A Celebration of Settlement to Success
Dear friends and supporters,
Two years ago, our organization changed and was reborn with a stronger focus than ever on the importance of the work that we do within and for the community from Burma. Though the transition was challenging, the board of directors and supporters have remained dedicated to our mission, which is a testament to our accomplishments. As we conclude another year, I want to reflect on our accomplishments in the face of challenges we've encountered and the resulting growth of our organization.
I am truly grateful to our leadership team for their expertise and commitment to serving our refugee community together. Additionally, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our generous donors, volunteers, community partners, and dedicated staff members. Your contributions make a significant difference in the lives of those we serve.
This annual report highlights the remarkable impact we've made together, demonstrating the true power of collective action by removing barriers and fostering equity and inclusion. Thank you for joining me in uplifting all refugee communities from Burma in Iowa, and empowering them to support themselves.
I am excited to share our statistical highlights from the past year: We have served over 700 unique individuals and collaborated with more than 27 organizations to support school enrollment, employment, education, case management, and mental health well-being for our survivors and parents, among other initiatives.
As we look to the future, we are optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead. We remain dedicated to addressing the challenges and critical needs within our community. With your continued support, we are confident in our ability to maintain accountability and pursue continuous improvement as we work to serve our community effectively.
We hope this annual report inspires you by showcasing the meaningful impact you have made and continue to make while working with us to build a stronger, more resilient community.
With gratitude,
Abigail Sui
A Letter from the Executive Director
Join
us as we walk through the amazing work that EMBARC accomplished in 2024 through each of our Programs and services. Our two core programs, Early Childhood Parent Navigator and Crisis and Advocacy, continue to break ground in the unique ways that they meet the needs of our community.
Each of our programs is unique, but collectively, they provide a continuum of services that meets clients holistically. You’ll see the pillars of advocacy, education, and empowerment continue to shine through in each of the following success stories and program highlights.
EARLY CHILDHOOD PARENT NAVIGATOR (ECPN)
EMBARC’s Early Childhood Parent Navigator (ECPN) program provides education and resources for Burma community parents with children under the age of five. The program uses a train the trainer - mom to mom - method wherein the focus is on empowering parents to support their children’s success through assistance with school registration, direct services, education on Western parenting norms, and training in essential early childhood development skills.
01
Meeting Parents Where They Are
More than just a traditional educational resource, ECPN goes above and beyond to connect parents to unique programs that offer long lasting benefits for their families. The team adapts their own curriculum yearly to ensure it remains culturally and linguistically relevant. ECPN is now certified to provide the “Children in the Middle” court-mandated divorce training. This initiative marks the first time the court-mandated training has been made accessible and comprehensive in Burmese dialects.
In 2024, the team introduced Safety City, a new project developed in collaboration with the Des Moines Police Department for children under three years old. This initial focus on the importance of safety skills such as bus safety, poison prevention, and social participation. This hands-on program teaches young children independence and confidence before they begin preschool. For many immigrant and refugee families, this is their first experience with structured safety education, which is crucial for ensuring their children’s well-being.
Like safety education, literacy is another topic area that can be challenging to address. To meet this need, ECPN has partnered with Iowa State University Extension on initiatives such as Our Bookshelf and Raising School Ready Readers (RSRR).
This program highlights the importance of reading to children from an early age, even before they can speak or recognize words. As part of this effort, ECPN also helps families visit local libraries where parents learn how to engage their children with reading and sign up for library cards.
Parenting is never easy, but it can be especially challenging in a country where you don’t speak the language, don’t understand the school system, and aren’t familiar with Western parenting expectations. This is the reality for many families in Iowa’s Burmese community.
Advocacy in Action - A Success Story
ECPN not only assists parents with their children's learning but also advocates for them and amplifies their voices. One Burmese mother of seven believed that her youngest son’s preschool tuition was covered by a scholarship. However, three months later, she received a large bill. Without help, she would have had to switch him to a half-day schedule and find a way to pay the bill.
