Biography of a Community Leader: V.J Smith leads the Minneapolis Chapter of MAD DADS (Men Against Destruction, Defending Against Drugs and Social-disorder) with the help of other organizations committed to mentoring at-risk youth on the streets. He has a passion to see the lives of young people who are heading in the wrong direction turn around through the work of MAD DADS and its volunteers. V.J has led these volunteers onto the streets at night to bring wise counsel and a listening ear to young men and women who have never experienced a relationship with a real caring adult. V.J is a turnaround specialist; he has turned around his life, as well as his community and youth in Minneapolis.

Abandoned at the age of nine years old by his parents, he was placed in foster care where he eventually ran away and became involved with the drug trade. After an arrest in the early 1980s, he decided he had to straighten out his life. Since then, he has been promoting hope and supporting communities throughout north and south Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park and St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a leader in his community by promoting hope and building civic bonds with the help of concerned moms and dads.

MAD DADS was formed to mobilize strong drug-free men of faith to reclaim their neighborhood, one child at a time. The volunteers of MAD DADS have spent numerous hours on the streets bringing positive, proactive advice and progressive involvement with troubled youth.

VJ is truly a remarkable person who has succeeded against all odds and made a difference in the lives of others. VJ Smith has been a Minister at Shiloh Temple International Ministries, Inc. since 1995. In 1999 he was awarded the National Crime Prevention Council Award of Excellence; in 2000 the Black Pages Humanitarian Award; in 2001 the National MAD DADS of the Year and the Virginia McKnight Binger Human Service Award; in 2001 in Recognition of a Hometown Hero for the week of 11/05/2001; in 2002 the Leadership Award from Boy Scouts of America; in 2003 the Abby Award; in 2004 the City of Mpls Civil and Human Rights Award; in 2005 the Mayor’s Healthy City Award and The Minister Leslie Hypolite-Iron Man; in 2005 the Certification of Appreciation from Folwell Neighborhood Association; in 2005 the Certificate of Completion from CAST Curriculum Training of Trainers Session; in 2005 Certificate of Completion in Black Parenting Education Training Program(BPEP)-Training of Trainers Session; in 2006 the L Frances Boyd Award; in 2007 the City of Minneapolis Good Neighbor Award and the State of Minnesota Governors Council on Faith and Community Services Best Practices Award; in 2008 he was Devos Urban Leadership Graduate and in 2009 he graduated from the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute, attended the Discover Your Power Voice Training led by Les Brown and received a Certificate of Recognition for Exceptional Service to the Central Neighborhood and Extraordinary Partnership in the Promise of the Central Weed and Seed Initiative. In December of 2009, VJ Smith received the Chief’s Award of Merit: MAD DADS – C.O.P.S. Program in grateful acknowledgement of the Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement and the People We Serve; this was presented by Timothy J. Dolan, Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department. In January of 2010, VJ received the 8th Ward Community Leader Award. He is the Chair-Person and Founder of the Minneapolis Cares Program, a mentoring movement to attract mentors for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bolder Options, Kinship, and partnering with Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and Susan Taylor and the National Cares Mentoring Movement.

MAD DADS 3041 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55408