PAUSE impact report

In 2020, PAUSE began as a simple act of care: a curated newsletter by People of Color, for People of Color ~ offering grief resources in a moment of collective upheaval. The need we saw then has only sharpened with time.

We have now served thousands of individuals and leaders across Los Angeles and beyond who seek spaces to pause, to heal, and to re-imagine what care can look like when rooted in justice and culture.

In 2026, we’re deepening the work:

• Resourcing ~ Expanding our free programs and public partnerships with libraries, health systems, and community centers to bring grief literacy and end-of-life support directly to where people already gather.

• Ritual ~ Designing new creative workshops and artist residencies that help communities transform personal loss into collective meaning-making and cultural preservation.

• Rest ~ Launching retreats and wellness offerings that honor grief as a full-body experience, making rest and reflection accessible for caregivers, organizers, and leaders doing this work.

• Reconnection ~ Strengthening networks of grief-informed professionals — from doulas and social workers to HR leaders — to rebuild systems of care that center dignity, belonging, and mutual aid.

• Results ~ Designing new methods for measuring our impact not just in numbers served, but in relationships sustained, partnerships grown, and lives changed through more humane, culturally competent care.

We hope to have you continue on this journey with us.

With gratitude,

Alica Forneret (she/her)

Founder & Executive Director, PAUSE