People's Academy for Community Engagement (PACE) is our civic leadership development program dedicated to building the skills of community members in a multicultural participatory learning environment. Participants learn hands-on strategies in community organizing, community-building, neighborhood planning, leadership, and outreach specifically to underrepresented communities. It focuses on the city of Seattle’s governmental structure and processes and the role of its neighborhoods.

Our vision is "a city government of all people, by all people, and for all people." 

The Participants: 
The class is designed for 25-30 emerging leaders who are newly engaged in the community and want to acquire additional skills to be more effective in civic leadership. PACE participants have the opportunity to:

• Refine their organizing and communication skills.
• Increase their community and individual capacity to sustain vital neighborhoods.
• Identify resources and avenues to empower communities.
• Cultivate a deeper appreciation of cultural competency and inclusive civic engagement.

In addition, PACE participants collaborate on projects and build new relationships with community leaders. Upon graduation, they will have refined their skills to be more effective in civic life working with other community groups in community building and engagement efforts.

Click here to view the list of 2012 graduates.

PACE graduates Lauren Balter and Anthony Davis reflect on their experience.

Curriculum and community projects: 
Sessions are held monthly and topics include:

• Approaches to leadership
• Inclusive outreach and public engagement
• Community organizing
• Accessing government
• Event planning and meeting facilitation
• Community project management, resource development, and problem solving
• Public speaking and effective communication 

Participants have monthly homework assignments that emphasize the practical application of lessons learned. Participants also complete a community based project.

Click here to view a list of 2012 projects.

Our Facilitators: 
Our facilitators come from community and nonprofit organizations, and city of Seattle departments with expertise in the session content and the ability to engage a group and elicit participation.

Click here to view a list of 2012 facilitators.

PACE Advisory Board and Mentors:
This board of community activists, community leaders, and leadership experts helps to steer the development of this program. Their visionary and creative input has been invaluable over this past year. Advisory board members serve two years.

Click to view a list of 2012 Advisory Board members and mentors.

The role of the mentor is to help graduates stay engaged in their community work and to help support them in applying the skills and strategies they learned in their community work.