ABOUT PACE
We empower L.A.'s underserved communities through economic opportunity.
Everyone deserves the chance to thrive and secure their future. Unfortunately, many lack the support and resources necessary to build a solid economic foundation for themselves and their families.
At PACE, we provide comprehensive community development services that fight economic inequity and address the diverse needs of those we serve. From early childhood education, energy justice, and affordable housing to small business and workforce development, our comprehensive programs drive sustainable economic mobility in L.A.’s low income and minority communities.
PACE was originally formed in 1975 to serve the employment needs of Los Angeles’ growing AAPI refugee community. As our program grew, we realized that the most fundamental needs of our communities couldn’t be adequately addressed through job training and employment services alone.
That’s why we expanded our services to address the issues of poverty and inequity faced by Angelenos across all ethnic groups. Today, our diverse staff has linguistic and cultural competency in 40 languages and dialects to better reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of our clients.
Since 1975, over 1.4 million individuals and families have come to PACE seeking a guiding hand to achieve economic mobility and create a better life for themselves and their community. Today, PACE is known for responding to the evolving needs of our community and creating innovative solutions to the economic challenges of those we serve.
OUR HISTORY
Since our founding in 1975, PACE has been recognized as a leader in addressing poverty and economic inequity within the low-income, ethnic, and immigrant communities of Los Angeles County.
With an initial grant from the City of Los Angeles, PACE began to offer job training and placement services in 1975 to serve L.A.’s AAPI refugee communities. Overtime, we broadened our services and job creation programs and expanded our outreach into the San Gabriel Valley and the South Bay areas of Southern California.
PACE’s programs and services continued to grow, adjusting to shifts in the political and economic landscapes of Los Angeles. After our first decade, we opened an office to serve the San Gabriel Valley and a new Handy Worker program became PACE’s first for-profit-subsidiary. Following Los Angeles’ 1992 civil unrest, PACE was inspired by the needs of minority business owners and opened our Business Development Center.
While PACE began as an organization to serve low income AAPIs, PACE’s clients now reflect the increasing ethnic diversity of our target areas. Today, our community development work spans across five core programs: Employment, Education, Business, Energy, and Housing.
OUR IMPACT
Want to learn more about how PACE is making a difference? Download our 2022-2023 Annual Report!
