The Pace Story

For more than 40 years, Pace Center for Girls has been transforming the lives of girls and young women.

Founded in 1985 by Vicki Burke, the first Pace Center launched with 10 girls in Jacksonville, Florida. Vicki had an idea, rooted facts, that girls were entering the juvenile justice system as a response to behaviors often embedded from trauma. Pace has successfully grown to serve more than 3,000 girls annually in 21 communities in Florida and Georgia.

Through a successful and proven evidence-based model, focused on the development of critical life, health, and academic skills, Pace has changed the life trajectory of more than 40,000 girls and is recognized as one of the nation’s leading advocates and juvenile justice preventative models for girls and young women.

Pace's Progress

1989-1998

Pace opens thirteen new locations in Florida

1990

Juvenile judges, local community members and the Florida legislature begin advocating for the expansion of Pace.

1990

Pace launches a study of girls who have experienced the juvenile justice system, which led to the publication of "Educate or Incarcerate", a report that validated the Pace model and the need to keep girls safe and out of trouble by prioritizing prevention and intervention services.

2007-2018

Pace opens an additional eight locations.

2009

Pace begins piloting the Reach Counseling Program, providing counseling, case management and mental health services in partnership with schools, community organizations, and court systems to girls beyond the walls of the Centers.

2011

Pace partners with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Florida legislature to implement the "framework for systems change", results in a 50 percent decrease in girls' involvement with the juvenile justice system.

2019

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges recognizes Pace with the Impact of Year award for our work changing the juvenile and family court systems.

2022

Pace leads the first global application of our model, partnering with the U.S Department of State to share our model with girls in Bhutan.

2023

Pace hosts inaugural Girls Leadership Institute. This institute brought together girls from communities across Florida to learn, grow, and build the leadership skills necessary to drive positive transformation within their families, schools, and communities.

2024

To meet critical needs for accessible mental health services, Pace launches TelePace, a virtual therapeutic platform.

2025

Pace celebrates 40 years of service! Today, Pace's approach and advocacy unlocks significant changes in programs, policies, and practices to benefit girls nationally.