No history, no self.
Know history, know self.
When PACE was founded in 1975, there were no organizations in Los Angeles dedicated to addressing the employment needs of the Pacific Asian community. We opened our doors to fill that gap, providing job placement and training for local AAPI residents. Fifty years later, our roots are still tied to the AAPI experience, even as our programs have expanded far beyond employment and proudly serve communities of all backgrounds.
But PACE’s story didn’t begin in 1975.
Our work stands on centuries of struggle, solidarity, and collective action. That’s why this four-part timeline captures not just PACE’s journey, but the broader history of activism and AAPI resilience that led to our founding. To truly understand PACE is to understand the legacy that made our work not only possible, but necessary.
I. Foundations of Anti-Asian Sentiment & Racism
1587
Arrival of Filipinos in North America
The first recorded Asian immigrants to arrive in what is now the United States were Filipinos, referred to at the time as “Luzon Indians” from the island of Luzon in the Philippines. They landed in Morro Bay, California, aboard the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Buena Esperanza.
1852
Chinese Contract Laborers Land in Hawaii
On January 3, 1852, contract laborers from China arrived in Hawaii. A report from the Hawaiian Bureau of Immigration initially misidentified their origin as Hong Kong, but it was later corrected to reflect that they had come from Amoy, Fukien.
1863 - 1869
Chinese Railroad Workers Build the Transcontinental Railroad
Between 15,000 and 20,000 Chinese laborers built the western half of the First Transcontinental Railroad, performing the most dangerous and grueling work for lower pay than their white counterparts. Despite discrimination and harsh conditions, their efforts were essential to a project that drove westward expansion and reshaped the U.S. economy.
1882
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act established a 10-year ban on immigration into the United States by Chinese laborers. This legislation was motivated by economic anxieties and racial prejudice and allowed Congress to prohibit state and federal courts from granting citizenship rights to Chinese migrants. It not only fueled anti-Chinese sentiment and racism but also reinforced the view of Chinese immigrants as expendable workers.
1892
Geary Act
The Geary Act extended the Chinese Exclusion laws and required Chinese residents to carry a Certificate of Residence. Those without one faced detention or deportation, further intensifying anti-Chinese sentiment.
1895
The "Yellow Peril"
After Japan defeated China in the First Sino-Japanese War, German Kaiser Wilhelm II introduced the term “Yellow Peril” to capture Western fears of growing Asian power. The phrase became a tool of racial propaganda that dehumanized Asian people and spread fear and hostility throughout Europe and the United States. For decades, it fueled anti-Asian sentiment by portraying Asian communities as a threat to Western civilization.
1899
The White Man's Burden
British author Rudyard Kipling published “The White Man’s Burden: The United States and The Philippine Islands,” a poem urging Western powers—particularly the U.S.—to take on the so-called responsibility of civilizing Eastern nations. Framed as a noble duty, the poem promoted imperialist ideology and justified colonial control. Its language helped reinforce harmful stereotypes that villainized and infantilized Asians and Pacific Islanders.
1942
Executive Order 9066 (Japanese Internment)
Under pressure from economic and nativist groups, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 in 1942. Though it did not specifically name Japanese Americans, it authorized military leaders to exclude civilians from designated zones—an authority used almost exclusively against Japanese Americans, many of whom were U.S. citizens and well-established homeowners and business owners.
Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt enforced a curfew solely on Japanese Americans, promoted a brief and largely ignored “voluntary” evacuation, and quickly shifted to mandatory removal. Beginning with his public proclamation, families were given as little as 48 hours to leave their homes.
Within six months, over 120,000 Japanese Americans—two-thirds of them citizens—were forcibly removed and incarcerated in government-run concentration camps. The internment was indiscriminate and unchallengeable, resulting in profound personal and economic losses.
The order remained in effect until President Harry Truman rescinded it in 1946.
1950
The Korean War
The Korean War began when North Korean troops, backed by the Soviet Union, crossed the 38th Parallel and invaded South Korea. The United Nations quickly condemned the attack and authorized a U.S.-led coalition to defend the South. The war lasted three years, claiming the lives of nearly one million soldiers and an estimated 1.5 million civilians. Often seen as a Cold War proxy, it allowed the United States, Soviet Union, and China to project military power and influence without direct confrontation. As a result, the Korean Peninsula became a key battleground in the global ideological struggle.
