Matt Smedley grew up with a limited understanding of poverty and the misconceptions surrounding it. Like many others, he believed that hard work and avoiding mistakes were enough to ensure a prosperous life.

However, he soon realized that this narrative was far from reality, especially for those facing poverty. Matt became aware of the multitude of factors contributing to people's financial struggles and the immense challenges they faced in breaking free from the cycle of poverty.

Inspired by a desire to understand and address these issues, Matt dedicated himself to advocate for change. He recognized that some individuals lacked the perspective or motivation to empathize with those less fortunate, believing that their own success was solely a result of superior intelligence or work ethic.

Through his role as Executive Director and CEO of Mission Possible, Matt aims to challenge these myths and foster a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Key takeaways

1. Housing Crisis Solutions: Discover why investing in housing might be the cost-effective answer to a growing homelessness issue, and how gentrification and policy play crucial roles.
2. The Power of Social Enterprises: Dive into the transformative impact of social enterprises in combating poverty, their challenges, and their potential to reshape communities.
3. Challenging Poverty Stereotypes: Uncover the myths about poverty, learn how personal connections can shift perceptions, and why an inclusive society could be the key to change. Listen to real stories that will challenge everything you thought you knew.

Key quotes

• Understanding Poverty through Volunteering: "And so ultimately, what got me involved here was the chance to volunteer. And lots of people volunteer at organizations, and they do it with good hearts and good intentions. They want to help out, and I think that's why most people do it. But the reality is when you volunteer and you kind of get connected to a community that really is struggling, you can't help but be changed yourself. And so for me, really, that's what happened." — 00:02:30-00:02:56
• Downtown East Side Community: "Incredible people have endured some really incredible hardships and they're just inspiring to me. Really amazing people." — 00:03:51-00:04:00

Connect

Interested in learning about entrepreneurship and innovation from thought leaders around the world? Consider subscribing to our weekly newsletter and checking out our other content: https://horizonsearch.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Recommended Resources (Affiliate)

• Castmagic (https://get.castmagic.io/horizonsearch) has helped me prepare the show notes. It provides summaries, timestamps, key quotes and a lot more, including custom prompts.
• Experience seamless recording with Riverside.fm, (https://www.riverside.fm/?via=horizon-search) where high-quality audio and video are recorded locally on each participant's computer, eliminating the common issues of internet connectivity. Say goodbye to stutters and delays, and enjoy a smooth recording experience.