About the Vikings' social justice program

A breakdown of some of the activities that are part of the program the Vikings have created.

December 23, 2018 at 2:24PM

About The Vikings' Social Justice Program

• Vikings players have held regular meetings with the Wilfs and team executives and coaches this season to learn about each other's backgrounds and brainstorm ways to address social justice issues in the Twin Cities. The Wilfs donated $250,000 from their personal wealth for players to use toward causes of their choosing. Currently, players are focused on scholarships for low-income students, school supplies, legal aid for disadvantaged and underrepresented populations and relationships with law enforcement.

• Players visited police and fire departments in Minneapolis and St. Paul to better understand the issues they face. Four players — Everson Griffen, C.J. Ham, Riley Reiff, Mike Remmers — have gone on ride-alongs with Minneapolis and St. Paul police.

• Eric Kendricks, Harrison Smith and Stephen Weatherly are among the players who have made regular visits to the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center to talk with teenagers, play basketball or help with schoolwork.

• The Vikings have made two visits so far with pairs of black and white players to talk with at-risk schools about the value of cross-cultural relationships and educational equality. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, as well as Latavius Murray and Kyle Rudolph, have made such visits.

• Seven players — Thielen, Murray, Rudolph, Griffen, Anthony Barr, Xavier Rhodes and Kirk Cousins — filmed a video (below) talking about the value of diversity in the Vikings' locker room and how it can be a model for cross-cultural relationships throughout the Twin Cities.

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