1954
The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War became the longest and one of the most controversial fought by the United States. U.S. involvement was largely driven by Cold War-era fears of communism spreading through Southeast Asia, with the conflict seen as another proxy war between the United States, the Soviet Union, and the People’s Republic of China. The war took a devastating human toll: over 60,000 U.S. service members were killed, along with approximately 2 million Vietnamese civilians, 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters, and thousands of allied troops. Deeply unpopular at home and abroad, the war left lasting scars in both Vietnam and the United States, shaping public distrust in government and military intervention.
II. Foundations of Activism
1965
Founding of Watts' Labor Community Action Committee (WLAC)
Ted Watkins, Sr. founded the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC) in 1965, following the Watts Riots—six days of unrest sparked by police brutality in the predominantly African American neighborhood of Watts in Los Angeles.
As an anti-poverty organization, WLCAC focused on improving the quality of life for Watts residents, bringing jobs, public transportation, elder care programs, and essential social services to a community long underserved and neglected by the city. Its work became a model of grassroots empowerment and self-determination during a time of racial and economic upheaval. The creation and success of WLCAC would later serve as a powerful source of inspiration for the founding of PACE.
1966
The Phrase "Model Minority" Is Termed
Sociologist William Petersen popularized the term “Model Minority” in a New York Times Magazine article to describe Japanese Americans as a group that had achieved economic and educational success despite facing discrimination. The term quickly spread and was applied broadly to Asian Americans, casting them as disciplined, law-abiding, and successful—supposedly in contrast to other minority groups. While it may appear positive on the surface, the “Model Minority” myth has caused real harm: it erases the diverse experiences of Asian American communities, overlooks ongoing racism and economic disparities, and has been used to dismiss the systemic barriers faced by other racial groups. This narrative has been particularly harmful in sowing division between racial groups, reinforcing racism, and preventing cross-racial solidarity.
1967
Founding of the Brown Berets
The Brown Berets (or Young Chicanos for Community Action) were founded in East Los Angeles as part of the Chicano civil rights movement. Inspired by the Black Panther Party, they adopted similar strategies of direct action, community organizing, and militant resistance to police brutality. The group fought systemic racism against Mexican Americans and pushed for broad social change. Additionally, the Brown Berets launched community programs focused on education, healthcare, and housing, which later served as an inspiration for PACE’s founding.
1968
The Beginnings of the Asian American Movement
Inspired by the Black Power conference at UCLA, members of the Asian American community organized the Sansei Concern (Spring 1968), ARE YOU YELLOW? (Summer 1968), and Oriental Concern (Fall 1968) conferences. These pivotal gatherings marked the beginning of the Asian American movement, as participants came together to advocate for Asian American studies in universities and to more broadly confront and articulate their shared experiences, struggles, and identity as Asian Americans.
1968
Founding of The East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU)
The East Los Angeles Community Union was established as a Community Development Corporation (CDC), dedicated to service, employment, advancement, and self-sufficiency. TELACU would later be a direct inspiration for PACE’s community development programming.
1968
Yuji Ichioka coins the term “Asian American”
Yuji Ichioka, along with Emma Gee, coined the term “Asian American” as a unifying identity for people of Asian descent in the United States. Rejecting the outdated and offensive term “Oriental,” the new name was rooted in solidarity and political empowerment. That same year, Ichioka and Gee founded the Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA), one of the first pan-Asian activist organizations. The AAPA aimed to bring together students and communities from diverse Asian backgrounds to fight collectively against racism, imperialism, and inequality.
1969
Black Panther Party Launches Free Breakfast Program
By 1969, the BPP’s Free Breakfast for School Children program was feeding thousands of children each day across the country. They also established free medical clinics, community ambulance services, and legal aid clinics—initiatives that inspired future community-based efforts in other marginalized communities, including within Asian American activism.
1969
Founding of Asian Involvement and Asian American Hardcore (AAH)
Japanese American Community Services (JACS), together with community activists, founded Asian Involvement, an organization dedicated to supporting and empowering Asian Americans in Los Angeles, particularly those impacted by poverty, incarceration, and systemic neglect.
Shortly after, a grassroots group called Asian American Hardcore (AAH) emerged, with PACE’s future founder, Kerry Doi, and many Asian Involvement members among its active participants. AAH operated a halfway house to help formerly incarcerated Asian Americans reintegrate into society, offering critical support and a sense of belonging at a time when few resources existed for their rehabilitation and reentry.
