The next steps for EMBARC and Refugee and Immigrant Voices in Action

We’ve got some big news to share with Iowans today.

After a decade of hard work and determination, EMBARC is opening a new chapter in service.

In the fall of 2021, the EMBARC Burma Community Advisory Board approved a motion to become an independent stand-alone organization. Founding staff member, and long-time lead, Abigail Sui, was voted unanimously to be the new executive director of EMBARC. Under her leadership, EMBARC will continue its existing Early Childhood Parent Navigator, Crisis & Advocacy and Education programs.

Henny Ohr and the Board of Directors are proud to announce the launch of Refugee and Immigrant Voices in Action (RIVA), a new statewide immigrant and refugee organization designed to grow leaders, build community and promote solidarity.

Current programs RISE AmeriCorps and the Health Equity Campaign (formerly known as Refugee and Immigrant Vaccine Alliance) will operate under RIVA, along with the new non-profit Impact Incubator. These programs will continue serving the culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Iowa, and support emerging immigrant-led and refugee-led groups.

The separation of EMBARC and RIVA into two distinct organization will allow EMBARC to continue its founding mission of service to diverse Burma ethnic communities, which faced devastating twin impacts of the pandemic and human rights abuses in Burma (also known as Myanmar). The former Burma Community Advisory Board will now become the EMBARC Board of Directors.

You can read letters by executive directors Henny Ohr and Abigail Sui in the 2022 EMBARC End of Year report on our website. Stay tuned in the new year for new announcements!