Joe Roberts, known as the “Skid Row CEO,” transformed from a homeless opioid addict in Vancouver’s East Hastings area 1989 to a celebrated entrepreneur and motivational speaker. Roberts faced intense childhood trauma and abuse, which led to addiction and homelessness by age 18. A pivotal moment in his life came when a passerby told him, “There’s more to you than you can see,” sparking hope for change.

With support from his mother and a police officer, Constable Scott MacLeod, Roberts sought treatment, attended college, and founded a multimedia company, Mindware, achieving an 800% business increase in four years. By 2001, he was featured on the cover of Canadian Business as a top entrepreneur. Driven by a promise to “pay it forward,” Roberts launched The Push for Change in 2011, walking 9,064 kilometers across Canada from 2016 to 2017, pushing a shopping cart to raise awareness and funds for youth homelessness. The campaign inspired federal program improvements and raised significant funds.

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