PROGRAMS

Run largely through volunteer effort, PACA has been involved in providing services for African immigrants and refugees in the Greater Milwaukee area. The organization strives to provide services that facilitate access to jobs, housing, transportation, medical care, education, and support for families.

PACA has developed and continues to successfully run 4 integral initiatives :

1. African Women Entrepreneurship : an economic development effort designed to help refugee women become economically self sufficient.
2. Coalition of African Youth : a program that creates educational activities for immigrant and refugee students.
3. After School Program for African Immigrant & Refugee students : a program developed jointly with the Milwaukee Public Schools system to help refugee and immigrant children keep up with their school work.
4. Supportive Social Services :
an initiative that engages in case management for refugees, job placement, referrals, interpretation/translation, preparation for citizenship test, etc.

Other ongoing initiaves include the Fall Resource Fair, Spring Dialogue, Lecture Series on Africa, and Community Outreach (Cultural Education & Orientation).


FOCUS 2009 - 2010

In 2009-2010 PACA will focus on developing and strengthening the following three major programs:

1. Child Development Center : to be a source of quality childcare for African refugee families; to be as a means of employment and also to remove barriers for skill development, language acquisition or even retaining a job.
2. Youth and Children Programs : to help African immigrant and refugee children and youth improve their academic achievement, develop positive social skills, appreciate and preserve their cultural values.
3. Economic Development : to create an environment for African refugees and immigrants that will help develop their employability or entrepreneurial skills towards economic self-sufficiency and thus contribute to the economic vitality of the communities they live in.