Every One out of the 100,000 Matters

Hiring Our Heroes, in collaboration with Starbucks, launched the Hiring 100,000 Military Spouses campaign a year ago. This three-year hiring initiative calls for companies and businesses, of all sizes, across America to make a collective commitment to hire 100,000 military spouses.

Listen in as Brian Alvarado, Senior Manager of Operations and Programs at Hiring Our Heroes, explains the goals of this ambitious hiring initiative and how companies can join the coalition.

Top Takeaways from “Every One out of the 100,000 Matters”

1. The Hiring 100,000 Military Spouses campaign is a solution for unemployed military spouses seeking meaningful and fulfilling career opportunities.

“We want military spouses to be fulfilled and happy with what they are doing on top of getting that paycheck.” – Brian Alvarado, Senior Manager of Operations & Programs at Hiring Our Heroes

2. Companies choose between two different hiring commitment options.

“You can make a commitment as an organization to hire a certain number of military spouses throughout the campaign or you can sign up to report your hires. Both of those options are free and easy to participate in.” – Brian Alvarado, Senior Manager of Operations & Programs at Hiring Our Heroes

3. A company doesn’t have to fit a certain mold to participate in the hiring initiative.

“(They just need to be) a company that understands the struggles that military spouses have had in the employment space and they want to be part of the solution.” – Brian Alvarado, Senior Manager of Operations & Programs at Hiring Our Heroes

4. Many military spouse-owned small businesses have joined the coalition. Some are committing to hire as few as two military spouses for their organization.

 “And both of those (hires) matter. Every one out of the 100,000 matters.” – Brian Alvarado, Senior Manager of Operations & Programs at Hiring Our Heroes

5. Besides employing 100,000 military spouses, another underlying goal of this campaign is to create awareness about military spouse unemployment and underemployment.

“We’re encouraging businesses to change the conversation and to eliminate that stereotype that has been in place for so long about military spouses in the employment space. Military spouses are a talent pool of highly educated individuals and they are willing to work.” – Brian Alvarado, Senior Manager of Operations & Programs at Hiring Our Heroes

The HOH Sitrep podcast is the official podcast of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative. Subscribe to the HOH Sitrep podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or your favorite podcast service and never miss an episode.