The Prosperity Denver Fund communications team recently sat down (virtually!) with the organization’s new CEO Matt Jordan to learn more about his history and his passion for post-secondary education.
As CEO, Matt will lead the Fund’s overall strategy, operations, and outreach to Supported Organizations and the community at large.
Fund: What is your connection to post-secondary education?
MJ: Personally, there was a turning point early on in my childhood where I was able to see first-hand the effects of post-secondary education. Both of my parents were still in college when I was born; and as any parent knows, having a kid — regardless of your age — is a huge undertaking.
While my parents divorced when I was three, my mother was still committed to her education. It took her seven years, but she graduated from college when I was five years old. From that point forward I saw her life change dramatically with the new opportunities that opened up for her, which obviously affected the manner in which I was raised and the opportunities that were then passed onto me.
Professionally, I’ve been working in public policy and community development for twenty-five years and my last job at the Education Commission of the States had me working with incredible education leaders from across the country. I started my career in city government attracting companies to communities and focusing on workforce quality and attainment. It was there that I became interested in post-secondary education’s impact on creating stronger communities and economies.
When I became more deeply involved in the education sector, I witnessed the realities of social determinants — how people with degrees were generally healthier and had better life outcomes. This was eye-opening, and I’ve become passionate about addressing this over the years.
Fund: Where did you go to school?
MJ: I went to the University of Kansas. I chose KU for undergrad because it was the best option available to me. It was away from home, but it wasn’t too far away. And, more importantly, it was affordable. I went back to KU for my Master’s Degree after spending a year in VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) doing community development work and I was exploring going to D.C. to work on Capitol Hill. I was accepted to American University but ultimately decided to go back to my alma mater to focus on my local community. At the time, KU also had one of the best city management programs in the country.
Fund: Did you have any role models growing up? Who stood out the most?
MJ: My mom and her college journey. I still think about her perseverance. Both of my parents were huge inspirations. They both worked in public service; mom was a social worker, and dad worked his way up to being the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services.
I was also close to my grandfather on my dad’s side. He was a WWII veteran and moved to Kansas after the war where he ran a small business. I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with him, and I learned a lot about having a service mindset.
Fund: You’re not a Denver native, but you’ve been here for many years. What brought you here?
MJ: You know, I wasn’t born here but I got here as fast as I could. My wife and I wanted our son to grow up here and to be from Denver, as we always viewed it as the ideal place to be. There were many educational opportunities in Kansas, but we felt that the opportunities here are second-to-none. As with our son, we want to help all kids in Denver have access to these opportunities.
Fund: How have you gotten to know the community?
MJ: My initial introduction to Denver was as a consultant to the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, The Denver Foundation, and the Education Commission of the States, who eventually became my full-time employer. I often visited Denver for these clients and really fell in love with the city during those times. I love the neighborhoods, the urban form of downtown, and the public transit. I’m a public transit geek! But I especially love this time of year. The summer mornings are amazing regardless of how hot it is in the afternoon.
Fund: What have you seen as the biggest challenges in Denver’s post-secondary education scene?
MJ: The Colorado paradox: the idea that Colorado, Denver in particular, attracts people with post-secondary degrees yet we as a community haven’t graduated our own at the same rate, especially in the underserved areas. With PDF, I think we can make a big difference here. We can help students graduate at higher rates and create a more equitable community.
Fund: What attracted you to Prosperity Denver Fund?
MJ: The idea that the voters of Denver chose to invest in the future of the community. They democratically chose to help guide and leverage the Fund’s investment in creating a place that is more equitable and where locals can grow up to succeed.
Fund: What is your vision for the future of post-secondary education?
MJ: I see it as the key gateway and catalyst for individuals to make better lives for themselves. Organizations that support scholars should also support those who haven’t historically succeeded. By investing in these kinds of students, I believe we can create a situation where our society as a whole is more economically sound, more vibrant, and more democratic. Simply put: we can improve our society by helping more students access and finish college.
Fund: Any final thoughts?
MJ: It’s still amazing to me that the voters of Denver made this commitment to post-secondary education. They’ve created a tremendous opportunity to have the Fund work collaboratively within the community to address the many social and racial issues we are facing. The Fund in itself is a part of our recovery, and, as a community, I believe we have the leadership and resources to make it happen.
