Vikings Players Team Up with Medtronic to Promote…

Vikings Vice President of Social Impact Brett Taber accentuated the organization’s mission to impact the lives youth around their education.

“To be out here at the Bakken Museum with Medtronic and all these kids from Northside Achievement Zone [today is incredible],” Taber said. “Our players are able to have a phenomenal time helping share these experiences with kids and helping them learn about different ways – such as science and technology – to grow their learning horizons for the future.”

Sondra Samuels, President & CEO of Northside Achievement Zone, echoed Taber’s thoughts and expressed gratitude to the Vikings and Medtronic for continuing to make a positive impact in the community.

“Our children, our country, our community – they’re going through some things right now,” Samuels said. “COVID and violence and crime and uncertainty about tomorrow, kids getting behind academically because of everything that happened during COVID – we really have to meet the moment.

“We have to surround our kiddos, who have such unlimited potential, particularly in North Minneapolis, where sometimes we’re not as valued as some other communities,” Samuels continued. “So to have the Vikings and the players and Medtronic, and their African Descent Network of scientists and people in technology who look like the kids … and then to be here at Bakken. I mean, this is a time where we need hope. We need to know that we’re not alone, that we’re in this together.

And that’s what this represents to me – it’s a hopeful day,” Samuels added. “I know the kids aren’t going to forget it.”

Darrisaw, Joseph and Robinson spent nearly two hours with their groups. They helped engineer the contraptions but also answered football questions and in turn asked the students about their interests and academic goals.

The teammates additionally signed autographs and posed for photos – fully masked – with the young people.

“This is a blast,” Joseph said. “Especially with everything that’s been going on, to try to get out in the community as much as possible, which has been limited for the past couple of years [due to the pandemic], so this is awesome.

“It’s bigger than football,” he added. “They think we’re helping out by coming out here, but it puts so much into perspective for us, giving back and just putting smiles on students’ faces. … They think it’s doing a lot for them, but they really do more for me, because I just love helping out here.”

Joseph said science didn’t top his list of favorite classes growing up. But he does love problem-solving, as evidenced by his weekly participation in the Vikings “Friday Challenge” activities.

“I enjoyed [science, but]. Recess was probably my favorite,” he quipped. “But no, my mom’s a math teacher, so math and history were my two favorites.

“I love puzzles, I love riddles, stuff like that,” he added. “I try to always have my brain working.”

Joseph isn’t the only one with a parent in the STEM field.

Darrisaw explained that his dad is a scientist by trade, but a passion for the subject didn’t necessarily carry over.

“I really wasn’t a big fan of science,” Darrisaw said. “Growing up in elementary school, high school, my science grades weren’t always the best, and my dad would always get on me about it since he was a scientist, and he wanted me to be able to do the same things he could do. But seeing this now, I’m definitely enjoying myself and having fun.”

So, will Darrisaw fill his dad in on his accomplishments at the Bakken Museum?

“Oh, I called him before I came, and he was happy for me,” Darrisaw laughed.