Mallory Petsche (center) is the program coordinator for EMBARC (Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center) in Waterloo.
 
Over 6,000 refugees from Burma have made Iowa home in the past 5 years. Countless were forced to flee from their home because of who they are and what they believe. EMBARC is a grass-roots nonprofit organization founded by and for refugees from Burma living in Iowa. Since 2011, EMBARC and our volunteers have been providing refugees the resources they need to successfully settle in their new home. Click the logo to learn more.
 
 
 
Our tutoring programs have assisted over 75 children and adults. Our family advocates have empowered over 100 families to access resources such as food pantries and bus training. Our cultural competency presentations have helped over 200 Iowans increase their understanding of our newest Iowans from Burma.
In 2014, EMBARC was one of nine nationwide recipients awarded the three-year federal “ethnic community self-help” grant. Coupled with grants from Chrysalis, Polk County, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa and donors like you, EMBARC has been able to establish offices in Des Moines and Waterloo and hire a paid staff. We are very excited to expand our capacity beyond our hard-working, volunteer-only base.