Citizens for the Advancement of Community Development (CACD)

Since 2002

Established in 2002 by Ron and Sonia Cunningham, Citizens for the Advancement of Community Development (CACD) works predominantly with youth (those aged 10-24) from critical areas in the region, offering them a wide range of innovative programs that serve their unique needs, develop leadership capabilities, and fosters civic participation. CACD first began to work in Jamaica to deal with the challenges that at-risk youth there were dealing with, such as inadequate social skills, teen pregnancy, delinquency, deficient health care knowledge, criminal activity, and negative peer pressure, to name a few. CACD believed that these issues were failing a generation of youth. They were disempowered, spiritually impoverished, and slipping through the cracks when they mattered!

The CACD developed Life Skills Workshops, Employment Training, Community Policing, Initiatives, Healthy School Initiative, Computers and Sewing for skills trade development, and Leadership Training.

Our founders, Ron and Sonia Cunningham declare, “it is our vision to develop. Community/Educational Centres in proximity to schools, police facilities, health clinics and other Fundamental structural organizations, which will provide close linkage and coordination of services and supports and addresses community-identified needs and goals.” Ron believed that such Centres would represent “an important new ‘sun’ on the Jamaican horizon, a ball of light and energy that enables the Jamaican people to grow, flourish and shine. This centre will symbolize the need for communities to grow from within, where ideas are shared, and challenges are turned into positive action.”