Hey Yardbarker!

What’s good! Hope all of you have been well. How you guys feelin’ about that 49ers nation??? We’re 5:1 and still going strong….I got football on the mind even though it’s the bye week. LOL. We’re hoping to keep this winning streak going, so be sure to check out our upcoming game against the Cleveland Browns next Sunday, October 30^th. Lets get it in fans!!!

Besides the season getting off to a great start, off the field I’ve been keeping it moving too. I recently teamed up with the 49ers Academy and United Healthcare to build an outdoor fitness zone serving 6^th, 7^th & 8^th grade students in East Palo Alto. The fitness zone allows up to 28 kids to exercise at one time in the facility. You know I’m about my workout on and off season, so this was really rewarding for me to be a part of…..encouraging kids to get in shape and stay in shape. I also encourage any of you reading this blog with grade school aged kids to make sure they stay fit.

As you know, me and my brother Vontae who plays for the Dolphins, made a trip this past summer to Uganda and Rwanda with the organizations Pros for Africa and Starkey Hearing Foundation. We had an amazing time, I was so inspired by the work we did there that I wasn’t able to get some of the images out of my head. As most of you know, art helps me get out what I’m feeling and lets me express myself. I painted an abstract portrait of a lion that I continue to have visions of…the painting for me not only captures the essence of the animal, but the spirit of the African people – tough, resilient and fighters to the end. Check out the painting below.

This lion painting will be exhibited at an art installation featuring some of my work at a gallery next Friday in San Francisco’s historic Fillmore district. This event will also highlight an upcoming program The Davis Family Foundation is doing together with the organization Infin8 Sync. Together we’re launching A.R.T. Ambassador’s Youth Program which will benefit deserving Bay Area students. I can’t wait to get it going! You know how I feel about art and this is one way for me to do my part in getting more young people involved. Infin8 Sync is run by two amazing women who call themselves “the twins” (yes they’re identical twins); their names are Melorra and Melonie Green and they love art as much as I do. These sisters have been responsible for creating several youth-targeted arts programs here in the Bay Area. This should be a great partnership and I’m excited about inspiring young people to dream big and go for their passions.

I’ll keep you all posted on how the event goes next week. In the meantime, I encourage you to find a way to get involved in something you’re passionate about; be it the arts, sports, whatever.

I’ll hit ya’ later!

Vernon