Our Vision

PACA envisions African immigrants and refugees making a smooth adjustment into American society, enjoying the rights and fulfilling their obligations as integral members of their community.

Our Mission

PACA brings together all people of African descent to preserve and enrich African cultural values through education, empowerment and dialogue; serving the needs of African immigrants and refugees and of the greater Milwaukee community.

Goals & Objectives

Through several programs and intiatives PACA seeks to achieve the following goals and objectives :

• PACA achieves its goals by facilitating the adjustment process of new African immigrants and refugees to the American way of life with dignity and directs them to available resources.
• PACA preserves and enriches African heritage through cultural celebrations and by connecting refugees and immigrants to their cultural, national, ethnic, and religious communities in the Greater Milwaukee area.
• PACA provides ways and means to strengthen family relationships through interfamily and community support.
• PACA brings together all communities, especially the African and African American communities, through dialogue, educational workshops, and panel discussions.
• PACA increases community awareness of African issues that impact humanity.

History of PACA

PACA started in 1999 as a Pan-African Committee addressing the issues and needs of African refugees and immigrants in the Milwaukee metro area. The founding members of the Pan-African Committee agreed to transform it into a nonprofit organization; the name Pan-African Community Association (PACA) was chosen by consensus. The process to make PACA a nonprofit organization started in 2002. It was incorporated in 2003; and completed its strategic plan in 2004; that same year it received its 501(c) 3.

PACA's initial grant came from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee - Campaign for Human Development fund to implement its African Women Entrepreneurship (AWE) initiative. From 2005-2008, PACA received $22, 000 from CCHD-Local. In 2006, PACA received a three-year grant from the Office of Refugee Resettlement for Ethnic Communities' Self-Help Program in the amount of $151,919/year that helped the nascent organization to open an office and hire staff. In the last three years PACA has been building capacity and expanding its services. For example, PACA provides supportive social services to African refugees that have been in the country for less than five years. Additionally, PACA has several programs in place, such as Coalition of African Youth (CAY), After School Program for African Immigrants and Refugees (ASPAIR), AWE, Spring Dialogue and Fall Resource Fair.

PACA reaffirms its vision, mission and objectives to continue to be the voice, the cultural interpreter, and information clearing house to meet the diverse needs of our communities in the Greater Milwaukee Area. It will continue to foster dialogue and mutual understanding between Africans and the larger community. It also puts a special emphasis on building trust between Africans and African Americans affirming our common heritage. PACA staff and board members will be available to help the community have a better understanding of Africa and its people through seminars, workshops, training for cultural diversity and providing a first hand information on Africa, its cultural and social values.