Shiloh Jordan might see you
out in the Greater Penn North community and strike up a conversation about CFUF.
“If you know CFUF, you might already know about our job training and career development program, STRIVE,® and our fatherhood program that’s been around for 20-plus years,” he might say. “But did you know about our leadership and advocacy classes? Come find out what we can do to better our communities.”
The new outreach coordinator for an innovative demonstration project at CFUF, Mr. Jordan is helping to launch the Baltimore Communities Assisting and Advancing Neighbors initiative, or BCAAN. The initiative is focused for now on the Greater Penn North community with plans for eventual expansion. Thanks to generous funding partners, BCAAN is building a network of local residents and direct service organizations to design solutions for the gaps that interfere with CFUF members’ mobility and provide a multi-generational approach to dismantling poverty. This developing initiative will have agreements with more than 20 partner agencies.
Mr. Jordan is an evangelizer of sorts. He graduated from STRIVE® in 2014, and he credits the experience with getting his life on track. He lost direction after his 2010 graduation from New Town High School in Owings Mills. He was fired from a job detailing cars and came to CFUF looking for a foothold.
“I really didn’t truly understand what I was signing myself up for,” Mr. Jordan said. “You think you are signing up for a job, but you’re signing up for a family—a family that wants to see you do good.”
“I am a strong believer that knowledge is power.”
After STRIVE,® Mr. Jordan enrolled in Coppin State University, which was the first step toward achieving his bachelor’s degree and breaking collegiate athletic records. He then moved from Maryland to California to play football for East Los Angeles College. In 2018, he transferred closer to home to attend Bowie State University in Prince George’s County. As a running back and slot receiver, he helped the schools set new championship records.
“CFUF gave me the confidence to go back to school,” Mr. Jordan said. “I learned so much about myself and sharpened my leadership skills. They got me focused and helped me find the direction I wanted to go in my life. I want people to have the same experience with CFUF as I did.”
“I am a strong believer that knowledge is power.”