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Brief highlights of our service and impact
Dear Friends,
We are delighted to share with you some of our undertakings and our major impacts in 2022. We are pleased that our advocacy, education, and service in the past year enjoyed significant growth and strengthening while our response to the emerging needs in the community has been enhanced. Our response to the complex global humanitarian crisis —particularly what stemmed from Myanmar (Burma), Afghanistan, and Ukraine —has been sustained. Notable progress has also been made in undertaking major initiatives to increase the organization’s operational capacity and development.
Highlighted in the following are some of the outcomes and major impacts in 2022.
In 2022 alone, we assisted 4042 (595 increase from last year’s number of 3447) individuals with Citizenship and English language training, naturalization applications, and other immigration requirements, as well as provided support in gaining employment and training, mentorship and scholarships, and college & university admissions. This made a total of over 20,000 individuals served since 2011. Similarly, we continued providing technical assistance to a number of start-up organizations including those that are faith-based, which is an important part of the overall successful integration into the community.
The Upward College Program (UCP) for high school students continued to maintain 100% admissions to postsecondary institutions for the students who completed this BACI program. Furthermore, we helped over 50% of current college students who were previously enrolled in the UCP to receive scholarships. This past year also saw the college going rate among the Burmese recent high school graduates increase to 93% from 43% in 2014.
In response to the emerging needs in the community, especially in light of COVID-19 impact, we have been able to enhance our basic needs assistance and mental health related service provision while also joining the resettlement community in the US to welcome the Burmese, Afghan, and Ukrainian humanitarian parolees reflecting the Hoosiers’ hospitality and the American leadership.
Guided by our 2021-2026 strategic plan, the Capital Campaign Feasibility study conducted by our consultant concluded that sufficient philosophical and financial support exists in the community to move forward with the Community Center vision in CREATING A HOME FOR ALL, a campus to serve the community better and in more impactful ways.
Moving forward, we will be strengthening, enhancing, and expanding our programs and services inclusively and in innovative ways while materializing the vision of the community center in phases through mutually beneficial collaborative partnerships. With renewed commitment, we hope you will continue to stand with us as we continue to put all the effort towards helping newcomers and members of our shared community in becoming economically self-sufficient, integrated, and productive citizens of our global society.
A very Happy New Year 2023!
The Burmese American Community Institute
The Burmese American Community Institute