DISTRICT CONFERENCE & LEARNING 2022

REACH is a dynamic non-profit organization celebrating inclusion and diversity of ages, cultures and abilities through the power of music and the performing arts.

Their programs and shows are truly inclusive, empowering and inspiring. Each of us has something special to share with, and to learn from others regardless of background or ability. REACH enables this to happen in amazing ways!

Joe Roberts aka The Skidrow CEO is an expert on resiliency and change. Having experienced both catastrophic failure and extraordinary success Joe teaches how to overcome the roadblocks that get in the way of high performance.

He helps companies and individuals redefine what’s truly possible by confronting limiting mindsets. Participants at Joes’ events leave inspired and moved to action.

What is most amazing about Joe is that in 1989 he was living on the streets of Vancouver as a homeless skid row addict. Through perseverance, determination and his resilient human spirit, Joe pulled himself out of the darkness and despair, to become a highly respected business and community leader.

Joe’s message is relatable, humorous, honest, raw and unforgettable. He tackles the stigma associated with mental health and addiction in a straight forward authentic way that comes from his personal life experiences.

Since 1989, Joe has acquired two college diplomas, became the CEO of one of Vancouver’s leading multimedia companies, walked across Canada and achieved more success than he could ever have imagined. Joe has been recognized by MacLean’s Magazine as one of “10 Canadians who make a difference,” won the BC Courage to Come Back Award, received The Ontario Premier’s Award for Business, was given an Honorary Doctorate from Laurentian University and was recognized by the Senate of Canada with their Canada 150 Medal. Recently Joe was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) from The Governor General of Canada.

Joe’s business solutions have made millions of dollars for his clients, across a variety of business sectors. It is from this experience that Joe draws when addressing Fortune 500 companies, professional associations and organizations internationally.

Joe is also the Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Push for Change Foundation, a charity advocating for youth homelessness prevention. Joe walked 9041KM across Canada from May 1, 2016 until September 29, 2017, pushing a shopping cart to raise money and awareness about youth homelessness.

Jennifer Freeman joined PeaceGeeks as its new CEO in April 2020. A native of Canada, she has worked in conflict zones, refugee settlements, nonprofits, universities, and with peacebuilders from over 55 countries.

Relentlessly curious, Jen brings her experience in organizational leadership, research, and practice to lead PeaceGeeks as it leverages technology, digital media, and design thinking to support peacebuilders in Canada, Jordan, and around the world.

As Chief Geek, Jen heads the organization that began as a startup to now emerge as an industry leader. Her origins in peacebuilding began 18 years ago, learning from civil society leaders in Northern Ghana, then from community leaders in refugee camps in East Africa, youth in detention facilities, and during a decade working with Women PeaceMakers at the forefront of responding to violent conflict and extremism in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Jen has been at the forefront of developing strategic initiatives and public-private partnerships that leverage technology to enhance the safety, security, and agency of peacebuilders around the world. Before joining PeaceGeeks, she was the Associate Director for the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego, where she oversaw their domestic and international peacebuilding programs; and was Professor of Practice at the Kroc School of Peace Studies. Prior to that, she developed and ran the institute’s Women, Peace, and Security programming, working with corporations and organizations such as Symantec, Inc., to support the digital protection needs of peacebuilders, and with Cigna Healthcare for executives to learn adaptive leadership strategies from peacebuilders from conflict-affected contexts. She is currently a remote visiting fellow at the London School of Economics’ Centre for Women, Peace and Security, and advisor to the Network of Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, as well as a member and partner of the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL).