Cynthia Liggon to Lead CAP March on June 5th
The Rev. Cynthia A. Liggon, Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Riverhead, will lead Riverhead CAP’s 39th Annual Say NO to Drugs March. The event will take place on Friday, June 5th.
Rev. Liggon is a Riverhead native, a history-maker, and a lifelong champion of young people. A Riverhead high school graduate, she was valedictorian at St. Joseph’s University, where she graduated with distinction. She is also a Magna Cum Laude graduate of New Brunswick Theological Seminary, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Divinity.
MAKING HISTORY
Her roots in the First Baptist Church stretch back four generations to her great-grandmother. At 21, she became the youngest Trustee in the church’s 100-year history. In February 2026, she made history again — becoming the first woman ever to serve as the church’s Senior Pastor.
SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE
Throughout her ministry, Rev. Liggon makes the well-being of young people a cornerstone of her work. She believes that youth are the key to our future. She challenges her congregation — and her community — to weigh every decision against a single question: “How does this help or impact our youth?
“Regardless of our own personal experience, the well-being of our youth should be the focus of our community,” she stresses.
Rev. Liggon is inspired by seeing young people achieve their goals and being excited about their achievements. Her message to students is direct and empowering: “Become the best version of you,” she says, adding that “drugs and alcohol rob you of the essence of who you are.”
“We are truly honored to have Rev. Liggon lead this year’s CAP March,” said Felicia Scocozza, CAP’s executive director. “Her lifelong dedication to the church and the Riverhead community, along with her unwavering support of young people, makes her an inspiring role model for our youth and the community as a whole.”
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Since 1983, Riverhead Community Awareness Program, Inc. (CAP), a nonprofit organization, has provided drug and alcohol prevention, education, and counseling programs for the Riverhead Central School District. CAP is best known for its two-year prevention program serving over 800 fifth- and sixth-graders in Pulaski Street School each year. The Too Good for Drugs program, taught by community volunteers and student peer leaders, concludes with the annual Say NO to Drugs March. Although the goal of the program is to prevent and delay underage drinking and youth substance use, its evidence-based foundation is rooted in building self-esteem, setting achievable goals, and increasing healthy decision-making skills.
The 39th Annual Say NO to Drugs March begins at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, June 5th, in front of Pulaski Street School; heads south on Roanoke Avenue, then west on 2nd Street past Riverhead Town Hall, returning to Pulaski Street School via Griffing and Hallett avenues. Following the march, there will be a brief ceremony on the steps of Pulaski Street School where Rev. Liggon and other dignitaries will address the students. After the ceremony, the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1742 will once again generously serve a picnic lunch to all students and guests.
