VMO & Leadership
The Burmese American Community Institute is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 that provides human services and social services and educational and vocational support to the Burmese and newcomer community in greater Indianapolis. The BACI supports community members regionally, nationally, and globally through strategic partnerships and advocacy. Since its inception, the BACI has assisted over 25,000+ individuals.
With a strong conviction of the founding leaders of the need for investing in people and education, the birth of the organization is a result of many years of consultations and deliberation with community leaders and stakeholders, with the following vision and mission:
Vision of Education for all, a stronger community
Mission to build a thriving, self-sufficient, and sustainable, integrated Community through advocacy, education, and employment.
Our Core Value: As an ethnically and linguistically diverse group, BACI emphasizes on the inclusiveness and openness across the lines of different ethnic groups from Burma in its organizational development and providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services to its clients.
Our Approach: Everything we do is educational, and for the long term development of our community.
Since its inception, BACI has assisted more than 25,000 individuals through its various programs the Upward College Program (UCP) for High School students that helps the students with college preparedness linguistically and academically, as well as for their future success, including intensive policy solution oriented PAR summer research and leadership development programs, the Civic and Cultural Education program (CCEP) that empowers new Americans with security in their rights and liberties, and Employment and Microenterprise Development (EMED), which assists newcomers to be self-sufficient economically and allows them to give back to their communities and contribute to economic growth.
With the recognition of the responsibility to step in to respond to the crisis, we are also provided COVID-19 response services, assisting Afghan refugee/parolees through the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program (APA) as well as Burmese refugees/parolees.
Special projects implemented in collaborative partnership with various partners included PhotoVoice, Community health, Health Fair, Mental Health First Aid Training, Financial Literacy Classes, Nutrition Classes, and annual PAR research that attempts to address the pressing issues facing the community by producing findings and action solution recommendations.
BACI Leadership:
As ethnically diverse people, BACI’s Board of Directors reflects its original philosophy, values, and efforts to ensure the organization’s leadership is inclusive of different groups within the incoming community from Burma/Myanmar as well as from the mainstream community. The Board consists of individuals from diverse backgrounds intellectually, professionally and personally, and like-minded persons who are passionate about assisting the incoming individuals with their long-term integration and sustained development by investing in people and education so that they become productive and contributing citizens of the society.
Elaisa Vahnie, MPA, Executive Director
Lian Sang, MPH, Programs Director
Board of Directors
Dr. Ro Dinga (Chairman) President, Mizo Society of America/Indiana Branch, VP, Chin Community of Indiana,
San Hlei Thang (Vice-Chairman), State Eligibility Manager, Division of Family Resources, Family and Social Services Administration
Ruby Sing (Secretary), Ph.D. candidate and educator
Rev. Robert Biak Cung (Treasurer), Senior Pastor, Living Chin Christian Church,
Lian Cin, Former Chairman, and Vice-Chairman, Indiana Chin Baptist Church,
Dr. Fengyi Kuo, Professor at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis,
U Jeru, Teaching Aid at Southport High School,
Nguncer Bualteng, Managing Broker, Mang Tha Real Estate,
Bonnie Kane, Retired Teacher, and the Burmese-American advocate,
Dr. Bruce Ray, Scientist at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
Elly Kreutzer, Branch Manager, VP, PNC Bank
Board of Advisors
Rev. Dr. Stephen Kio, Senior Pastor, Indiana Chin Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Val Thang, Senior Pastor, North America Matu Christian Church
Zapeng Sakhong, Chairman, Chin Evangelical Baptist Church
Matthew P. Schomburg, Indiana State Refugee Coordinator, and Executive Outreach Director
Leslie Lenkowsky, Clinical Professor of Public Affairs and Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University
David Williams, John S. Hastings Professor of Law and Director, Center for Constitutional Democracy, Indiana University