An EMBARC Parent Navigator stepped in, advocating for the family with the school district. After multiple discussions and consistent efforts, the bill was waived, and the scholarship was approved, allowing her son to continue in full-day preschool.
Meanwhile, her older son, who has ADHD, was struggling in school. He had already been suspended, and she wasn’t sure how to navigate the system to get him the support he needed. With the help of a Parent Navigator, she connected with doctors, adjusted his medication, and worked with school staff on a behavioral plan. Now, her son is doing much better, and she has a stronger support network to turn to when new challenges arise.
The ECPN program supports families in many different ways by removing barriers and encouraging them to express their needs. Sometimes, simply having someone on your team can make a world of difference.
487
Unique clients supported via a combination of services
171 Clients were supported by both Direct Service and Education
191 Education only
125 Direct service only
6
Diverse Burmese languages spoken on the team
8
Events hosted with local partners
7
Educational short videos created by the ECPN team on timely topics with a total view of 10739
Of those 487 clients, they received
4077
Interactions with the parent navigator program, either via education, direct service, and wrap-around support
02 CRISIS AND ADVOCACY
EMBARC’s Crisis and Advocacy program provides ongoing support services and crisis intervention methods to Burma refugee and immigrant communities across Iowa. The program assists survivors of crime and violence by providing them access to linguistically and culturally appropriate resources and services.
More Than Just
Case Management
Cultivating a space for survivors, the Crisis and Advocacy program has provided case management to victims and survivors since the organization’s founding when focus was on day-to-day support.
Mental Health Awareness
The Crisis and Advocacy team has been hard at work advancing mental health education through the introduction of ‘Healthy Mind Circles.’ In collaboration with a professional therapist, this initiative offers on-site group counseling services aimed at alleviating anxiety and worries. This helps improve survivors’ resilience and internal calm by fostering connections among participants, allowing them to share their experiences and fears with each other. Healthy Mind Circles were provided in two languages in 2024- Burmese and Karen - allowing focused language access.
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness
A stigma survivors can often experience is not being listened to or believed, which can prompt those impacted not to speak up. In an effort to raise awareness of this stigma and uplift survivors, the team hosted multilingual initiatives to acknowledge Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month in 2024. The campaigns included informative brochures and awareness postersall available in Karen, Karenni, and Burmese, - aimed at sparking conversations within the community wherein resources like these can be uncommon.
As the program continued to grow, the need to change the language and perception surrounding victimization led to the development of new educational initiatives and awareness campaigns.
In 2024, the team created a translated animated video covering the different types of Domestic Violence. The videos were posted on Instagram and Facebook, reaching 1,137 viewers. Education on this topic proves crucial, “Even in the community, one might not know they are a victim themselves,” explained Dim Muan Kim, Crisis and Advocacy Program Manager.
Building the Blocks of Resilience
The program’s growth in recent years has exemplified the need to provide linguistic support to survivors and empower them. From 22 clients in 2022 to 75 clients in 2024, the program’s expansion offers a reflection of the need for specialized spaces for survivors of all ethnicities. As the program grows, so do survivors trust in us. While services continue to meet the needs and break down stigmas, the Crisis and Advocacy program aims to continue putting survivors first.
Looking to further the empowerment and resilience of survivors, two new projects were introduced in 2024 - a trauma informed yoga class and a mental health field trip. The yoga class’s focus is to provide a space of healing for survivors, emphasizing the need for trauma support. What originally was planned for one session turned into a second, which was offered due to the overwhelming interest from survivors who shared the great impact it has had on them.
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the Crisis and Advocacy team and survivors enjoyed a day at the Des Moines Art Center, ending with a picnic at Greenwood Park as part of a mental health field trip. This trip provided a way for survivors to unite in selfcare and relaxation. The time together was also used to discuss gratitude and share valuable coping skills that can improve mental health and well-being.
