EPISODE · Oct 23, 2025 · 36 MIN
From Crime to Calling: Reverend VJ Smith’s Journey from the Streets to Hope Dealer International
from YANA - Black men, You Are Not Alone · host James Trice
In this powerful and deeply personal episode of YANA: You Are Not Alone, host James Trice welcomes the unforgettable Reverend VJ Smith—a man whose journey from organized crime to national leadership and international ministry is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Kansas City, raised in the foster system, and immersed in organized crime by his teens, VJ Smith’s early life was marked by instability and survival. But after a life-changing encounter with faith and purpose, he left the streets behind and became a beacon of hope for communities across the U.S. and abroad.
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What this episode covers
From founding Hope Dealer International to leading Mad Dads nationally, Reverend Smith opens up about: • The difference between organized crime and gangbanging • How a church key changed his life forever • Why Black communities keep getting “kibbles and bits” in funding
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From Crime to Calling: Reverend VJ Smith’s Journey from the Streets to Hope Dealer International
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