ABOUT US
CO-FOUNDERS
ARIK & MINDY ARMSTEAD
Dedicated to ensuring that every student, no matter their socioeconomic status, has direct access to the resources they need to thrive, the Armstead Academic Project provides youth with positive spaces, tools, and academic support to unlock their potential and achieve their goals.
Founded by Jacksonville Jaguar Arik Armstead and his wife Melinda Armstead in 2019, the Project supports students in Sacramento, the California Bay Area, and Jacksonville, Florida. The fundamental premise of AAP is that a zip code should not define student opportunity.
CO-FOUNDERS
ARIK & MINDY ARMSTEAD
The Armsteads 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. They 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 dedicated to creating safe educational spaces for Sacramento, the California Bay Area, and Jacksonville, Florida children and teens—especially those who are socioeconomically vulnerable—to feel empowered and achieve their goals.
Kahlil Keys
Kahlil Keys 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 Kim 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 Okugo 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.
STAFF MEMBERS
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).
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.
BOARD MEMBERS
Aaron Armstead
Aaron Armstead 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.
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.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Manage daily operations and maintain impactful relationships with the Board of Directors, donors, clients,volunteers, and the community. Together with Arik Armstead and the AAP team, you will continue to evolve the organizational and fiscal management structure, design and execute program implementation, manage fundraising efforts, prepare comprehensive budgets and act as a community spokesperson, overseeing all written and verbal external communications.
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