When MiraCosta College alumni Jordan Verdin ventured out onto the streets of San Diego to interview residents facing homelessness, he had no idea it would change the trajectory of his life – and the lives of thousands of others.
At the time, he was simply fulfilling a requirement for his Statistics course at MiraCosta College. Little did Jordan know though, he was laying the foundation for what would become a nonprofit organization that serves tens of thousands of people annually while challenging the stigma and stereotypes that often accompany homelessness.
“MiraCosta College was the catalyst in my life,” shared Jordan when asked about what inspired him to found Humanity Showers.
And while it’s easy to look at impact of Humanity Showers and say Jordan was destined to make a lasting difference in the world, his path to success was far from linear.
After graduating high school in 2008, Jordan enrolled in a local four-year university but struggled mightily in that first year. “I failed most of my classes and just thought that school was not for me," Jordan recalled.
As a result, Jordan opted not to continue at university for a second year and instead entered the workforce. During the years that followed, he found success working in construction and started to build a stable career. Still, Jordan knew he wanted more.
“I always had a passion for helping people,” shared Jordan. “I found myself constantly thinking about my purpose and the impact I would have in life. I knew I wanted to help my community but wasn’t sure in what way.”
That’s when Jordan decided to give higher education another try. In 2012, he enrolled at MiraCosta College and quickly noticed a difference from that first year at university in 2008.
At MiraCosta, Jordan found more than just classes – he discovered a supportive environment where he could explore his passions and potential. "I re-fell in love with learning while at MiraCosta College," he shared. "There wasn't pressure to do your classes and leave. I could explore what I wanted to do in my life and the professors wanted to see every student meet their full potential.”
His academic transformation was remarkable – the once-struggling student now found himself on the President’s permanent honor roll. And this freedom to explore led Jordan to sociology and psychology courses, which allowed him to understand the science and careers behind the community work he had always loved doing.
While a student at MiraCosta College, Jordan began spending time in the streets of San Diego interviewing residents facing homelessness. It wasn’t for money; it wasn’t for anyone else; it was solely a passion project sparked by his love for community building.
Months later, when his Statistics professor tasked his class with doing field research, Jordan thought the passion project would be the perfect backdrop for the work. He spent countless hours interviewing people experiencing homelessness, gathering stories and identifying their needs.
"People kept sharing that the biggest thing they needed was to be seen and to be clean," Jordan explained.
This insight, combined with his growing skills in research and community engagement, laid the foundation for Humanity Showers. Today, the organization operates five mobile shower units and partners with local agencies across San Diego County, providing over 25,000 showers annually to those in need. Through its work, Jordan and Humanity Showers are empowering those who are too often marginalized and overlooked.
And while the nonprofit keeps Jordan plenty busy, he hasn’t let that get in the way of his academic ambitions.
After graduating from MiraCosta College with honors, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peace Building from Cal State Dominguez Hills, while also maintaining a 4.0 GPA no less.
Today, he is one semester away from completing his master’s degree at University of San Diego, has plans to expand the impact of Humanity Showers to help even more people, and dreams of one day returning to teach future generations of students at MiraCosta College.
Looking back, Jordan credits MiraCosta for showing him that "school was actually for me." The college not only reignited his passion for learning but also equipped him with the tools to make a tangible difference in his community.
Jordan's story exemplifies the transformative power of community colleges. "What's lacking in the world right now is community," he reflects, "and I think community colleges play such an important role in bringing people together."