MAD DADS

(Men Against Destruction-Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder)

The Minneapolis Chapter of Men Against Destruction – Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder (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. MAD DADS employ strategies to engage parents in the intervention and prevention of community problems, and is designed to attract, challenge, and prepare them to be vocal, visible, and vigilant in restoring safe communities and healthy families.

MAD DADS is committed to reducing tobacco use in the community by helping people quit and preventing young people from getting addicted. The MAD DADS outreach team is appalled by how the tobacco industry targets people of color and low-income populations. They worked in partnership with the Ramsey Tobacco Coalition to educate the Saint Paul community about the tobacco industry targeting young people with cheap and flavored cigars. MAD DADS has actively partnered with the Ramsey Tobacco Coalition to assist with enforcement of Saint Paul’s sign code. This ordinance limits the amount of window signage to no more than 30% of the store window area between four and seven feet. The purpose of this ordinance is to create a safer, more beautiful community. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, improving visibility from a business into the street and from the street into a business significantly reduces crime. MAD DADS has done a great deal to educate the Saint Paul business community about this law and assist the city with enforcement.