SGC Blog Keeping the PACE: The Critical Role of Capacity-Building Programs like Partners Advancing Climate Equity in (PACE) in Building Community Climate Resilience

“What’s possible for humanity may well be determined by what we collectively do – or don’t do – in the next decade, given the rapidly collapsing environment. The PACE program helps guide participants to realize transformative change in communities all over California.”

- PACE Cohort Graduate

It’s no secret that communities of color, Indigenous communities, and neighborhoods with lower incomes not only suffer a disproportionate burden of inequities, pollution, and poverty, but have also long been excluded from the decision-making processes that impact their lives and neighborhoods. This is even more true for communities where networks of partners are loosely formed, or a lack of trust persists between local government institutions and the people they serve.

That’s Where SGC Comes In

In September 2008, SB 732 was signed into law, establishing the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC). The SGC was tasked with being a conduit between state resources and the communities that need those resources the most. By coordinating the activities of state agencies to assist and support the planning and development of sustainable communities, SGC can help strengthen the economy, ensure social equity, and enhance environmental stewardship. The Council coordinates activities that look to improve air and water quality, protect natural resource and agriculture lands, promote public health, increase the availability of affordable housing, improve infrastructure systems, revitalize urban and community centers, and assist state and local entities in meeting state climate goals.

Prioritizing Frontline Communities

In 2020, SGC furthered their commitment to helping frontline communities build their own climate resiliency by developing the Partners Advancing Climate Equity (PACE) pilot program. PACE was led by a diverse group of community-centered organizations, each with their own skills and expertise in capacity-building that included the SGC, CivicWell, Climate Resolve, Urban Permaculture Institute (UPI), Movement Strategy Center, and The Greenlining Institute. From 2020-22 these organizations worked together to develop a capacity-building program for community leaders across the state that builds the necessary knowledge, skills, and partnerships for PACE leaders to advance clean energy and climate adaptation projects in their communities. The inaugural class of PACE was funded through SGC under California Climate Investments and supplemented with funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

“At its core, PACE aims to shift power to frontline communities to develop and lead solutions at the intersection of climate resilience, energy justice, and health equity that can also help shape state priorities and programs.”

How PACE Works

PACE’s approach to capacity-building focuses on community and reflects SGC’s beliefs that community members/leaders are just as integral to planning and completing climate action projects as local and state governments. PACE features a variety of hands-on learning activities to deliver what we call the “PACE Curriculum” and teaches people how to identify community needs, develop projects from start to finish, navigate state funds and programs, and effectively manage a community’s work. Through interactive sessions and workshops, PACE participants gain access to resources and learning around:

• Leveraging resources to promote clean energy, local climate resilience, and social equity priorities.
• Creating data-driven community needs assessments and action plans centered on climate and energy justice.
• Forming and sustaining cross-sector partnerships that enhance collaborative action.
• Navigating state and federal policies, resources, and decision-making processes to achieve a clean energy transition and build climate resilience.

A Transformational Approach

The SGC launched its inaugural PACE cohort in 2021 with a group of 21 community leaders in California organizing around clean energy, tribal needs, health equity, transportation and land use, youth empowerment, environmental justice, and much more.

This first cohort of PACE resulted in the creation of new coalitions, organizations receiving their first state and federal grants, five members serving as appointees to state environmental justice or equity bodies, and most importantly, the formation of a statewide network and community of practice of current and future climate leaders in California.

But don’t take our word for it...

“The PACE experience is gentle and nurturing, yet also complex and demanding. You’ll be immersed in a community of experts and learners,” said one PACE community leader. “PACE Leaders and PACE Advisors alike grow individually and teach each other from our diverse lived experiences. You learn you have much more to learn, but you exit the program with a well-organized resource library and a cohort of peers to continue consulting with.”

“Both in my professional and personal life, the PACE program has taught me so many valuable skills, provided resources, templates, knowledge, tools, networks, and connections that will help me for a lifetime. The model itself is amazing, and I will continue to apply and replicate it in my work and community. - PACE Leader

Looking Forward

Programs like PACE are an essential building-block to ensuring that frontline communities have the skills and resources to respond to the climate crisis. In particular, PACE bridges the gap between communities in-need and their ability to access the resources or programs that build resiliency, such as the Transformative Climate Communities program or Community Resiliency Centers initiative. SGC envisions PACE as not only a critical tool to build capacity within its own programs, but a resource and opportunity that can be leveraged by a diverse array of state agencies and departments, community-based organizations, and local governments. We encourage those interested in the program to review the reports produced during the first cohort and reach out to us directly if you have questions and/or would be interested in supporting or funding the next iteration of PACE. Together, we can build up PACE as a revolutionary approach to community-led resiliency work.

“Programs like PACE are needed because the number one need of community-based organizations is capacity, and PACE provided trainings, resources and network connections that directly increased the capacity of individuals and the organizations they work in,” said Nancy Faulstich, Regeneración - Pajaro Valley Climate Action, Executive Director. “I see repeatedly that the main barriers to participation in the many opportunities unfolding around us are lack of money and lack of staff time. When unrestricted funding is supplied to enable participation, and tools, resources and experts are available to train, consult and mentor, real movement forward is possible.”

Resources

• Partners Advancing Climate Equity - Strategic Growth Council
• PACE Final Report June 2022
• PACE Recommendations Report June 2022