Yoga class
Crisis and Advocacy by the Numbers
22
75
2855 75 clients received services
2022 clients clients 2024 2024
1 mental health field trip was hosted
2
4 informational fliers were created
Trauma Informed Yoga Classes were offered
3 Healthy Mind Circles were provided in Burmese and Karen languages
Mental health field trip
03 EDUCATION PROGRAM
EMBARC’s Education Program focuses on helping refugees from Burma develop confidence and essential skills through a focused English as a Second Language format. The program provides connected services and resources to engage the students in systems that were previously inaccessible and offers several education focuses, such as English language, citizenship preparation, and basic computer literacy.
Year of
Civic Engagement A
One of the most critical skills of the Education program is its ability to transform to meet the community’s needs using the basic EMBARC educational model. As such, 2024 was devoted to rebuilding and restructuring the curriculum levels for Community Based ESL and Citizenship to improve the pathway for student success.
In September 2024, a pilot Citizenship class using the adapted curriculum was hosted with a total of 11 students enrolled. This 9-week course taught students citizenship vocabulary, interview questions, and civics materials. Like all EMBARC program offerings, the class used the unique lead and co-teacher setup wherein the co-teacher also speaks the native language of the students, which has been shown to dramatically improve outcomes for beginning level students and facilitate assistance with questions.
The new curriculum not only increased student engagement but also demonstrated an impressive level of retention of key concepts. Upon class completion, each student took a post-test, and on average, their scores improved by 13.7 points on a scale of 0 to 25 when compared to their pre-test scores!
All participants in the class scored high enough on their final exam to demonstrate their readiness to progress and thus were supported in applying for U.S. Citizenship through the N-400 application. Thanks to a new partnership with Immigrant Connection, the team was able to assist all students in formally submitting their applications.
For many, this is a step in changing their life to ultimately obtain citizenship. One student expressed the importance of her obtaining citizenship saying, “It’s for my future, my son’s future, and human rights.”
Citizenship is Not the End
Once students have their citizenship, a world of new resources and opportunities opens up, one such being the ability to vote. With 2024 being a presidential election year, the Education Program focused on voter education and the importance of civic engagement. While this was not the first time the program supported clients in filling out and submitting registration forms, they were able to take things one step farther.
The Education Program developed several concise information pieces that were translated into minority dialects. These materials helped guide clients through the entire voting process and explained the various ways to vote. Additionally, a voter education event was organized in partnership with the League of Women Voters to emphasize the importance of voting. This event also provided guidance on how to complete a voter registration form and where to find polling places.
In just three months, the team organized eight voter registration events and traveled throughout Polk County to assist clients by providing information and helping them fill out their registration forms. EMBARC, supporting as a nonpartisan organization, successfully transformed the information landscape, ensuring that the community had access to the resources they needed in their own languages.
Education by the Numbers
8 students in citizenship class
11
events were held which supported 206 community members to register to vote
Average pre test score = Average post test score = Average improvement in score =
9.4
23.1 (out of 25)
13.7
INTERPRETATION SERVICES
With a dedicated team of interpreters fluent in various languages, EMBARC ensures that refugees receive essential linguistic and culturally relevant support to navigate life in the U.S. Through both virtual and in-person interpretation, the program assists individuals in vital settings such as public schools, family medical practices, and social service agencies, bridging communication gaps and fostering inclusive access to community resources.
Changing the Norm of Interpretation
Language access is a necessary component of all EMBARC services, fostering a unique connection to the community. In 2018, the Interpretation and Translation Program was launched as a feefor-service model, allowing EMBARC to provide language access services to organizations across Iowa, spreading the scope of reach. The impact of these services has allowed organizations to serve and connect with communities they were previously unable to reach.
The program successfully provides the languages and translations needed by contracting language experts from Iowa and other areas around the world. They undergo multiple levels of training, from language assessment to interpreter conduct of order. Contracted interpreters understand the community they serve, enhancing their ability to communicate or translate complex and taboo concepts between clients and the agencies attempting to serve them.