1970
31 Drug Overdoses in Los Angeles’s Japanese American Community Within a Single Year
In Los Angeles, the Japanese American community faced a deepening crisis in 1970, when at least 31 Japanese Americans—two-thirds of them teenage girls—died from drug overdoses. The alarming rise in deaths forced elders and community leaders to confront a long-ignored issue. This tragedy ignited urgent conversations about youth, mental health, and the pressing need for culturally responsive support systems within the community.
III. PACE's Founding
1972
Founding of Asian American Drug Abuse Program (AADAP)
In response to the alarming rise in drug-related deaths, AAPI residents and activists in Gardena came together to confront the growing crisis. Local leaders founded the Asian American Drug Abuse Program (AADAP), a pioneering effort to support affected youth and families.
The formation of AADAP was championed by South Bay Asian Involvement and the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GV JCI), who sponsored and submitted the founding proposal under their incorporation.
AADAP represented a pivotal shift toward community-led solutions and culturally responsive care, offering rehabilitation, education, and outreach services tailored to the specific needs of Asian American communities.
1975
PACE Is Founded
At the time, no organization in Los Angeles was specifically dedicated to addressing the employment needs of the AAPI community. Local community activists recognized this critical gap in economic opportunities and funding support for the Pacific Asian population. With funding allocated by Mayor Tom Bradley’s office, and sponsorship and support from AADAP, the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE) was established to meet this need.
Initially incorporated under AADAP, PACE quickly emerged as a leader in supporting AAPI-owned businesses in what is now Koreatown. In the years following the Vietnam War, PACE would become a vital resource for newly arrived Southeast Asian refugees seeking employment and economic opportunity.
1975
Fall of Saigon
The fall of Saigon marked the end of the Vietnam War, as North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces captured the capital of South Vietnam in April 1975. As the North advanced, the United States rushed to evacuate American personnel and tens of thousands of South Vietnamese allies. In the war’s final days, over 90,000 of an estimated 111,919 Vietnamese refugees and war orphans were evacuated and resettled in the United States through two major humanitarian efforts: Operation New Life and Operation Babylift.
Many of these refugees would become some of PACE’s earliest clients, turning to the organization for employment assistance as they began rebuilding their lives in a new country.
1976
PACE Is Incorporated
PACE separated from AADAP to establish itself as its own entity. This would open new opportunities for PACE’s expansion.
1978
PACE Launches Handyman Program
With support from Community Development Block Grants, PACE launched the Handyman Program to create employment pathways in the construction trades for its job-seeking clients. The program offered minor home repair services to seniors and low-income households, addressing critical community needs while providing hands-on training.
Over time, the Handyman Program evolved into a foundation for PACE Energy, as workers increasingly took on weatherization projects—early steps that reflected the organization’s growing commitment to sustainability and green jobs.
1980
PACE Launches Early Childhood Education Program
PACE introduced its Early Childhood Education Program to offer free education and reliable care for the children of working parents who were entering the workforce through PACE’s Employment Program.
What began as a support service has grown into a robust network of Head Start and Early Head Start programs that now serve over 1,500 children and families each year.
1981
Ronald Reagan Is Inaugurated as President of the United States
Ronald Reagan took office as President, marking a sharp turn toward conservative policies and deep cuts to social programs. His election also fueled growing claims of “reverse discrimination” and anti-white racism among some Americans, a reaction to the progress made during the Civil Rights era.
For community-based nonprofits like PACE, the impact was immediate. Federal funding was slashed, and PACE was given just thirty days to lay off half of its staff.
1981
PACE Develops Energy & Environmental Services Program
Building on the weatherization services offered through its Handyman Program, PACE established the Energy & Environmental Services Department as a natural next step in its commitment to sustainable community development. Over time, PACE Energy expanded its offerings to include utility bill assistance and energy conservation programs—critical resources for low-income households facing rising energy costs.
1984
PACE Develops Affordable Housing Program
PACE launched its Affordable Housing Program, building on the expertise developed through its Energy & Environmental Services Program. Years of addressing housing-related challenges—such as weatherization, energy efficiency, and critical home repairs—gave staff unique insight into the broader housing needs of underserved communities.
1990
Founding of Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF)
For years, nonprofits serving AAPI communities struggled with a lack of funding. Despite growing needs, a study by the Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council revealed that before 1988, less than 0.3% of local foundation funds were directed toward AAPI organizations. In response to this disparity, the Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF) was established to provide a dedicated source of support for AAPI-led and AAPI-serving nonprofits.
1992
Los Angeles Riots
The 1992 Los Angeles Riots erupted after four LAPD officers were acquitted in the brutal beating of Rodney King, a Black man whose assault was caught on video. The verdict sparked widespread outrage, especially in communities of color, where years of police violence, economic disinvestment, and systemic neglect had built up deep frustration and mistrust in law enforcement.
