VJ Smith

20+ years of service, we continue our fight against drugs, gangs

and violence, continue to work towards restoring our beloved

communities and deterring youth from a life of violence and destruction.

VJ Smith was born in Kansas City Missouri; he loves God, music and people. 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, Brooklyn Park and St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a leader in his community by promoting hope and building civic bones with the help of concerned moms and dads.

He has a passion to see the lives of young people who are heading in the wrong direction turn around. VJ has led 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. VJ is a turnaround specialist; he has turned around his life, as well as his community and youth in Minneapolis.

VJ Smith once the National President and the Founder of The Minneapolis MAD DADS. The Minneapolis Chapter of MAD DADS was created in 1998 and adopted the goals of its National Chapter, created in 1989 by African American fathers in Omaha, Nebraska. After its inception, the local chapter identified a consistent theme throughout neighborhoods and broadened membership to include individuals and families from all ethnic and racial backgrounds. In addition MAD DADS has, at the request of law enforcement representatives, expanded services to some suburban areas. As of December 31, 2019 MAD DADS served over 187,000 families. Since 1998 MAD DADS has spent more than 1,500,000 hours in the streets working to reduce violence in the Minneapolis communities. In 2007 Minneapolis MAD DADS began protecting riders on the city transit system, promoting ridership and creating safe environment for daily commuters. MAD DADS responded to over 1200 shootings since 1998. Our presence promotes peace, helps to resolve conflict, and offers alternatives to criminal and violent retaliations. Since 2014 MAD DADS has offered life-skills coaching to over 130,000 inmates at the Hennepin County Detention Center during and other correctional facilities, during our weekly visits; Conducted approximately 4,708 presentations to 27,562 youth in Minneapolis public high schools, Junior high schools and middle schools; Replication goal of MAD DADS Chapter model within EVERY state by the year 2020; As we enter our 21st Year of Service, we continue our fight against drugs, gangs and violence, continue to work towards restoring our beloved communities and deterring youth from a life of violence and destruction. VJ is also a Minister at Shiloh Temple International Ministries. And has served as a World Peace Leader for the American clergy leadership coalition. He was the President Elect for Northside Rotary International. Smith was a Community Advisor for the Minneapolis Police Department and Hennepin County Sheriff's Department. And is an active Chaplin for International Free and accepted Modern Masons.