Today we’d like to introduce you to Claris Nkwenti.
Claris, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey has been one of resilience, rebuilding, and purpose. I came to the United States as an immigrant, and like many people starting over, I faced many personal, financial, and emotional challenges while raising my children(who were still back home in Cameroon) and trying to create stability for my family. Those experiences opened my eyes to how many women, single mothers, immigrants, widows, and vulnerable families suffer silently without support or resources.
Instead of allowing those struggles to break me, I used them as motivation to build something meaningful. That is how the Commonwealth Association for Sustainable Development (CAFSD) was born. What started as a passion for helping people has grown into a nonprofit focused on supporting single mothers, youth, widows, and underserved families through food support, empowerment programs, mental health advocacy, and community outreach.
At the same time, I continued pursuing my education in social work because I wanted to serve people not only from experience, but also professionally and ethically. Today, my goal is to combine compassion, advocacy, and community service to create safe spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to rebuild their lives. My story is still being written, but every challenge I faced helped shape the mission and heart behind CAFSD.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Like many people trying to build something meaningful from the ground up, I faced financial struggles, emotional stress, self-doubt, and the pressure of balancing multiple responsibilities at once. As an immigrant, single mother, student, and nonprofit founder, there were moments when I had to juggle work, school, parenting, and community service all at the same time while still trying to stay mentally and emotionally strong.
One of the biggest struggles was building CAFSD with limited resources while still trying to gain trust, visibility, and support in the community. There were times when I felt exhausted and overwhelmed, especially when trying to help others while also navigating my own personal challenges. I also learned that leadership can sometimes feel lonely because people often see the vision after the hard work has already begun.
But every challenge strengthened my passion and reminded me why I started. The struggles gave me empathy, resilience, and a deeper understanding of the people CAFSD serves. Today, I see those difficult moments not as setbacks, but as part of the foundation that shaped both the organization and me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the founder of the Commonwealth Association for Sustainable Development (CAFSD), a nonprofit organization that supports vulnerable populations, especially single mothers, widows, youth, immigrants, and underserved families. Our work centers on community support, empowerment, mental health awareness, food assistance, resource connection, and the creation of safe spaces where people can heal, grow, and rebuild their lives with dignity.
In addition to leading CAFSD, I have a full-time job and am pursuing my Master of Social Work degree because I believe in combining lived experience with professional knowledge to better serve people and advocate for lasting change. I am especially passionate about trauma-informed care, women’s empowerment, emotional healing, and helping people regain hope during difficult seasons of life.
What I am most proud of is being able to turn pain into purpose. Despite many personal and professional challenges, I continued to show up for my community and build something that genuinely impacts lives. I am proud that CAFSD is becoming a place where people feel seen, heard, supported, and valued.
What sets me apart is my ability to connect deeply with people from both personal experience and professional understanding. I do not just serve from theory — I serve from empathy, resilience, and real-life experience. I believe people heal best when they feel genuinely understood, and that heart-centered approach continues to shape both my work and my leadership.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I believe the nonprofit, mental health, and community support sectors will become much more focused on holistic and trauma-informed care. People are no longer looking for temporary help alone — they want long-term support systems that address emotional wellness, financial stability, housing, education, and community connection all together. There is also a growing awareness around mental health, especially within immigrant communities, women, and underserved populations, where these conversations were once heavily stigmatized.
I also believe that technology and social media will continue to change the way nonprofits connect with communities, raise awareness, and provide support. More organizations will begin offering virtual counseling, online support groups, digital resource platforms, and community education through social media. At the same time, people are becoming more intentional about supporting organizations that are transparent, authentic, and directly involved in the communities they serve.
What excites me most is that the future is moving toward more compassion-centered and community-driven approaches. I believe organizations that genuinely prioritize human connection, cultural understanding, and empowerment will have the greatest long-term impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cafsd.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cy7LpzNTa/