The unrest spread across South Central Los Angeles, involving looting, fires, and violent clashes with law enforcement. Over 60 people were killed, more than 2,000 injured, and property damage exceeded $1 billion. Many Asian-owned businesses in Koreatown and surrounding areas were heavily targeted, highlighting long-standing racial tensions and a lack of support from law enforcement.
1992
PACE Launches Business Development Center
After the 1992 LA Riots, many small businesses in the community were damaged and faced serious economic setbacks, including lost income, inventory, and jobs. To help them recover, PACE launched its Business Development Center, providing counseling, technical assistance, and access to capital to support underserved small businesses.
IV. PACE in the Modern Era
1999
Founding of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD)
Recognizing the need for stronger national advocacy for AAPI communities—especially those facing poverty and economic injustice—sixteen community-based organizations, including PACE, came together to form the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD). The coalition was created to amplify the voices of low-income AAPI communities and equip them with the tools and resources needed to create lasting change.
2010
PACE Launches PACE Finance Corporation (PFC)
PACE launched PACE Finance Corporation (PFC) to directly address the persistent barriers that small businesses from underserved communities face when accessing capital. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), PFC provides affordable loans and hands-on support to entrepreneurs who are often overlooked by traditional banks and financial institutions.
2021
PACE Launches PACE AID in Response to COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic strain faced by small businesses, PACE established the PACE AID (Assistance in Disaster) program to provide technical assistance and capital to small businesses across Los Angeles. The program focused on helping entrepreneurs survive the economic downturn and access resources for recovery and resilience.
2021
Stop the Hate
Launched in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, Stop the Hate is a statewide initiative that funds community-based efforts to prevent hate incidents, support victims, and promote healing across California.
PACE was awarded a Stop the Hate grant to advance this work in partnership with the Korean American Law Enforcement Organization (KALEO). Through workshops, trainings, and public education, PACE provides critical information on recognizing and reporting hate incidents, offers direct support to victims, and collaborates with law enforcement to foster culturally responsive, trauma-informed responses to hate and bias.
2021
Kerry Doi Appointed to President Biden's Advisory Commission on AANHPIs
In recognition of his decades of leadership, PACE President and CEO Kerry Doi was appointed by President Joe Biden to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The Commission advises the White House on strategies to advance equity and opportunity for AANHPI communities—an especially urgent task amid the nationwide rise in anti-Asian sentiment during and after the pandemic.
2025
Los Angeles Wildfires
In response to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, PACE’s Business and Employment teams served on the front lines city’s Disaster Recovery Centers, helping displaced workers and small businesses apply for relief grants and financial aid. Beyond application support, our staff offered no-cost business development and employment services on-site and launched the Small Business Emergency Relief Loan Program, providing $5,000 loans to help impacted businesses kickstart the recovery process.
2025
PACE Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary
What began as a small employment agency for the AAPI community has grown into a multi-service community development organization serving thousands across Los Angeles every year. As PACE marks its 50th anniversary, we proudly celebrate half a century of empowering underserved communities, advancing economic opportunity, and combating racism through service.
The Future of PACE
The goal of any nonprofit is to work towards a future where its services are no longer needed. While we dream of a world where communities can thrive without barriers to economic opportunity, that future feels increasingly out of reach. In a time of deepening inequality and economic instability, the need for our work has only grown more urgent.
As long as the need exists, we’ll continue delivering life-changing community development programs and empowering individuals and families on their path to economic mobility.
For the past 50 years, PACE has walked alongside low-income and underserved communities, and we will continue to do so for the next 50 and beyond.
Photo Licenses
- “Dawn at Morro Bay” by Fred Moore licensed under CC BY 2.0. No changes made.
- “Students for a Democratic Society members wearing gas masks, picketing Armed Forces induction station in Los Angeles, Calif., 1965” by Los Angeles Times licensed under CC BY 4.0. No changes made.
- “Four Brown Berets leaders, Fred Lopez, David Sanchez , Carlos Montes and Ralph Ramirez in Los Angeles, Calif., 1968” by Los Angeles Times licensed under CC BY 4.0. No changes made.
- “Snow in California is a great treat for the Y-NYPUM youth group” licensed under CC BY 4.0. No changes made.
- “Los Angeles Riots, 1992” by Ricky Bonilla licensed under CC BY 2.0. No changes made.