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MAD DADS
membership swells 500%

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LOS ANGELES--Kenneth Riley heads the Los Angeles Chapter of MAD DADS (Men Against Destruction Defending Against Drugs and Social disorder), a Omaha, Nebraska-based organization that boasts 47 chapters in 12 cities.

The L.A. Chapter was formally launched last October shortly before the Million Man March. In one year, membership has swelled from 50 to 300. "Since the Million Man March I have seen somewhat of a growth in our numbers but not as much as I would like to see," Mr. Riley said.

MAD DADS actively recruits members but some people do not follow through on their commitments, Mr. Riley said--a trend he'd like to reverse.

MAD DADS emphasizes male involvement with the youth because men have traditionally been absent from the home with dire consequences to the community.

MAD DADS was founded in 1989 in Omaha by John Foster to make the streets safer after his son, who while visiting from college was beaten and nearly robbed by gang members. Mr. Foster and groups of men began patrolling the streets and creating opportunities for the youth by setting up mentoring programs, serving as positive role models, and teaching accountability, individual responsibility, and the dangers of drug and substance abuse.

"Right now we're trying to establish teen centers all over Los Angeles which will serve as safe places for the kids to come and play or do their homework," Mr. Riley said, adding that his long-term goal is to set up a pen-pal program that will allow men in prison to correspond with the youth.

"Anybody, no matter what their background, no matter what they did in the past, if they have a good heart, these kids will be receptive to them," Mr. Riley said. "We just need men to get involved to show our children that we love them and want the best for them."

For more information contact MAD DADS, 4435 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90043, or call toll free 1-888-MAD DADS.
--Rosalind Muhammad