|
Men Against Destruction, and Defending Against Drugs and Social-disorder (MAD DADS)
Minneapolis Chapter
Mr. Smith will serve as a panelist and presenter during the plenary-panel discussion entitled "Community Mobilization Models," which is scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, March 20, 2007 . VJ Smith 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. Mr. Smith 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. Abandoned at the age of nine years old by his parents, he was place in foster care were 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 through out North and South Minneapolis . He is a leader in his community by promoting hope and building civic bonds with the help of concerned moms and dads. 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 DAD of the Year and the Virginia McKnight Binger Human Service Award; in 2001 in Recognition of a Hometown Hero for the week of 11/05/2004; in 2002 the Leadership Award from Boy Scouts of America; in 2003 the Abby Award; in 2004 the City of Minneapolis Civil and Humane 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 |