Many resources and materials are produced in English, which can limit access for communities that do not speak or read the language. EMBARC offers translation services that can convert materials such as school announcements and event information— not just by translating them directly, but by adapting them into clear and comprehensible resources that the community can truly understand.
“EMBARC interpreters understand the needs of the local community well and have the knowledge to help navigate cultural differences that may exist in the conversation.”
“EMBARC services has allowed our team to effectively accomplish our organization’s mission of granting a wish for every eligible child with a critical illness in the state of Iowa, by being able to communicate with the communities in Iowa where English is not the primary language.”
Caely Tiez
Make-A-Wish Iowa
Savannah Stuckmayer Lutheran Services in Iowa
Interpretation Services by the Numbers
1,365 appointments
8 new customer contracts
26 most school or early childhood based over
28% growth in the number of appointments scheduled
6 mental health orgs
11 new contractors recruited and onboarded supported 2 research projects
A Year of Lifting New Voices
In 2024, the program focused growth on school conferences and research projects. School conferences provide an opportunity for parents to connect with their children’s teachers, but communication can be challenging when parents face language barriers. Having interpreters present at these conferences helps facilitate communication, allowing parents to be more involved in their child’s education.
Research project support, wherein the team supports as facilitators, outreach specialists, and expert consultants, helps to bring the voices of the communities being served into the conversation -
letting them share about how systems impact their lives for better or worse. This service has made a dramatic difference in universities and other large agencies' abilities to collect more rounded and inclusive data.
Throughout all of the program's services, the team focuses on the fact that without proper or accessible interpretation and translation, there is a gap in connecting with communities and passing along valuable information. EMBARC’s Interpreting Services continues to advance opportunities for connection with refugee and immigrant communities.
ACCESS CENTER
The Direct Service Access Center (AC) is a place where community members can get help with Medicaid, food stamp applications, and other essential services that can be impossible to access or navigate without language skills and knowledge of U.S. systems. The Access Center operates on Wednesdays from 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM, and individuals are able to attend by meeting the eligibility of one of EMBARCs programs or attending monthly educational training.
05
The Truth of “ACCESS”
At the Access Center, staff and volunteers are dedicated to helping clients navigate systems, ranging from simple to complex. What may seem like a straightforward request can quickly become complicated. Take a look on the next page and follow the journey of one of EMBARC’s clients attempting to get a free phone through one of the many local service providers that offers them.
How We Help Clients
February 4, 2025
Confirming Return
• Staff emailed local provider with the tracking receipt and a picture of the package drop-off.
January 23, 2025
Continuing Follow-up
• Staff received followup communication that the client would need to call to confirm a code before they could send the return label.
• Worked with the client to schedule a time for them to come in for support to do so.
January 15, 2025
First Video Submission
• Client and staff recorded the video and emailed it to local provider.
• Only after the client had gone home, the local provider responded that the video was not sufficient.
January 8, 2025
Initial Problem
• Client received the phone, charged it, and made one call.
• The phone turned off and never turned back on.
• Client returned to the Access Center and met with staff.
• Began troubleshooting with no result.
• A volunteer called the local provider and after hours of wait, were simply advised to clean it and try again.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 8
February 5, 2025
Replacement / Waiting
• Client hasn’t received the replacement phone yet.
• Local provider will test the phone and confirm whether he will receive a new device and SIM card.
January 29, 2025
Return Label
• Staff and a volunteer worked with client to get the return label from the provider.
• Client was instructed by the provider to take a picture of the receipt and email it back to them.
January 16, 2025
Second Video Submission & Warranty Process
• Staff helped client record and submit the new video and phone pictures.
• Local provider agreed to process a warranty claim and send a return label.
January 9, 2025
Video Request from Local Provider
• EMBARC staff pushed the provider for more support and were eventually asked for a video showing the phone’s issue.
• Client agreed to return next week to record the video.
