Our Story
Pacoima Beautiful (PB) was founded in 1996 by five relentless mothers who became distraught by the unpleasant sight of trash and toxic smells they endured while walking their young children to school. They knew that the only way to create a safer and cleaner community for their children and neighbors was through collective action, and so like good neighbors they joined forces to bring Pacoima some of its first major community clean-ups and tree planting events. The beautification projects of our founding mothers set the grassroots foundation that our historically women led organization has stood by for the past 25 years.
Today Pacoima Beautiful is the only environmental justice organization in the Northeast San Fernando Valley striving for community improvement. We are a dedicated team of leaders, planners, organizers, health promoters and advocates for a healthier and safer Northeast San Fernando Valley.
Our Vision
Through collective action, we strive to create a safer and cleaner community where children, their family and neighbors can thrive. We believe that Pacoima and the Northeast San Fernando Valley residents are powerful and transformational environmental justice leaders who are stewards of our environment, health, and communities.
Our Mission
Pacoima Beautiful is a grassroots environmental justice organization that provides education, impacts local policy, and supports local arts and culture in order to promote a healthy and sustainable San Fernando Valley.
Our Values
Our mission driven work is guided by our set of values:
- Equity – We strive to rectify the injustices experienced by our communities through collective action and a commitment to our mission.
- Collaboration – We demonstrate our dedication to uplifting community voices by intentionally creating opportunities for community to inform decisions and committing ourselves to holding space for community to speak for itself when practicing their civic duties.
- Diversity – We are committed to welcoming different perspectives, ages, races, genders, sexual identities, and religions.
Power-with – We are committed to movement- building by nurturing people power so our communities can influence policy and decision-making to create a more sustainable community. - Integrity – As an organization grounded in a grassroots approach, we are accountable to our members, who keep us steadfast on the mission, and vision on which Pacoima Beautiful was founded. We work transparently to engage the community in a participatory processes.