About Us
The Mission of People Acting in Community Endeavors is to deliver innovative and effective services and programs to members of the Greater New Bedford Community in their pursuit of brighter futures.
PACE opened in 1982 as a private non-profit Massachusetts Community Action Agency in response to essential services needed in the Greater New Bedford area.
Today, PACE operates more than 11 programs and employs over 140 staff members. PACE manages a budget of over $130 million. This budget is funded by a variety of sources, including city, state, federal, and private foundations and individual donors.
PACE assists those who earn a low income or live in poverty to maneuver the obstacles of poverty, which can include substandard housing, hunger, homelessness, inadequate childcare, and access to healthcare. PACE does this by providing programs that address these obstacles such as early childhood education (HEAD START), assistance with finding affordable health insurance (HEALTH ACCESS), Massachusetts rental and mortgage assistance (HOUSING CENTER), as well as our Community Food Center.
HISTORY OF COMMUNITY ACTION!
In 1964, President L.B. Johnson officially declared a “War on Poverty” and appointed Sargent Shriver to lead a Poverty Task Force that would ultimately shape the Community Action movement. Mr. Shriver presented a “poverty proposal” to Congress that led to the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.
President Johnson didn’t stop there; he also created the Office of Economic Opportunity; specifically designed to create and implement programs that would provide services to engage the “poor” and help move low-income Americans toward self-sufficiency. Community Action Programs were formed across the country, and programs such as Head Start and Job Corps were implemented. By 1966, there were more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies spread out across the country.
Since 1982, PACE has offered services and programs that create better futures for families and individuals in our community. WE ARE COMMUNITY ACTION
Call PACE at 508-999-9920 to learn more.
Snapshot
Mission & History
PACE was incorporated as a private non-profit Community Action Agency in 1982. The organization aims to mobilize and utilize public and private resources to improve the economic and social quality of life for low-income residents of the Greater New Bedford area.
A twenty-one-member Board of Directors was established as a result of community meetings held to form a new agency. This new Board of Directors elected its first President, Kenneth N. DeSilva, who served for the maximum period allowed under the Board's bylaws of ten years.
The organization of limited funds and staff grew into an agency that managed a multi-million dollar budget within the first five years. This non-profit's focus was to promote self-help for people and neighborhoods in our community. PACE Inc. has developed a reputation for responding to community needs, providing high-quality programs for low-income people, developing innovative strategies for empowering people, and working cooperatively with both the non-profit and for-profit communities.
PACE remains committed to increasing awareness among low-income people, public officials, media, and the general public regarding the causes and impact of poverty on the lives of low-income people.