Daily Inspiration: Meet Jordan Clark

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Clark.

Hi Jordan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The idea for the Iron Sharp Community Foundation was birthed about four years ago in of all places, a snowstorm while I was driving to work. I began to receive a download for an idea to create a non-profit entity that can bring communities and partners together in a powerful way to enrich the lives of various people in the Denver area. Two words, “Iron Sharp”, came to me at that moment. My passion for health and fitness at first directed thoughts to bring communities together in health and fitness and enrich lives physically as well as mentally and spiritually. Over the next few weeks, more layers to this entity were revealed that would include events, programs, and initiatives to serve the community. Over the next two years, I spent much time in prayer and seeking the counsel of mentors and leaders to explore opportunities and direction for this non-profit entity. The vision became clear. Iron Sharp was to be a powerful vehicle to mobilize community networks to serve those in need and help steward a culture of honor and service to create a more enriched and sharpened community. Through these outreaches and initiatives, Iron Sharp is committed to establishing a standard of excellence and service that is set apart.

In December 2021, steps were taken to formalize Iron Sharp by forming a board of directors and filing with the State of Colorado. In February of 2022, the 501(c)(3) non-profit status was filed with the IRS. Iron Sharp received 501(c)(3) status in April 2022. Already, it has had tremendous reach and impact across the Denver Metro community. The outreach efforts have brought various community partners together that range from faith-based organizations, non-profits, private sector companies, and municipal and public safety agencies to collaborate on initiatives. More information about Iron Sharp, its vision, and current outreach may be found at www.ironsharpcommunity.org and below.

Our vision:
Iron Sharp dba “Iron Sharp Community Foundation” strives to build a more enriched, compassionate, and sharpened community, locally and globally through service, heart-reach, and love. By establishing long-lasting relationships with all sectors of the community, the Iron Sharp Community Foundation collaborates with faith-based organizations, non-profits, municipal governments, and private sector organizations to service communities in need and forge a better sense of community, value, and honor.

Our Mission:
The Iron Sharp Community Foundation is a faith-based nonprofit organization that is committed to building a more enriched, sharpened, compassionate, and empowered community. It accomplishes its mission through mobilizing community resources and networks through heart-reaches to communities in need, education and mentorship initiatives, and community engagement programs.

Core Values:
Service
Love
Compassion
Honor
Humility
Excellence

The need:
Now, more than ever, our communities, locally and globally continue to demonstrate significant areas of need and support and to know they are loved and valued. Ranging from Title 1 schools and at-risk youth, impoverished communities, senior living communities, special needs, local non-profit organizations, as well as our first responder, law enforcement, and veteran communities are just a few examples of communities that are in need of support and resources. Together, we can enrich our local communities and provide impactful heart-reach and service.

The Iron Sharp Community Foundation:
The Iron Sharp Community Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that builds partnerships and relationships across all sectors of the community to provide community outreach and service to underserved communities, creating a more enriched community locally and globally. The Foundation seeks to facilitate a community-wide effort that transcends across churches, faith-based and community organizations, government agencies, and private sectors. Not just outreach, but a heart-reach to those in need, establishing a standard of service that is set apart. Through mobilizing churches, non-profit organizations, municipalities, private sector industry, and public safety, the Iron Sharp Community Foundation builds a powerful engine of service impact and love. These projects would include but not be limited to: supporting Title 1 and underserved schools, at-risk youth, impoverished communities, renovation and cleanup projects, and military/first responder needs. As needs vary, the Foundation will connect with various stakeholders to identify the areas of greatest need.

Why support Iron Sharp? The Iron Sharp Community Foundation is dedicated to providing service and heart-reach to our communities in need both locally and globally through collaboration with various faith-based, governmental, and private sector organizations. Your support will help make a lasting impact on these communities.

