolitan Park.
Amazon is proud to welcome the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) Arlington to HQ2’s Metropolitan Park. The new Innovation Studio + Store is a place for Arlington residents and visitors to learn more about contemporary art, interact with professional artists at work, participate in free public art and artist programs, explore their creativity in private classes, and shop various creative and inspiring products from the museum store.
“Community is at the heart of everything we do here at Amazon. We are honored that the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington is joining HQ2 to enrich the Arlington community by connecting residents and visitors to exhibitions, educational programming, and artist residencies,” said Patrick Phillippi, senior manager of community engagement at Amazon. “This is a great new chapter for all of us who live, work, and play in National Landing.”
“We are thrilled to open our new Innovation Studio + Store at Amazon HQ2,” said Catherine Anchin, MoCA Arlington’s executive director. “We know that contemporary art can feel intimidating to some. This space was intentionally designed to feel warm and inviting, with the hope that people will be inspired to join us for a class, participate in a workshop, or simply support local artists.”
Since coming to National Landing, Amazon has prioritized providing a home for small, local businesses, with a focus on those which are women- and minority-owned. See a full list of local retailers at HQ2’s Met Park.
February 2, 2024 8:30 AM
Amazon details community investments in newly released Community Impact Report for the National Capital Region
Nearly one year after opening the doors to HQ2’s Metropolitan Park, Amazon recaps its community engagement activities and investments in the region.
We are proud to work with nonprofits, schools, and community leaders across the National Capital region to support equity in education, affordable housing development, and regional, inclusive economic growth.
We recently released Amazon’s updated Community Impact Report for the National Capital Region, where we shared details about how we’re delivering for our customers, employees, and the communities where we operate. Success and scale bring broad responsibility and as we continue to grow, we are committed to using our resources to help address important challenges that our hometown communities face.
Here are a few highlights of our community engagement efforts and positive impact over the past year:
- We worked with more than 100 nonprofits in and around Arlington, Virginia, which is home to Amazon’s second headquarters (HQ2). Our support went to organizations like Bridges to Independence, which is working to break intergenerational cycles of poverty; the English Empowerment Center, which serves nearly 1,500 beginning-level English language and literacy adult learners; and Aspire, which helps historically underserved young people fulfill their potential through afterschool and summer learning programs that support and connect families, schools, and communities.
- Amazon was named the top philanthropic company in the Washington, D.C., metro area by the Washington Business Journal. Since 2018, Amazon has invested more than $161 million in local nonprofits, community groups, organizations, businesses, and public schools.
- Amazon launched a new housing pilot initiative that will help nearly 1,000 individuals and families from underserved communities become homeowners in Virginia and Washington, D.C., as well as Washington state and Tennessee. This is part of a broader set of initiatives from the Amazon Housing Equity Fund. Since 2021, Amazon has committed over $1 billion in loans and grants to create or preserve more than 7,500 affordable housing units in and around the National Capital Region.
- Amazon continued to advance its commitment to equity in education through several partnerships and funding efforts, including Amazon Future Engineer, a comprehensive childhood-to-career program aimed at increasing access to computer science education for students from underserved and underrepresented communities. Amazon helped students broaden their horizons through education via:
- $1.8 million in scholarships awarded to 45 Capital Region students by the Amazon Future Engineer program
- 241 schools and 23,470 students across the Capital Region received STEM education and career exploration courses
- 13,000+ students have access to three AWS Think Big Spaces in Virginia
- Amazon has continued to support and integrate local businesses into its Arlington headquarters, representing vibrant local favorites, women- and minority-owned retailers, and others. For example, visitors can get their bike serviced at Conte’s Bike Shop, drop off furry friends at doggy daycare at District Dogs, get a workout in at HUSTLE, grab a bite to eat at Peruvian Brothers, and so much more.
Amazon will continue to strive to be a good neighbor and trusted business partner across the region.