Over seven weeks in June and July of 2021, a group of eight refugee moms met each week at Franklin Junior High School to discuss anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, the brain, domestic violence, and similar topics. Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center’s (EMBARC) mental health support group focused on the importance of mental health and prepared participants to bring mental health information to others in their community.
Read MoreEvery four years, presidential elections dominate the news. But U.S. communities hold elections each year. This November 2, vote for your city council, school board, and municipal (city-level) positions. You can make a huge impact in your community by voting and by telling friends and family about voting.
Read MoreThrough the EMBARC Family Focus team’s intervention, a single father and refugee from Burma has regained stability in his family’s life after a tumultuous year. With no income, high language barriers, and three young kids to feed, Eh Doh Wah’s friend recognized the severity of the situation and connected him with EMBARC for urgent support. Family Advocate Iris Tun and other staff stepped in to help.
Read MoreOutside Vineyard Church in Des Moines, a line of families forms for the Wednesday food pantry—a new initiative launched in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic hosted by Vineyard Church, in financial partnership with Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center (EMBARC).
Read MoreThe IT Navigator project began in response to the increased technological needs in the refugee community due to COVID-19. Now, students from the project take charge by educating the community with digital literacy classes.
Read MoreThe COVID-19 pandemic devastated the world and severely impacted refugee communities as they lacked digital literacy skills and access to technologies. EMBARC responded to this call, launching the IT Navigator project to assist the community with digital literacy training.
Read MoreRefugees in Syracuse, New York connected with COVID-19 vaccine information in their native language through EMBARC’s Youtube videos.
EMBARC and Des Moines Vineyard Church have worked in tandem to empower immigrants and refugees for years. With the help of Vineyard Church’s volunteers led by Associate Pastor Becky Waugaman, the partnership has flourished and impacted the lives of countless EMBARC clients.
Read MoreIt’s National Volunteer Week - a time to highlight the importance of volunteering, to thank our volunteers, and to encourage everyone to get involved.
Read MoreAs job opportunities, resources, and education move increasingly online, digital literacy has become critical to modern life.
Read MoreElisabeth Buck, president of United Way of Central Iowa, explains how EMBARC’s model of grassroots advocacy and individual empowerment can help the entire central Iowa community thrive.
Read MoreAbout 350 Burma community members and their supporters attended the Protest for Myanmar on February 6 at the Iowa State Capitol Des Moines. Here’s a look at what happened.
With a diverse array of educational backgrounds and life experiences, these interns will contribute much to EMBARC’s work serving refugees and immigrants in Iowa.
Read MoreA unique program trains refugees to serve as community health workers and advocates, providing wraparound support and interpretation for those facing chronic illness.
Read MoreMeet three of the new staff members who joined the team at EMBARC in the past few months.
Read MoreEMBARC supported more than 8,000 refugees and immigrants in rural towns and major cities throughout Iowa. Ninety-five percent of them were essential workers.
Read MoreMany refugees and immigrants in Iowa struggle to access enough healthy food for their families. EMBARC is working to reduce the barriers they face.
Read MoreEMBARC began as a small group of refugees serving their neighbors in crisis. Now we’re empowering refugee leaders all over the state.
Read MoreRefugees in Iowa face greater exposure in their jobs and neighborhoods, and they often lack access to resources that could help.
Our Rise AmeriCorps members were the first on the ground after the derecho hit Cedar Rapids, leaving many refugees without power, shelter, or food.
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