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The Push For Change: Joe Roberts at TEDxStanleyPark

3,483 views · Published 28 April 2013 · 16:23 · Indexed 3 October 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2013 · Nonprofits & Activism

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Joe Roberts, co-founder of The Push For Change with Dr. Sean Richardson, will be speaking on the topic of anything is possible. From a homeless addict living under the Georgia viaduct in his teens to a college graduate, author, speaker and consultant — earning six figures by the age of 35 — Joe is an expert in overcoming adversity and challenging the impossible.

Joe's passion is to help at-risk youth see their inner brilliance. The Push for Change motto is There is more to you than you can see. Out of his own childhood adversity, Joe developed a gift for reaching at risk youth by understanding intuitively what is at the root of their choices: a lack of resilience and low self-worth. He believes that building resilience in children, getting them to see their own brilliance, and clearing the path so they can "become what they are" is the antidote to life on the street, and the lure of drugs and gangs.

With The Push For Change initiative Joe hopes to show at-youth risk that they can achieve whatever is possible for themselves. He has spoken to more than 200,000 youth about his early life on the streets and his transformation into a successful author, speaker, and consultant. In May 2013 he will begin a cross-Canada trek pushing a shopping cart to raise awareness and funds for the Push For Change initiative.  Joe's greatest hope is to leave a legacy for at risk kids in Canada.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

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