Jordan’s journey began on the East Side of Chicago, where he found himself in one of the darkest chapters of his life. Homeless and questioning whether there were any good people left in the world, he was stuck in a cycle of hopelessness. “It was hard to want to do better when everyone I surrounded myself with didn’t want to learn or change,” he shared. On the verge of making choices that could have derailed his future forever, Jordan stumbled upon the 548 Foundation through a friend—a moment that would change everything.
At frst, Jordan didn’t believe the program was real. “I thought, ‘This can’t be true,'” he admitted. But once he joined, he discovered a space flled with structure, safety, and opportunity. “This program created a structure that none of us really had before. It’s given us a safe place to come, a safe place to build, and a safe place to learn things that nobody wanted to teach us.”
For Jordan, the impact of the program went beyond technical training. “Math makes sense now. Science makes sense now. Things that sounded like a different language all make sense now.” He became so passionate about the material that he even grabbed an extra solar book to study on his own time.
But the transformation wasn’t just academic. Jordan describes the program as a cleansing of his soul, an experience so profound that he dreams of one day starting a company called Changing Souls and Cleaning Souls to help others pursue trades.
“This is the most important program I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve been in violence prevention programs, community-building initiatives, and behavioral modifcation programs, but nothing compares to this. This changed everything.”
Today, Jordan’s life looks completely different. He went from sleeping on park benches to having a bed under a roof. He mentors Chicago youth, hosts a podcast called Voice of the Future to educate young people on business credit and fnancial stability, and leads a campaign to help youth start their own clothing brands. He teaches young people how to “crush the beast before the beast crushes them,” sharing lessons that he himself learned through the program.
Refecting on his time at the 548 Foundation, Jordan described it as “life-saving.” He often refers to himself and his fellow graduates as “a snowball that will lead to an avalanche of change in the community.” He believes this program is about more than just solar energy—it’s about personal transformation.
“Here, you’re gonna learn the equations that make up energy. You’re gonna learn how to manipulate and transmute—not just energy through solar but through yourself.”
Jordan’s story is proof that with the right opportunities, even the most challenging circumstances can be overcome. His journey is a testament to the power of education, empowerment, and innovation to truly transform lives.