NEW YORK, U.S. – Australian-inspired specialty coffee roaster, café and lifestyle brand Bluestone Lane has announced a partnership with NBA Champion, three-time Olympian and proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian Patty Mills. The partnership will see Patty Mills represent Bluestone Lane as an official brand ambassador and share his passion for the iconic coffee brand, as well as collaborate on innovative initiatives to improve the social and economic conditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.
Mills, a well-known coffee enthusiast and long-time local of Bluestone Lane, was selected for his embodiment of the brand’s ethos of actively promoting a positive change for the betterment of lifestyle, wellness and community. Together, they will introduce the company’s Keriba Ged program, which will be open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples starting in 2021/22.
“Keriba,” meaning “Our,” and “Ged,” meaning “Home” or “Place,” is a unique program that will see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the opportunity to develop premium business and hospitality skills at Bluestone Lane locations in the United States. The Keriba Ged program will open up pathways to success for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to live and train abroad, enabling them to learn and develop valuable leadership, project management, networking, financial, communication and customer service skills.
“I am looking forward to working with the Bluestone Lane team in developing their innovative Keriba Ged program that will create real opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Bluestone Lane forms part of my daily ritual and is my taste of home whilst I live and play basketball half a world away. It’s these memories and small reminders of home that play a big part of my success, connect me to my people and where I come from and drive me to achieve greatness,” Mills said. “What we do together will create a model that builds confidence and experience for a lifetime, equipping the successful applicants with valuable life and business skills, setting them up with the tools to flourish and succeed, which can then be replicated and applied across other global businesses worldwide and in their communities back home.”
“We are inspired by Patty and how he has used his platform as a catalyst to bring people and cultures together,” said Nicholas Stone, Bluestone Lane founder and CEO. “At Bluestone Lane we actively aspire to be a positive force for change and bring a better understanding of Indigenous culture in the US; we want to institute some of these high performance standings around how we operate as a business and how we can benefit people being part of these environments. The Keriba Ged program shows our continued investment in making a difference that will positively impact communities with limited opportunities in Australia.”
The Keriba Ged program is set to commence in 2021/22. Learn more, register interest or lend support at https://bluestonelane.com/keribagedprogram.
