Citizens for the Advancement of Community Development (CACD) is a Black-led youth focus Registered Charitable Organization dedicated to to transforming the lives of BIPOC Youth between the ages of 10 - 24. Since 2002, CACD has worked with the communities to transfer the lives of youth through programming that serves their unique needs, develops leadership capabilities, and fosters civic participat
ion. Our mandate is to offer positive life strategies and interventions to children and youth in order to enhance resiliency and decrease risk by providing additional socio emotional support, academic development, skill building and community outreach in a safe and supportive environment with caring adults. Our Vision is that youth in the community are empowered to develop their potential, live healthy lives, becoming safe, self-reliant, spiritual, and active in their community as citizens and leaders. Our Mission is to ensure that CACD Provides effective programs and services to to youth for character and skills development, leadership, and active citizenship. Target Group: We are non-culture but place special emphasis on BIPOC youth, particularly African, Caribbean and Black ( ABC) due to numerous researches that show this community as having an extremely high needs rate. Geographic Focus: BIPOC youth in the Peel Region, particularly the Mississauga neighbourhoods of Cooksville, Dixie and Hurontario. CACD’s typical activities Includes: • life/social Skills workshops, • leadership and empowerment seminars, • mentoring, parenting workshops, • youth justice workshops, • settlement & integration, diversity & inclusiveness, and community connectivity • sports, arts & culture • health promotion, • music dance video • and other as-necessary social services
It is our desire to engage these youth with these creative measures to turn their energies from gang, guns and Drugs and be empowered by offering them a safe place to express themselves. CACD has approximately 40 members, 50 volunteers and a board of 7 members supporting the overall management of the organization as well as program delivery. Our primary demographic is youth ages 10 – 24 with an average of 20 participants in our daily sessions. CACD actively promote its web-site and advertises in community newspapers and local television; and utilizes the social media: My Space, Face Book, and Twitter to engage youth. CACD works collaboratively with several organizations in the community including Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board; Peel District School Board; City of Mississauga; Mississauga YMCA; Achev, Trios College, Black Committee Action Network (BCAN), Black Community Advisory Council(BCAC), Peel Youth Village; Toronto Police Service; Region of Peel Police; King-Bay Kids; the African Canadian Legal Clinic, United Way, the Region of Peel, Mississauga Valley Community Centre and Library etc. We work with many of the above organizations to refer our participants who have needs that are outside of our mandate. This ensures that we use a holistic approach in our work with clients. We opened our permanent facility at the Mississauga Valley Community Centre on September 3rd for operations management and programme delivery to meet the need of the community.
