CLEVELAND, Tenn. (July 3, 2023) – OrphanWise Inc., a charitable organization that equips adult caregivers to work with children who have experienced trauma, today announced that Jordan Freshwater has been hired as Director of Community Engagement. In her new role, Freshwater will manage OrphanWise’s extensive network of partners in the Tennessee Valley region, facilitate trainings and manage grants from application to completion.
“Even as OrphanWise’s impact has increased exponentially in the past few years, relationships are still at the heart of everything we do,” said Katie Rinaudo, Founder & Executive Director of OrphanWise. “As our organization expands to meet the many needs of our community, the skills and expertise Jordan brings to the table will help OrphanWise form and maintain vital connections with our community partners.”
After graduating from Lee University with a degree in Psychology and TESOL, Freshwater continued her education at Lee University completing a master’s degree in Holistic Child Development. While studying, Freshwater worked at the university as the Housing Assignments Coordinator for Residential Life and Housing. Freshwater’s educational program instilled her with a passion to equip and empower caregivers. This desire led to opportunities to develop trauma-sensitive materials for caregivers serving in organizations in both Africa and South America. Freshwater was invited to travel to these locations to provide trainings based on the materials that were created. After completing her schooling, Freshwater participated in an internship program with For His Children (Hogar Para Sus Ninos) located in Ecuador. Freshwater served alongside the caregivers at the organization’s two children’s homes and provided trainings on trauma and strategies for healing.
When Freshwater returned to the United States, she was hired at an immigrant youth shelter where she served in several roles as a youth care worker, case aide, and PE/Social Studies teacher. Freshwater later transitioned to a case manager role at Centerstone, a mental health organization, providing emotional support, health promotion, and community resources to her clients.
Freshwater is based in Cleveland, Tennessee, where she is actively involved in her community. Since 2016, Freshwater has been a volunteer, friend, and leader in a local non-profit called International Friends Network (IFN). IFN seeks to create community and a shared sense of family to international residents of East Tennessee through hospitality, community events, social services, and cultural exchange. It is common to see Freshwater sharing meals with her international friends, caring for children while parents work, and providing rides to families for IFN events. Freshwater is also actively involved in her local church and has recently completed the steps to be a care counselor to provide support for those in her church body.