Torani Teams Up with Armstead Academic Project to Host “Career Camp,” Unlocking Educational & Career Pathways for Students
16 April 2024 - 7:00PM
Business Wire
April 22 event at Torani’s “Flavor Factory”
will help students connect their education to future career
opportunities
Torani, a leading flavor company since 1925, is partnering with
the Armstead Academic Project (AAP) on the non-profit’s new “Stay
Hungry” Career Camp pilot program.
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Torani, a leading flavor company since
1925, is partnering with the Armstead Academic Project (AAP) on the
non-profit’s new “Stay Hungry” Career Camp pilot program. (Photo:
Business Wire)
AAP’s Career Camp bridges the gap between young people from
historically underserved communities and valuable employer
opportunities by harnessing the influence of a professional athlete
to unlock students’ potential and open doors to future
opportunities. The Career Camp pilot will be held at Torani’s
“Flavor Factory” headquarters in San Leandro on April 22, 2024 and
will welcome about 30 students from the Fresh Lifelines for Youth
(FLY) program, a Bay Area non-profit serving youth impacted by the
justice system.
AAP was founded in 2019 by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive
lineman and former 49ers player, Arik Armstead, and his wife, Dr.
Mindy Armstead (M.S., M.D.). The non-profit's goal is to expose
young people to college and career pathways to inspire them to
excel in class and graduate from high school.
The Career Camp concept is reinforced by a study published in
Nature and reported by The New York Times that shows “economic
connectedness – the degree of interaction between low- and
high-income people – is a better predictor of a community’s upward
mobility than any other characteristic studied yet.” The Career
Camp will focus on connecting students in the FLY program to a
range of Torani team members and developing professional-social
relationships which can help propel young people ahead as they
explore future careers.
After the pilot, AAP hopes to expand the Career Camp to other
professional athletes, harnessing their local corporate and
non-profit relationships to help introduce young people to valuable
future work opportunities.
“For 99 years, Torani has been a people-first company that
believes businesses can and should create opportunities for people
to really 'make it' – both economically, and through learning and
development,” said Torani CEO Melanie Dulbecco. “AAP’s Career Camp
is committed to the same important things: it offers young people
valuable exposure and connections that can equip them to thrive on
their paths."
AAP’s Career Camp at Torani will introduce students to several
potential career pathways, from manufacturing and technical
maintenance to social media and food science. In each session,
students will learn about Torani team members’ career trajectories,
gain insights into an average workday, and identify what experience
and skills are required to secure similar jobs. The day will
include a panel discussion with Arik and Dr. Mindy Armstead, a
working session for students to build their 30-second “elevator
pitches,” and a Torani DIY drink station with flavor tastings.
"Torani is the perfect partner for AAP’s Career Camp. This
collaboration speaks to both organizations’ dedication to nurturing
interdisciplinary learning and practical skill development for
students from underserved communities across the Bay Area,” said
Arik Armstead.
“Our mission is simple,” added Dr. Mindy Armstead. “Every
student, regardless of their socioeconomic background, deserves
direct access to the resources they need to flourish. Together with
Torani, we aim to unveil opportunities that empower students to
build their futures with assurance and purpose.”
The Career Camp shares many similarities with Torani’s
internship program, which has been redesigned to remove barriers
for young people while building their professional exposure,
connections, and skills. The internship no longer requires
applicants to be enrolled in higher education, submit resumes, or
participate in traditional interviews. Instead, today’s candidates
who are often comfortable with social media platforms such as
TikTok and SnapChat can submit a short video to share their
background. Internships are first offered to Torani team members'
children, grandchildren, and siblings (particularly front-line and
hourly team members), then extended to other young people within
the local community. Throughout the program interns will work
closely with Torani mentors to build their skills, resumes, and
LinkedIn profiles, and are required to conduct multiple
informational interviews with people across the company to expand
their professional-social connections.
About Armstead Academic
Project
The fundamental premise of AAP is that a zip code should not
define student opportunity. 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 in 2019 by
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman and former 49ers player,
Arik Armstead, and his wife, Dr. Mindy Armstead, the Project
supports students in Sacramento and the Bay Area of California.
Learn more at armsteadproject.org.
About Torani
Torani is deeply committed to being an amazing flavor company
whose purpose is “flavor for all, opportunity for all.” Established
in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood in 1925, Torani put
Italian soda on the U.S. map in the 1920s and created the world's
first flavored latte in the 1980s. From the beginning, the company
has used only the best ingredients, like natural flavors and pure
cane sugar, to craft flavors that are vibrant and delicious.
Enjoyed in cafés, restaurants, and home kitchens around the world,
Torani strives to inspire and lead flavor innovation globally while
remaining a family-owned Bay Area business. In practice and life
beyond the bottle, Torani is a certified B-Corp that believes
businesses should create more opportunity, and is dedicated to
helping all of the people, partners, and communities it touches
thrive. Learn more at torani.com.
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Lauren Trieschmann ltrieschmann@double-forte.com