About Us

The nEed

According to KidsData.org, just 39% of socio-economically disadvantaged students in California met or exceeded the grade-level standard in English language arts in 2019, compared to nearly 70% of their non-socioeconomically disadvantaged peers.

The educational inequities create additional stress for physical and mental wellness, especially when compounded with trauma in the home or in the community. As a result of these entrenched inequities, many young people lose their spark— their drive to dream big and succeed. They watch their better resourced peers achieve what they know they could too if only they had the support anyone needs to thrive.

The Solution

What began in 2015 as the Arik Armstead Football Camp evolved into the Armstead Academic Project in 2019, with an initial anchor partnership with Mercy Housing California, an affordable housing developer serving low-income families in the Greater Sacramento area. The Armstead Academic Project has committed $2M in direct funding for youth in Sacramento and the Bay Area to receive the academic and social-emotional support they need to succeed.

From providing pro-social support in afterschool programming and exposure to college and career paths to community resources and tools to support the educational environment, AAP has resourced over 4,500 underserved youth in tangible ways.

Our Programs

Read

Help youth achieve grade-level literacy standards & improve empathy
Explore

Expose youth to science-related possibilities & support educational goals
Connect

Foster economic mobility & build pathways to future success
Stay Well

Provide mental and physical wellness tools & establish positive lifestyle practices

View Programs In Action

Our People

ARIK’s Story

The youngest of four siblings, Arik Armstead attended highperforming schools in the Elk Grove Unified School District with predominantly white peers from what he describes as “a diverse melting pot” of home life: rural, urban, and suburban. His primary relationship to school was through sports. He struggled with reading and paying attention in class, especially in 1st through 3rd grade and remembers having to attend remedial reading classes before school in order to catch up to his peers. Arik’s mother, Christa Armstead, was a very involved parent, adamant that teachers not label her young Black son with learning disabilities. Arik recognized early on the inequities embedded in the “tracking” system in schools, and is forever grateful to his mother for speaking up on his behalf.

“He didn’t forget that he was a kid once upon a time and he had some struggles,” Arik’s mother Christa said in a 2021 interview for an ESPN article, “and he had a lot of support to help him overcome any obstacle he would have in life. And he realizes not every kid has that. So, his work today is to somehow try to level that out.” Arik’s dad, NBA trainer Guss Armstead, facilitated a pathway for Arik to explore his interest in sports. Though Arik excelled in both basketball and football, he needed additional academic support which he received by entering a homeschool program in 8th grade in an effort to get back to grade level. Arik soon caught up, eventually taking extra classes in his senior year so he could graduate from high school early.

By that time, Arik stood out on both the defensive and offensive lines at Pleasant Grove High School, and also played in the U.S. Army All American Game his senior year.

Arik entered the University of Oregon as a football recruit. He also played basketball at Oregon, redshirting for the program that won the Pac-12 Conference Tournament title and advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. Earning his college degree was very important to Arik as he believed it would help him make the biggest impact. He majored in general social science. In 2015, Arik was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, making his NFL debut in the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Key to the 49ers’ defensive line in their run to the 2020 Super Bowl, Arik also won the Perry/Yonamine Unity Award that year, an honor given to a current 49ers player who has demonstrated a commitment to promoting unity and giving back to the local community. He also won the NFLPA Community MVP two consecutive years (2020, 2021), received two nominations for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year awards (2020, 2021), and was nominated for the NFLPA Alan Page award (2022) –all for his commitment to making a positive impact in his community. He remains passionately committed to advocating for—and putting his financial and personal power behind— educational equity for all students in the Sacramento region and Bay Area, no matter their socioeconomic status.

Mindy’s Story

Armstead Academic Project’s Co-Founder, Mindy married Arik in 2020 and became parents to two beautiful daughters, Amiri and Ayla.

The middle of five children growing up in the town of Arkport in rural upstate New York, Mindy remembers being encouraged by her teachers throughout her school years, and always felt she had the power to be anything she wanted to be. She earned high academic scores and was admitted to Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs. “For me, school felt like a protective place,” Mindy says.

Mindy also excelled at athletics, and felt empowered to participate in the sports she loved. Her mother, a teacher and soccer coach with the most wins for a female coach in NYS, supported her in all her endeavors. Mindy’s father, a hardworking salesman who now owns a car dealership, was a very nurturing parent and always talked with her about her feelings.

Finishing her undergraduate college degree by the age of 20, Mindy listened to the wise words of her mother who told her not to take “No” for an answer, so she applied to medical school three times. She went on to complete dual masters degrees in Systems Biology and Interdisciplinary Science, and graduated from the University of Buffalo Medical School 2017.

