“Why Your Pain Can Be Used For Good” with David Jordan

My guest this week is David Jordan. For close to 26 years, David has been leading Agape Child Services out of Memphis, TN. Agape serves approximately 3000 children and families each year by loving families and fighting poverty.    I wanted to have a conversation with David to understand the challenges of poverty and what it takes to succeed in getting out of poverty. Additionally, we discuss:   ·        That point when you want to throw in the towel ·        The impact of Covid-19 and poverty ·        Pivoting the organization to be proactive versus reactive ·        The power of trust when building relationships ·        And more!   Please enjoy my conversation with Davin Jordan!     RECAP   Show Notes:  1:29 Aggressive with the mission 1:41 Pivoting Covid with 130 staff 2:09 Being with each other and connecting 4:17 What it takes to keep the relationship 4:36 Where are our families at? What do they need? 4:36 What are your needs? 4:36 How have they changed? 4:36 How do we advocate on your behalf? 5:25 Two generations of fighting poverty 7:06 What is braided funding? 8:42 Relationships critical to any work 11:12 What’s working well and what’s not 13:13 Addressing barriers that prevent you from being successful 15:54 Am I good enough? 17:01 That’s where your jet fuel comes from  17:24 Your life experience is your greatest teacher 18:11 I would not have scripted this for my life 20:22 Seeing outside of yourself 23:33 Strongest sense of calling I have had 24:46 Being proactive versus reactive 28:01 Circumstances have their place 28:40 Circumstances to not need to define my future 30:13 Generational change requires a generational commitment 31:43 If you don’t know who you are you don’t know where you are going 32:25 Going deep in the communities you’re in 32:25 Keeping the voice of your people at the center 34:03 The Pandemic has backed up poverty 35:11 The significance of MLK 36:34 2.8% of people in poverty actually excape 36:34 Systemic poverty 39:49 How trauma happens 42:54 Judgement creates a divide 44:00 Why $15 an hour is important 53:17 People’s God Given desires 57:00 70% of people work here because of their own experience 1:04:50 Evidence of what you’re doing is working 1:12:22 My Job is to continue to change     RESOURCES   - Matt Haaga State Farm: https://www.matthaaga.com/ - https://abjets.com/ - https://agapemeanslove.org/