Jordan Adeyemi’s Nonprofit Has Plenty of Sole
One night in the summer of 2020, with much of the world in a COVID-19 lockdown, Jordan Adeyemi’s family watched a movie.
Pele: Birth of a Legend chronicled the life and career of the Brazilian soccer star, from a childhood of grinding poverty to the highest reaches of fame and success. Adeyemi found a section of the film particularly moving: A teenaged Pele and his teammates compete in a tournament barefoot because they can’t afford cleats. That team, known as The Shoeless Ones, transcends the patronizing attitudes of their better equipped opponents to earn a victory in the final.
“Pele came from a community that lacked resources,” the Clark sophomore recalls. “I’ve been exposed to a lot of incredible opportunities and experiences, and I think that’s because of the resources and networks I’ve had access to. This was eye-opening for me.”
“These shoes are going to somebody who can use them. There is a real purpose to it.”
Inspired by the film and with the support of their parents, Jordan, then 14, and his then-10-year-old brother, Jason, launched the nonprofit The Shoeless Ones, through which they collect and distribute new and gently used athletic shoes to communities where they’re needed.
To date, The Shoeless Ones has engineered the collection and donation of 850 pairs of shoes in Adeyemi’s native Atlanta, in New Hampshire, where he attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and in Lagos, Nigeria, where his parents were raised before immigrating to the United States. As of this writing, he was working to facilitate donations in Worcester. The brothers typically work with local charities and service organizations who handle distribution to the various communities — for instance, Soccer In the Streets has been a key ally in Atlanta, and Jordan’s aunt is The Shoeless Ones’ liaison to recipients in Nigeria.
Adeyemi, a midfielder/winger on the Clark men’s soccer team, notes that people have been responsive to their mission. “They’re seeing that these shoes are going to somebody who can use them. There is a real purpose to it.”
A data science major with a psychology track, Adeyemi expects to pursue a data analytics career in the health care sector, possibly in the mental health field. His internships — with Clark’s Office of Strategic Analytics, Assessment, and Institutional Research; with the social impact management team at Coca-Cola in Atlanta; and currently with Mass Audubon, working with the Habitat Management Guideline Database—have already given him deep experience in a two-year span.
As this story was being written, Adeyemi had just begun training for the spring soccer season, with 7 a.m. workouts on the Granger Field under coach Sam Matteson. He describes his role on the team as “a connector and creator” who thrives in the transition game between offense and defense, getting the ball to the strikers but also creating his own opportunities to attack the net. And when the opponent is on the march, Adeyemi becomes a critical cog in protecting Clark’s end of the field.
As his sophomore year nears its close, Adeyemi is considering what the future may hold for The Shoeless Ones. He hopes to keep his nonprofit viable after he graduates and even expand its reach, but he’s unsure whether he’ll have the capacity to do so.
“Right now, I’m looking at career paths, working at an internship, and I’ve got soccer and schoolwork, so I really can’t say for sure what shape The Shoeless Ones will be in two to three years,” he says. “I do hope it’s something I’m able to continue and balance, and maybe even incorporate, with my life and work. I truly want to see that happen.
“The Shoeless Ones has been a key part of my life. We’re seeing how these shoes are making a difference in kids’ lives, and that’s pretty special. It’s beautiful.”
