Jun 10, 2025
LASHAWN JORDAN : An Unstoppable Spirit at UCP+ CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
Our UCP+Unstoppable Spirit in partnering with Rare Earth Coffee this month is LaShawn Jordan. You can click on link at bottom of page to visit Rare Earth Coffee and purchase your bags of Ethiopian Reserve Roast and enjoy amazing coffee all while supporting UCP+ Central Caifornia.
Unstoppable Spirit: – LASHAWN JORDaN Defying the Odds, One Victory at a Time
“They Told Me I Wouldn’t… So I Did” -LaShawn Jordan
A Difficult Start Met with Determination
LaShawn was born two months premature, weighing only two pounds. Doctors warned his parents he wouldn’t survive—suggesting they prepare for a funeral before he even entered the world. They predicted he’d never speak, walk, or graduate school. But even in his incubator, LaShawn showed fight—gripping his father’s hand and proving from the start that he was stronger than anyone imagined..
“They Told Me I Wouldn’t… So I Did”
LaShawn has spent his entire life proving people wrong. He not only spoke fluently, but graduated from Clovis East High School in 2007—an emotional triumph for him and his father, who cheered him on every step of the way. “It felt like vindication,” LaShawn says. “Like validation. Like, I told you so.”
Now 36 years old, LaShawn reflects on the judgment and low expectations that were placed on him simply because of his cerebral palsy. “People look at us different. We get laughed at, mocked. And yes, I notice. I feel it. But I keep going.”
Resilience Runs in the Family
LaShawn credits much of his courage and character to his late father, who advocated for him fiercely and inspired him daily. Even now, more than a decade after his passing, Las Shawn still hears his father’s voice in moments of quiet. “He wanted me to be strong. To push myself. I still wear the clothes he gave me.”
Finding a Second Home at UCP+
LaShawn joined UCP+ Central California in 2011 and immediately found a new sense of belonging. “It’s like family here,” he says of the staff and fellow participants. Through UCP+, LaShawn receives physical therapy twice a week, working specifically to improve strength in his left side—a goal his father always encouraged.
His long-time support staff, including his Direct Support Professional (DSP) Justin and his care provider at home, help him live independently and maintain a full life. “I’ve had my own money since 2014,” he says proudly. “My dad would’ve loved that.”
A Voice for Education, Awareness, and Sports
A self-declared sports fanatic, LaShawn is especially passionate about football—his Vikings loyalty going back to 1998. He talks about games with remarkable memory and intensity, recalling moments that still bring emotion to his voice. “In 2009, when Brett threw that interception… I didn’t cry. I threw something.”
He also channels that energy into podcasts, attending classes through CMAC and dreaming of launching his own show in UCP+’s upcoming media room at the new campus. “I’d have Roger as my first guest,” he says with a grin.
But beyond sports, LaShawn is deeply committed to educating others about cerebral palsy. “We’re just regular people with a disability. Talk to us normally. We understand you. And we want to be understood too.”
Love, Loss, and Looking Ahead
LaShawn has experienced significant loss—most notably his father and his first care provider—but he’s also built a beautiful life full of connection and love. He’s engaged to his fiancée, Cicely, who also receives services through UCP+. “We’ve been together 10 years,” he beams.
Even when health setbacks temporarily kept him out of program, LaShawn kept in touch with his UCP+ family, focused on healing, and returned as soon as he was able.
Why LaShawn Is an Unstoppable Spirit
LaShawn is the definition of unstoppable—not just for what he’s overcome, but for the way he continues to show up with heart, humor, and honesty. He tells the truth, speaks his mind, and inspires everyone he meets to be better, kinder, and stronger.
He is a voice for equity, a champion of visibility, and a reminder that with support and determination, anything is possible.
Raise Your Cup for LaShawn
With every sip of Rare Earth Coffee, we invite you to celebrate the unstoppable spirits among us. People like LaShawn, whose stories don’t fit in the boxes society built, but instead blaze a path all their own.
Here’s to LaShawn. Here’s to resilience. Here’s to never giving up.
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