BY PAUL JUNOR
Citizens for the Advancement of Community Development (CACD) is a registered charitable organization that continues to make a positive difference in the lives of BIPOC youth between the ages of 10 – 24.
According to its website: cacdcanada.org, it is driven by its mandate to offer life strategies and interventions to children and youth in the 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. The purpose of CACD is to:
- EMPOWER youth through leadership training and mentoring programs designed to develop the skills for success and social integration.
- EDUCATE and foster community awareness through workshops on life skills, and crime prevention.
- SUPPORT those in need through counselling, employment training, and workshops in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, resume assistance and interview preparation.
- INTEGRATE all members of the community through teaching the understanding and acceptance of all the groups that enrich Canada’s diverse cultural landscape.
For the past two years, CACD has resorted to virtual platforms to offer its wide range of services and programs to the Mississauga and Peel communities. It is currently registering high school students for its Summer 2022 Program. The theme of the program is “Experience, Education and Employment, and Excitement.” To learn more and sign up, high students can visit the link below as early as possible
https://www.cacdcanada.org/summerprograms.
CACD released a press release that advertised a community forum that will be held on Thursday, July 7th, 2022, between 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm at the Mississauga Valley Community Centre – Program Room 1. These forums have been a platform to discuss issues around hate crimes, discrimination and systemic racism that BIPOC youth face in Peel region.
The forum in April focused on what was happening, what implications, discrimination has on student mental health, and what gaps have formed in our police and education systems.
The forum in May focused on why these issues take place, through discussions around social determinants of health, the need for policy changes and systems of reporting. This final discussion will focus on answering three questions:
- How do we support BIPOC youth find their voice at school?
- How do we support parents and families advocate for their children?
- How as a community do we mobilize lasting change?
Registrations for the panel can be done at the Website: www.cacdcanada.org
Website: www.cacdcanada.org
Facebook: CACD Canada
Instagram: cacdyouth
Twitter:@CACDcanada