December 18, 2024
Applying for a Free Phone
• Staff and a volunteer helped the client apply for free phone service through a local provider.
• Client was approved based on SNAP benefits.
• A local provider confirmed they would ship the phone within 1-2 weeks.
1,357
1,532
456
1,532
267 clients served more than once (one client served 31 times)
06 WHAT WAS NEW IN 2024?
In 2024, EMBARC launched two new programs in response to community needs - the Community Food Pantry which provides essential food and supplies, and the Financial Empowerment Navigator (FEN) Program. The FEN program assists Burmese communities in navigating unemployment, securing job opportunities, and learning about financial stability.
Continue reading to learn more about these two new programs and how they support the community.
Financial Empowerment Navigator
Being on the ground means growing roots that allow us to meet the changing needs of the community.
2024 was a year full of unexpected challenges, but it was also marked by action, resilience, and hope. A significant event occurred in July when the Tyson Perry plant closed, leaving hundreds of workers, many of whom were from the Burmese community, without jobs.This closure triggered a crisis that impacted more than just their paycheck. The loss of jobs led to disruptions in insurance, housing stability, and overall well-being. With language barriers and complex systems to navigate, many individuals felt completely lost. In response, EMBARC took proactive steps seeing that the community urgently needed basic assistance accessing unemployment and applying for jobs. This understanding led EMBARC to launch the Financial Empowerment Navigator, a new program designed to tackle not only the immediate unemployment crisis but also the underlying causes of the instability that often accompanies it.
The program began supporting clients in July 2024 but didn’t receive funding until August. Even without resources at the start, the urgency of the need kept the staff moving. With 40 clients from day one, the team used every available
moment to support while also managing regular programs. In just a few short months, the impact was significant, 68 clients were supported receiving over 600 services. Each week, clients were supported to complete job certifications, file weekly claims, and ensure they applied for at least four jobs to maintain their benefits.
The future of the program looks bright. Through advocacy on behalf of clients, IowaWORKs and the FEN team established a new partnership which began in December of 2024 wherein they hired a Title I Career Outreach Specialist from the Burma community. This new Specialist not only serves as a career planner, but also hosts a job club that covers topics like goal setting, workers’ rights, and other job-related skills - ensuring even more clients benefit from the multilingual support and career services offered.
EMBARC staff members continue to meet with clients for weekly appointments, providing ongoing support in areas like job certifications, weekly claims, and job applications. EMBARC remains fully committed to helping the community rebuild their lives and gain financial stability.
Financial Empowerment Navigator by the Numbers
speaking 8 different dialects supported
• 20 clients helped to find jobs,
• 9 clients trained to do their own or have a family member support them
services provided between 7/29/24 and 12/31/24
The Community FOOD PANTRY
When COVID-19 brought a surge in food insecurity, EMBARC partnered with Vineyard Church to address the urgent needs within the refugee and immigrant communities. What began as a food delivery program during the pandemic quickly expanded into a monthly food pantry. However, by 2022, the program had to close due to the end of grant and COVID related funding.
Despite this setback, EMBARC recognized the ongoing need for food security. In 2024, with the support of a small grant, EMBARC successfully relaunched the pantry in a more convenient and accessible location at Franklin Jr. High, where the main office is based. By combining EMBARC’s multilingual, community-focused team with Vineyard Church’s resources, the pantry ensured that families who often fell through the cracks of local resources received the support they needed.
This relocation not only made it easier for clients to access services but also provided an
opportunity to revise the pantry’s approach, allowing the creation of a new and improved service model. Traditional pantries often offer food options like canned goods and boxed items, which may not meet the cultural dietary needs of refugee and immigrant communities.
Through strategic food selection and partnerships with local Burmese food stores, EMBARC and Vineyard Church stocked shelves with culturally appropriate staples such as rice, fish sauce, ramen noodles, and fresh produce. The pantry reopened on April 25, 2024, serving over 80 households on its first day.
