Pacific Gateway Center Lemongrass Cafe

Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship. Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship.

First Friday Hawaii
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Pacific Gateway Center Lemongrass Cafe
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Date: Friday - 6/1/2012
Time: N/A
Location:
Pacific Gateway Center
83 North King Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
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Cost: Free

ABOUT PACIFIC GATEWAY CENTER

OVERVIEW

For many years, Pacific Gateway Center (PGC) has been the portal for immigrants and refugees seeking a land which would give them the opportunity for a better life. To this end, we have developed programs and services that nurture the development and acculturation of immigrants and refugees as well as low income Hawaiians who have not had access to resources which would provide the freedoms that we have taken for granted. Our work is not only of great value to the local community but also serves as the threshold to many other states that will absorb these new people into the American culture.

MISSION

The purpose of the Pacific Gateway Center is to help immigrants, refugees and low-income residents of Hawaii gain access to opportunities and services through the building of skills that lead to self-sufficiency while respecting the integrity of diverse cultural heritages. Pacific Gateway Center's values include: Food, Diversity, Spirit of Aloha, Humor, Creativity, Integrity, Mutual Respect, and Teamwork.

SERVICES
Social Services:

Hawaii Language Bank
Immigration Services
Refugee Resettlement & Matching Grant
Food bank

Employment and Training Services:

Employment Core Services for Immigrants
Employment Core Services for Low Income
Small Business Management Training
English as Second Language Training
Kitchen Incubator Training

Economic Development:

USDA Homeownership Kauai
RED Manini Microloan Program
Employment Creation for Refugees, Immigrants, and Low-Income

The Retail Incubator:

Another project of PGC is the Retail Incubator, which provides space and marketing services for clients of PGC. The majority of the clients will be related to the Culinary Business Incubator and therefore, a caf is part of the marketing program. On the second floor, the Retail Incubator will provide services for retail products such as computer services, packaging, and accounting.

Catering:
A new initiative of PGC has been a catering service for such events as weddings, meetings, and funerals. Using existing facilities and staff, this service provides recent immigrants with jobs and supports clients by buying food products from them and providing informal advertising and contacts for client products. The income generated by the catering service directly supports the social services and program operations of PGC and is integral to the company's overall strategy of engaging in social entrepreneurship.

Affordable Housing Initiative:
Affordable Housing Initiative is our first project to address the growing need of the low-income residents of Hawaii. Our project uses the models found in New York City and Chicago. It is open to low-income residents with a rent control lease. Because the tenants pay utilities, they are motivated to be economical in energy use. PGC provides case management on an as-needed basis.

The Pacific Gateway Center serves over 5,000 clients per year. In addition to the clients served in the following Program Report, PGC's main office serves well over 1,000 walk-in clients who receive general information, and a variety of services including ID photographs, translation, notary, emergency food and rent, and casual labor work. PGC also provides services to over 1,000 clients through its 5 festivals, and to approximately 350 clients through financial literacy, business and computer training.

ACTIVITIES
The Pacific Gateway Center serves over 3,000 clients per year. In addition to the clients served in our four main components, PGC's main office serves well over 1,000 walk-in clients who receive general information and a variety of services including ID photographs, translation, notary, emergency food and rent, and casual labor work. PGC also provides services to over 1,000 clients through its 5 ethnic festivals, and to approximately 350 clients through financial literacy, business and computer training. A few of our current and future programs include the following :

Affordable Housing Initiative
The Retail Incubator
Catering
Floating Lantern Festival
E-Commerce
and much more.

HISTORY

The History of the Pacific Gateway Center

The Pacific Gateway Center (PGC), formerly known as the Immigrant Center, was founded in 1973 by the Palama Council of Churches in Hawai`i in response to the dramatic increase in Asian and Pacific Island immigrants to the islands. In 1984, St. Elizabeth's church provided the location for the PGC and incorporated the PGC as an independent organization with its own governing board of directors and private, non-profit (501(c)3) status. The PGC also became a member agency of the Aloha United Way. At present, the PGC employs 50 full-time and part-time employees and offers a wide range of direct and support services to meet the needs of immigrants, refugees, and low-income residents of Hawai`i. Services are provided to approximately 5,000 clients per year. Job training classes now serve over 550 clients annually. The mission of PGC is "to empower Hawai‘i's low-income residents, immigrants and refugees to achieve self-sufficiency through skill-building and access to opportunities while respecting cultural heritages." PGC celebrated its 35th anniversary on September 9, 2009.

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First Friday Hawaii Event Calendar Item

Pacific Gateway Center Lemongrass Cafe

First Friday Hawaii
Event Calendar Item