Why the name of Iron Sharp? The name derives from Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (NKJV). This verse encourages us to not only strengthen our faith in God but also to lift one another up in fellowship,

Iron Sharp Community Foundation Center (longer-term goal)
Additionally, the Iron Sharp Community Foundation utilizes its multifunctional facility and center to serve the community in providing resources multiple levels through its recreational activities, events and community programs. This facility not only will operate as a center for recreational activities, events, and programs, the center will provide a safe space and resources for various communities in need that can include at risk youth, domestic abuse survivors and others. Through the community center’s various community program opportunities and natural relationship development, the foundation will be able to pour into the hearts and lives of communities across the Metro Area and beyond.

Iron Sharp Community Foundation Status & Current Projects
The Iron Sharp Community Foundation is registered with the Colorado Department of State as a charitable non-profit corporation and has received 501c (3) registration approval with the IRS.

2021 Iron Sharp Community Foundation Impact
In 2021, the Iron Sharp Community Foundation partnered with various faith-based and community organizations which include with Encounter Church, Aurora Police Department, the City of Aurora Youth Violence Prevention Program, the Banister Family Fund, In-N-Out Burger, Impact Exploration & Production, and others to support and provide critical resources to students and families of Lansing and Peoria Elementary School, both Title 1 Schools in Aurora. In October of 2021, Iron Sharp collaborated with Encounter Church, the City of Aurora, and the Aurora Police Department for the Faith & Blue Weekend to provide over 550 coats as well as food, baby supplies, and dignity packs to the families and students to both Lansing Elementary School and Peoria Elementary School.

In 2021, the Iron Sharp Community Foundation successfully raised over $30,000 (under the auspice of Encounter Church) through donations, grants, and in-kind donations from community partners to provide critical resources and items to over 800 students and families in need.

2022 Iron Sharp Community Foundation Impact
Iron Sharp received 501(c)(3) certification status in April of 2022, and through the support of its sponsors and community partners, it has had a tremendous reach and impact in the Denver Metro Area, raising over $27,000 and impacting over 2,500 students + families in need.

Aurora Public Schools McKinney-Vento Partnership
In 2022, Iron Sharp has partnered with the Aurora Public Schools (APS) McKinney-Vento program, which is a federal program that serves students and families that are actively experiencing homelessness. Currently, APS is serving approximately 1,100 K-12 students + families that are striving to overcome the barriers of homelessness in Aurora. Iron Sharp has entered into a partnership with the APS McKinney-Vento to provide ongoing support to these students and families throughout the year by providing gift cards, clothing, gear, essential items, and other critical resources to help enrich the lives of these families.

Iron Sharp has received a $2,500 grant from Macy’s Department Store in Aurora to serve McKinney-Vento families by providing coats, winter gear, and other essential items. Additionally, Iron Sharp, through its generous donors and sponsors, has been able to raise funds to provide $2,500 in gift cards that will be distributed to families in need throughout the 2022-2023 school year. The Iron Sharp Community Foundation is currently working with APS representatives to identify greater initiatives to serve the McKinney-Vento community and identify solutions to help 1,100 students overcome the barriers of homelessness, encourage healthy, safe, and sustainable living conditions.

Lansing Elementary School & East Middle School Partnership
Throughout the 2022-2023 school year, Iron Sharp is also partnering with East Middle School and Lansing Elementary School, both Title 1 Schools in Aurora, to provide school supplies and essential resources to support students and families that are experiencing areas of tremendous need.

On August 3, 2022, Iron Sharp, in partnership with Encounter Church and a number of community partners, was able to provide over 1,100 backpacks with school supplies to the students of both Lansing and East. Additionally, Iron Sharp was able to bring together multiple community partners in this effort to facilitate a dynamic and engaging community enrichment event for the Lansing and East communities by not only providing students with backpacks and school supplies but also provide critical resources to families of these communities. Below is an overview of services provided and the community partners that participated in this enrichment event.