By the end of 2024, the pantry was feeding over 100 households each month, and additional growth is anticipated. With the help of Vineyard Church and committed volunteers, EMBARC is now providing more than just food—it is fostering a sense of belonging and a pathway to embracing the community’s cultural traditions.
Rather than see our community leave the pantry food insecure and still empty handed, EMBARC would change the status quo and open a culturally focused community panty.
45% of households have children under the age of 5 of households have children under the age of 18 of households include individuals 61+ of households using the pantry are SNAP households
323 unique clients totaling 1465 household members 80% 15% 43% 72% of households have 4 or more individuals in the home
The Community Food Pantry by the Numbers
A Decade of Support and Compassion
Amongst all of the programs that EMBARC operates, the staff’s success would not be possible without a dedicated team of volunteers, who consistently go above and beyond in their efforts.
Our volunteers, many of whom have been with EMBARC for years, have been instrumental in the organization’s progress and growth. Two volunteers in particular, have become the trusted faces that the community looks to every week at the Access Center. In February 2024,
EMBARC hosted a luncheon event at which those volunteers, Susan Barnes and Norma Rohn, were honored for their years of service to EMBARC. Susan has supported the organization for over 8 years and Norma for over 10 years. They are joined by two other key long-term Access Center volunteers, Deb Timmons and Ann Harmon, who have helped to make the service successful for 5 years and 4 years respectively.
If you are a current volunteer or a past one, know that we wouldn’t be here without you, and for that, we thank you!
Celebrating Givers
EMBARC continued to honor volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Week and holidays. In turn, volunteers also shared what inspires them to volunteer with EMBARC, which was highlighted on social media.
Each of EMBARC’s volunteers bring different skills and experiences that add to services - connecting clients with resources, teaching, advocating, mentoring, or finding solutions to complex crises. Their expertise helps EMBARC to evolve and ensures that the team is always able to meet the needs of the community.
“I am inspired to volunteer at EMBARC for the wonderful opportunity it gives me to meet people from other cultures and to work with the incredibly dedicated staff of interpreters. The Access Center addresses a wide range of questions for clients and assists them in resolving challenges they may lack the English language skills to handle on their own.”
Susan Barnes
VOLUNTER IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
1520.25 Hours
Volunteers served in 2024
# of volunteers in 2024
51
Volunteers
A Special Thank You to the Funders
» American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation
» Asian Pacific Islanders Gender Based Violence
» Birdies for Charity
» Building More Philanthropy with Purpose Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation
» Chrysalis Foundation
Funding by program
» The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
- Catherine & Louis Fritz Immigrant Support Fund - Capacity Building Fund
- O’Halloran Family Foundation Fund
» Crime Victim Assistance Division
» Farm Credit Services of America
» Greenstate
» Harriet S. Macomber BWA Grantmaking Fund
Funding Streams
» Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
» National Voter Registration Day
» New Venture Asian American and Pacific Islanders Civic Engagement Fund
» Polk County Children, Families, and Youth Services
» Polk County Community Betterment Fund
» Polk County Early Childhood Iowa
» Shared Visions
» United Way of Central Iowa
We cannot complete our work without our funders and likewise, our donors. THANK YOU to all of those who provided support in 2024, both in kind and monetary donations!
» Amy Doyle
» Chris Leonard
» Courtney Dufford
» Elizabeth & Robert Angelici
» Elizabeth Larson
» Gregory Moehl
» Jay Fifield VI
» Jesse Lipson
» Laura Lockard
» Mary Timp
» Matt Cibula
» Paul Huting
» Rachel Hadaway
» Ryan Dyle
» Sean Solberg
» Susan Barnes and Jean Davis
» Tyler & Jessica Dunker
» Valerie Madison
» Vicki Ingham
» William Nassif
» William Pitkin
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
TABLE SPONSORS
Seth and Lucy with RE/MAX Concepts
Amy Doyle
Golden Land Food Mart
Vineyard Church
Tim Rowley and Franklin Jr. High