VJ SMITH: MAD DADS of Minneapolis Positive role modeling is at the heart of the MAD DADS program, which was presented Feb. 5 by VJ Smith, president and CEO of the MAD DADS of Minneapolis and also president of the national organization. MAD DADS is an acronym for Men Against Destruction, Defending Against Drugs & Social Disorder. A nonprofit, it seeks to encourage and motivate young men and women by modeling good parenting and by building relationships in the areas it serves, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Brooklyn Center, and Brooklyn Park. It has contracts with the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and Metro Transit to provide a variety of programs and services – including street outreach – and to be a conduit for services provided by others. For example, in one program the MAD DADS engage young people on public transit in rough areas of town, keeping order as they encourage good behavior. |
Who is Bob Solohub? Fortunately for us, he’s a longtime Rotarian who has given back to the A.M. Rotary Club in many ways. Bob has been retired about 19 years after a career with Johnson & Johnson that took him around the world. He turned 80 years old last year, and has been married 55 years to Iona; they have a son whose daughter is in high school.