August 3rd Iron Sharp Community Enrichment Event Summary – Lansing & East
• 1,156 served at East (students and families)
• 200+ students served at Lansing
• 1,100+ backpacks w/school supplies provided by Iron Sharp Community Foundation & Encounter Church
• 1,000 dental packs provided by Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics – Aurora
• 1,000 toothbrushes provided by Hammond Dental
• 1,000 boxed meals for families provided by Colorado Feeding Kids
• 800+ bags of food (9,600 meals) provided by SECOR
• 3,500 diapers and wipes provided by WeeCycle
• 45+ pizzas for Lansing Elementary School families, students, and staff provided by Dion’s
• 500+ burgers and meals for East Middle School families, students, and staff provided by In-N-Out Burger
• 45 boxes of clothing provided by Metro Ministries
• Sponsors and community partners include but not limited to the Banister Family Foundation, Impact Exploration & Production, Nelnet Advantage Security, Inc. Aurora Police Department Keller Williams Denver Southeast Highpoint Church Legends of Aurora Sports Grill Aurora Public Schools, Aurora, CO

Paris Elementary School Partnership
Prior to the start of the 2022-2023 school year, Iron Sharp was informed of an emergency request and need from the Paris Elementary School community. Paris Elementary School is also a Title 1 school based in Aurora, CO, and serves over 250 students that also demonstrate tremendous need. Representatives from Paris informed Iron Sharp’s board of directors that a corporate sponsor had unfortunately backed out of being able to provide backpacks for the first day of school. Iron Sharp was able to mobilize its network of community partners, and in less than 48 hours, over $2,500 was raised to purchase and order enough backpacks for all students of the Paris community to be delivered prior to the first day of school. Iron Sharp was honored to quickly respond to this need, and thanks to its sponsors, it was able to enrich the lives of these students and provide quality backpacks for their first day of school.

The Iron Sharp Community Foundation is currently exploring partnerships with other community stakeholders which include the City and County of Denver, Centennial Faith Council, Aurora Community of Faith, Leadership Aurora/Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Denver Public Schools, Douglas County Schools, Jefferson County Schools, the Colorado Department of Military Veterans Affairs, and International Association of Chiefs of Police and others to explore potential projects for the coming years.

Iron Sharp’s goal in 2023 is to continue this important unparalleled heart-reach and service that is set apart to impact these various communities in need. Iron Sharp would like to expand its reach in 2023 by serving over 5,000 at-risk youth, families, and other communities as it strives to create a stronger, more enriched and sharpened community across the Denver Metro Area. We need your help, and your support will not only help further Iron Sharp’s critical initiatives to the community but also help create a lasting impact for families in Colorado and future generations for years to come. Will you consider a one-time or recurring gift to support these critical efforts to help us steward and create a culture of service and honor? Support can be made online at www.ironsharpcommunity.org or mailed to 6825 S. Galena Street, Suite 307, Centennial, CO 80112.

The Iron Sharp Community Foundation is a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. Tax ID# 85-2729107.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Since April 2022, Iron Sharp has been blessed and very fortunate to have had a tremendous impact across the Denver Metro Area. To date, Iron Sharp, along with its sponsors and community partners has been able to reach and impact over 2,500 at-risk youth and families, providing school supplies, backpacks, clothing, and other critical resources to enrich the lives of these communities.

Iron Sharp is currently in the process of strategic planning for its initiatives in the year to come. This includes identifying the appropriate projects and communities in need to serve, building and growing its volunteer corps and network, as well as identifying the necessary supporters and community partners that can continually sew into Iron Sharp’s critical work. In addition to the beautiful scenery and world-renowned mountain peaks, the Denver and Colorado community is truly a gem and a special place that is home to a vibrant, diverse, and beautiful network of communities. That being said, there are tremendous needs our community is experiencing, and each of us can help play a role in making our state a better place to live, work, and play.

