Seward Community Co-op encourages shoppers to donate to MAD DADS, our August SEED recipient, by rounding up at the register at co-op stores and Seward Co-op Creamery Cafe throughout the month.

Co-op staff have selected SEED recipients from a group of applicants each year since the program began in 2011. All funds donated at the register are given directly to the recipient organization at the end of each month, often totaling over $20,000 per month.

What is MAD DADS?

MAD DADS is an acronym: Men Against Destruction, Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder.

MAD DADS combats social disorder, while restoring and stabilizing the family environment for children, adolescents and young adults, neighborhoods, communities and cities, with the task of addressing the issues of drugs, gangs and violence.

MAD DADS seeks to bring about positive change, and encourages, motivates and guides committed men and women in the struggle to save children, communities and themselves from the social ills that presently plague neighborhoods.

Activities are designed to promote and demonstrate positive images of fathers engaging and protecting community, youth and families.

History of MAD DADS

MAD DADS was founded in May 1989 by a group of concerned Omaha Nebraska African-American men and parents who were “fed up with gang violence and the unmolested flow of illegal drugs in their community.”

They presented themselves as positive role models and concerned loving parents who were a visible presence in communities.

The Minneapolis Chapter of MAD DADS was created in 1998. 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 representative, expanded services to some suburban areas.

The program seeks to:

• Recruit, engage and activate adults in local communities.
• Serve as parental role models to children, adolescents and young adults.
• Guide, instruct and influence children, adolescents and young adults in a way that ensures the healthy development of each child’s emotional, spiritual and physical well-being
• To combat social disorder, while restoring and stabilizing the family environment for children, adolescents and young adults, neighborhoods, communities and cities, with the task of addressing the issues of drugs, gangs and violence.

To learn more, visit the local organization’s website: minneapolismaddads.org.