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About CACD

Our Prime Directive

We empower youth through excellent leadership training and mentoring programs designed to develop the skills necessary for success and social integration. We envision a community where BIPOC youth are equipped and empowered to define their purpose and path and where systems support positive and equitable youth outcomes at scale.

We educate and foster community awareness through interactive workshops that focus on life skills and crime prevention to activate the undeveloped potential of communities at risk, facilitate full self-actualization and dramatically enhance the quality of life in the community.

Where there are those in need, we provide fantastic support through counselling, employment training, and workshops in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, resume writing and interview preparation.

We strive to integrate all community members through the education, understanding and acceptance of ALL the groups of people that enrich Canada’s beautifully diverse cultural landscape.

We understand and respect the value of building communities’ character through creativity, integrity, faith, respect, and tolerance.

Change We Believe in

When we convene and connect key stakeholders, particularly BIPOC youth and their families, we create a shared vision, goals, and call-to-action designed to improve equity of opportunity vastly.

Then we can develop strategies grounded in knowledge and lived experience that leverage assets and drive changes in practices and policies to support a high-impact, collaborative approach that shifts power, opportunity, and access to youth in BIPOC communities.

Now that is Change we believe in!

Addressing Youth Violence

As the effort grew out of Crime and Violence, we embarked on an approach of Crime Prevention Through Social Development (CPTSD) which addresses youth violence, but an assortment of all-encompassing programs was designed for children and youth from ages 10 to 24 years. Program activities include After School Programs, Leadership and Empowerment, Youth Justice and Crime and Prevention, Health Promotion, Internships for Colleges and Universities and Targeted High School Programs. Participants experience improved academic achievements, self-confidence, social networking and interpersonal behaviour, volunteer opportunities, community participation and involvement, a chance to learn about diverse cultures, reduced misconduct, and risky behaviours. The benefits of these programs are advantageous, and the results are tangible.

Under tight financial constraints, limited budgets, and cuts to funding, CACD was forced to operate mainly in Mississauga with programs and activities available to approximately 500 participants annually and impacts about 1000 lives of at-risk youth every year. We have work to do, and we need your support to continue to change lives.

  • We recognize inherent strengths in BIPOC youth.
  • There are challenges, and we help them manage tough times.
  • We take action to improve our communities.
  • We help develop life-saving skills and empower them with knowledge.
  • We know they can be effective today and in the future.