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.