In 2023, Iron Sharp aims to serve and impact over 10,000 at-risk youth, families, and other communities in need through its heart-reach initiatives. We are looking for individuals and community partners that would like to come alongside of these efforts as we build a community network of partners that can mobilize for various initiatives and projects throughout the year. Furthermore, we are looking for individuals and organizations that would like to contribute financially (either one-time gifts or monthly) to help support this work in the community. If you have needs in the community or would be interested in getting involved to help enrich the lives of many for years to come, we would be honored to have you join us. Contact us by visiting www.ironsharpcommunity.org.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Jordan Clark is the founder of the Iron Sharp Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which was established in 2021. Jordan has spent the last 10 years in the non-profit industry with extensive experience in building and sustaining and long-lasting community partnerships with various sectors across the country. He currently serves as the Director of Outreach & Engagement with the Mizel Institute. In this, Clark serves on the Mizel Institute senior leadership team helping provide organizational oversight and helps spearhead the strategic outreach efforts across the institute’s two centers, the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL) and Mizel Museum. Through this role, Jordan identifies and establishes key partnerships across the country with schools, municipalities, public safety agencies, community organizations, and special events and venues to implement the institute’s various education and public safety initiatives. Jordan has helped lead the public safety training for Super Bowl 57 in Glendale, Super Bowl 52 in Minneapolis, Indy 500, FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, MLB All-Star Game, Colorado Classic, Colorado Rockies, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, and others.

Jordan is originally from Las Vegas, NV and came to Colorado to attend Colorado State University where he graduated with a double major in international studies and political science and a minor in Spanish.

He has been a member of Encounter Church for nearly 10 years and has served in various capacities from ushering, young adults’ leadership, small groups, Encounter Church security team, and helping spearhead community outreach events. Jordan also serves on the boards Metro Denver Crime Stoppers and the Aurora Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Aurora program. Jordan has a passion for his faith and has a strong desire in bringing various communities together in advancing God’s victorious love. He loves anything active, sports, hiking, camping, biking, running, reading, dancing, dogs, food, strong coffee, and a LOT of hot sauce. Iron Sharp’s mission is to bring various faith-based, municipal, private sector, public safety, and other communities together to facilitate powerful heart-reach to communities in need and foster a culture of service and honor. Jordan is proud to help steward and be a vessel of establishing long-lasting relationships across many different partners and sectors to help make our community a better place and is passionate about caring and loving others.

Any big plans?
In 2023, Iron Sharp aims to serve and impact over 10,000 at-risk youth, families, and other communities in need through its heart-reach initiatives. These projects will range from serving McKinney-Vento students and families to assist them in overcoming the barriers of homelessness, providing backpacks and school supplies to at-risk students, hosting events and programs that help facilitate and encourage a safe, healthy, and active lifestyle, as well as providing meaningful service to our veteran and first responder communities. Over the next 3-5 years, Iron Sharp looks forward to building upon this foundation and establishing long-lasting partnerships with the communities it is serving as well as with its diverse and unparalleled network of community partners that is supporting these initiatives.

Furthermore, in the years to come, Iron Sharp looks forward to establishing a dynamic center and facility that will provide a wide range of services to families and communities in need. This includes but not limited to servicing at-risk youth, after-school programs/activities, sustainable and affordable housing resources, emotional and mental health resources, community events, resources for communities impacted by abuse and violence, and more.

I am honored and excited to steward this effort with Iron Sharp, and I am convinced Iron Sharp will be a powerful vehicle of excellence and set a standard not only in Denver and Colorado but across the country, bringing tangible solutions to needs in our communities and forging a culture of honor, service, and love that enriches and values the lives of others for generations to come. Will you join me? Will you take a step and be a part of something that makes a difference, being that love and change we want to see in our world? Join this important effort as we aim to sharpen and strengthen our community at www.ironsharpcommunity.org.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ironsharpcommunity.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironsharpcommunityfoundation/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ironsharpcommunityfoundation  

Image Credits
Steve Maestas