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MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The Minneapolis chapter of MAD DADS has been working since May of 1989 to curb gang violence in the city and set positive role models for our African American youth.
And Friday night, MAD DADS is celebrating 20 years with a fundraiser concert in downtown Minneapolis.
VJ Smith has been at the helm of Mad Dads since its inception in Minneapolis 20 years ago.
"We started off just walking the streets, all of us were volunteers who had jobs,” said Smith.
The non-profit, which stands for Men Against Destruction, Defending Against Drugs and Social-disorder, has come a long way.
“So far we’ve impacted over 87,000 families, we’ve been on the streets over a million hours and we’ve helped thousands of incarcerated males turn their lives around,” said Smith.
In times of crisis in the black community, Smith is oftentimes a familiar face.
“A lot of times when people are shot or killed in our community they need to see people who look like us because we’re mainly the ones dying on the streets,” he said.
Serving the community through outreach, crime prevention and youth development, MAD DADS’ goal is to remain a source of support in the Twin Cities for years to come.
“The only thing we really chase is those that don’t have hope and we give them hope,” he said.
Starting at 5:30 p.m., the MAD DADS 20th Anniversary Concert will feature music from artists like three-time Grammy award winner artist Jamecia Bennett.
Other performances include jazz artist Jana Nyberg and national recording artists James Grear and Co.
The event is being held at the Hennepin Theatre Trust at 9th and Hennepin. Tickets are still available on their website.