49ers' Arik Armstead Academic Project Brings Resources To Students Strong During the Pandemic
Arik Armstead was a first-round draft pick for the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, and for many, that would be enough, but making an impact on the field wasn't all the defensive tackle had his sights set on. He wanted to make one off the field as well. So, he created the Armstead Academic Project with one mission in mind: to ensure every student, no matter their socioeconomic status, has direct access to quality education through a positive learning environment and resources needed in order to thrive and be successful.
SI's Kaitlin O'Toole is joined by senior writer Jenny Vrentas to break down Armstead's academic foundation.
Read the full transcript below:
Kaitlin O'Toole: Joining me now is SI senior writer Jenny Vrentas. Jenny, Armstead is coming off a career season-high for the 49ers, but tell us about how his roll off the field has also grown.
Jenny Vrentas: Yeah, I mean, he was obviously a force for the 49ers in their run to the Super Bowl last year, but he had also in 2019 had started his academic project, a foundation to address education inequality, and that uniquely positioned him to respond during the pandemic and also, at this time in our country where there such a harsh spotlight on inequality, systemic inequalities. Through his academic project, he was able to work with the local community in his hometown of Sacramento and help students have access to computers, internet, and educational kits for distance learning which could continue through the summer. So kind of helping these students have resources that they wouldn't otherwise have and fill a need in his community.
Kaitlin O'Toole: It's amazing the work that he's doing. But why is educational equality such an important issue to him?
Jenny Vrentas: When he was looking for ways to make an impact off the field. He said that he was really struck by the idea of education. Obviously, if you can impact a child, you're impacting them for their entire lives and future generations as well. So I think there's a real opportunity there. And he was also struck by the idea that based on where you live, kids might have a very different outlook on life, very different educational experience. He wanted to try to level the playing field a little bit. So there's an elementary school near his hometown where he would visit and he interacted with the students there and would try to help take them to writing workshops or invite them to his football camp. Obviously, with the pandemic, help them get the resources they needed. I think he saw an opportunity for him to use some of the resources that he has to give back to the community that he grew up in and help the kids kind of have a brighter outlook and maybe expand their horizons from kind of the narrow community that they're living in.
Kaitlin O'Toole: As you said, Jenny, he's been a force on the field, and what a positive role model off. Thank you so much for your insight on this. I really appreciate it.
For More Content From SI:
Kyle Shanahan Gets Another Six-Year Deal, Player COVID-19 Cases Shouldn't Be SurprisesCuomo: U.S. Open Will Be Held Aug. 31 to Sept. 13 in New York City Without FansMarcus Rashford's Campaign to Extend Food Vouchers to Children Convinces British Government10 Looming Contract Situations That Will Have a Significant Impact on the NFLNWSL Reveals Schedule, Broadcast Details for Challenge Cup TournamentHow Everything Is Falling Into Place for the 76ers to Shock the World
We appreciate you for reading our post, but we think it will be better you like our facebook fanpage and also follow us on twitter below.