Mom starts organization to heal families

By Susan Wenner

Herald Staff Writer

 

Author, Ordained Evangelist and Founder of Virtuous Precepts for Prosperous Living, Veronica L. Smith, of Winter Springs has a passion to share with the community. Her organization began after working with families for over 20 years and seeing a need in healing families and helping them to grow beyond their circumstances.

As a busy mom of 2 and graduate of Florida State University, Smith shared that it was her "burning desire to bridge the gap between families, the community and the church for the purpose of healing families and building a healthy community," that captivated her desire to establish her organization. "There are so many external influences that contribute to the divide of the family's structure, it's moral foundation and it's relevance in society," she said. "The stability of the family has been attacked and redefined so much so that fathers and mothers are crying out for help, support and resolutions so out of this burden we can see better healthy families and communities, 

Virtuous Precepts for Prosperous Living missions to Reclaim Family, Revitalize Community and Restore the Biblical Standard and Mandate for the Family. I am happy to see us making strides in the community through partnerships, many programs, community initiatives, and county-wide events. In our efforts through Virtuous Precepts for Prosperous Living, we will meet the spiritual and social needs of disadvantaged families through education, training, service, and resources provided to strengthen and assist families in reaching their full potential and relevance in this world society. Virtuous Precepts for 

Prosperous Living will focus on 6 target areas: Family Life, Economic Life, Spiritual Life, Education/Scholastic Life, Social Life and Community Life when accomplishing the overall goals and objectives of the organization."

She cited that it is her love, compassion and experience with families that "has allowed me to accept a greater calling on my life and believe beyond the limitations of society." She added, "All that I do, I do it for Jesus Christ and fulfilling the mission to reach out and make disciples. A part of this great mission is understanding the times in which we live and addressing many social issues that are plaguing the community and affecting the family. The biggest reality, is that these families are sitting in our congregations, playing in the local parks, riding down streets of the community and paying their debt to society, many times with no recourse."    

As the former vice president of the Central Florida Chapter of the Coalition of 100 Black Women, Smith was familiar with addressing issues affecting families and was able to organize and engage in dialogue to work toward better solutions in unresolved matters within the community such as drugs, gang violence, bullying, domestic violence, trafficking and suicide. She was also a voice in traveling and speaking on public policy, voter rights and advocating a strong presence with ground roots efforts. 

Her rewards come as she learns of the impact her organization is making on lives either in raising awareness or providing the necessary tools to navigate life successfully. She has learned that we all are "learning together and learning from each other" daily. "The little that I have becomes much to others who are deficit in the areas of my sufficiency; defined by my combined experiences, skills, talents,wisdom and knowledge. In my deficiency, I too am learning from someone else's sufficiency."

In fact, it's the help of her "Power Team" of Smith, Teanease Williamson, Kendra Pearson, Jerry Breckenridge, Yvonne Fudge, Laceta Leonard, Frank Briggs, Hazel Henry and her daughter, Kim Henry that are the "team of passionate individuals and the thrust of the overall success. She cited that Virtuous Precepts for Prosperous Living is evolving and growing after featuring their first community-wide event called, Central Florida Family Summit and the "Let Me Rally" that was also hosted that day. "People left this event inspired, engaged and eager to keep learning," she said. "I believe we are a strong presence in the community doing our part to make a difference. If one has learned, then we all have learned and when we learn we are better prepared to make informed decisions.

We are in our season of small beginnings with a bigger vision to grow beyond the local community. That vision covers the Central Florida Area in which we are now servicing  Orange and Seminole County. We want to continue to provide quality events for the family, mentoring for our youth and their families. Starting August 1, 2016, we will launch Virtuous Precepts for Prosperous Living Inspirational Radio Show (SCDJZ Radio) where we will provide daily 'Precepts for the entire Family.'"  

The organization have been recognized on the 411 radio show on (WOKB 1680), CBS Amp 101.9, in the Orlando Sentinel, the Florida Sun and featured inside in MOVE$ publication. For more information about Virtous Precepts for Prosperous Living, their website is www.v2pliving.com, phone 321-377-7482 and email is info@v2living.com.