Mission Possible’s Executive Director and Chief Empowerment Officer Matthew Smedley joins the podcast to discuss his journey partnering with Essential Impact and integrating coaching into his organization’s work on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Matt explores his personal journey with coaching and the learning he’s experienced along the way empowering economic development in one of Canada’s poorest regions.
Rev. Matthew Smedley
Rev. Matthew Smedley grew up in rural Pennsylvania and trained as a pastor. He currently serves as the Executive Director & Chief Empowerment Officer of Mission Possible in Vancouver, BC. Since 2007, Matt has helped Mission Possible become a leading community economic development organization in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. He has experienced the impact of coaching in his own life and has worked hard to see that others have the same opportunity, especially those marginalized by poverty. He is passionate about people recognizing their own abilities, self-worth and capacity for growth, and loves to see the way that can change the trajectory of one’s life.
He is the husband of the amazing and talented Kadee Smedley, who is his partner in raising their daughter, three sons and a cat.
About Mission Possible:
Mission Possible is a community economic development agency in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Since 1992, Mission Possible has walked alongside people challenged by homelessness and poverty. Through its employment readiness program and social enterprises Mission Possible is transforming lives by helping people experience a renewed sense of dignity and purpose through meaningful work.
Mission Possible currently runs two social enterprises, MP Maintenance and MP Neighbours, that employ an average of 70 individuals per year in transitional jobs.