“I always knew I wanted to be a doctor,” Mindy says. “In the small town I grew up in, I saw the pediatrician as someone who was very smart and could really help people, so that’s what I wanted to do for others.”

One of Mindy’s sources of inspiration was her brother, who has special needs. “It’s important to get an early diagnosis for behavioral intervention,” she says. “Today my brother can read and write and has independence, all of which might not have been possible without our family’s advocacy on his behalf.”

As a result of his influence, Mindy made the decision to work in mental health, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry at UC Davis, and is now working as a clinical doctor.

Mindy and Arik want their daughters to be empowered to find something they are passionate about, and equally important, is that their daughters will be able to do things and have spaces that are for them. The Armsteads believe that schools are a place for their daughters to access their potential and grades, while important, should not take precedence over a sense of belonging…and they are not stopping with their own children. Arik and Mindy are putting their personal and financial power into creating safe educational spaces for Sacramento and Bay Area children and teens—especially those who are socioeconomically vulnerable—to feel empowered and achieve their goals.

At this time our main goal is to address educational disparities and bring opportunities to youth facing socioeconomic challenges. Our mission is to expand our program to include mental health education and resources for the families we serve. Mental illness should not make someone a pariah in our society—and especially not a child. The effects of such ostracism from a young age can be devastating and long-lasting. I aspire to be an advocate and early-intervention resource for youth who may lay lack that support network in their home or educational environments. If provided the right tools, these vulnerable youth can go on to make wonderful contributions in their families, their schools, and their workplaces across the course of their lives. The compassion and responsibility we show these children today will be reflected in the future they give us tomorrow.”

Meet The Staff

Jared Muela

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A Bay Area native, Jared is a seasoned corporate philanthropy and social impact leader with over 16 years of experience driving positive change. With a proven track record in strategy, leadership, and collaboration, Jared has left an indelible mark on organizations such as the San Francisco 49ers and Electronic Arts (EA).
Vanetta Thomas

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Working within the intersection of equity and public health, Vanetta has over a decade of experience in applied research, advocacy, and project management in both non-profit and academic settings. This includes aiding in organizational, city, and county-wide strategic planning processes; conducting evaluations of community health, policy change, and positive youth development programming.
Amber Wyatt

PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Amber is a Sacramento native with over eight years of experience in the sports industry, having worked with the San Francisco 49ers and the Sacramento River Cats. Her expertise in event marketing, digital marketing, and brand management enables her to drive impactful campaigns and engage passionate audiences.

Meet the Board

Aaron Armstead

Aaron is a seasoned technology leader with over 10+ years of experience in operationalizing Go-To-Market strategies for over 30+ Fortune 500 companies such as Google, SAP, Intel, Slack, and Snowflake, among others. Born and raised in the Sacramento region with his brother Arik, Aaron is deeply committed to serving marginalized and underserved communities in Northern California.
Kahlil Keys

Kahlil is the Vice President of Global Partnerships for Bay FC, an expansion team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) that launched in 2024. In this role, Kahlil oversees all corporate and community partnerships, with an emphasis on driving long-term impact in and beyond the Bay Area.
Michelle Kim

Michelle is a Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at the TGR Foundation, a Tiger Woods Charity. For the past 19 years, Michelle has been shaping the public & private partnerships for the Foundation by engaging cross-sector leaders, establishing strategic alliances across the globe, and building a diverse portfolio of social impact supporters.
Amobi Okugo

Amobi is a former professional soccer player, entrepreneur, media host, and philanthropist who has been recognized as a Forbes 30 under 30 recipient. Amobi Okugo was drafted in the first round of the 2010 MLS super draft from UCLA and has since played over 200 competitive games for teams including Philadelphia, Orlando, Kansas City, Portland, and Austin.
Joanne Pasternack

Joanne is a dynamic and visionary philanthropic impact strategist who, over the past two decades, has galvanized community engagement with internationally recognized brands including theGolden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, ServiceNow, City of Mountain View, and Special Olympics.
Peter Scherr

Peter is a graduate of Syracuse University having earned his BA in Spanish Language, Literature and Culture. After a number of years in the workers’ compensation, Peter returned to school, earning his Juris Doctorate at Brooklyn Law School.
Matthew Gutermuth

Matthew is an Operating Executive who specializes in leading business turnarounds - 7 successful transformations led, across Retail, Consumer, Technology, and Distribution. Multi-functional leader; creating vision, shaping strategy, and inspiring people to deliver extraordinary results.