The Burma Center was established in 2011 under the leadership of Martha Thawnghmung and Jennifer Cole with a seeding grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to empower Burmese Americans to be able to access resources in the community and to participate in and enhance the culture of Battle Creek and the larger community. According to the CDC’s website, between 2008-2014, 117,433 refugees came to the United States from Burma (also known as Myanmar) via refugee camps in Thailand and Malaysia. Out of this total, 3,743 people relocated to Michigan. Most Burmese refugees in Michigan have established themselves and their families in the Battle Creek area. In 2024, It is estimated that there are about 3,000 Burmese residents currently in the cities of Battle Creek and Springfield. There are roughly over 600 students in both the public and private K-12 education systems.

In addition to providing services to Burmese residents, the Burma Center owns and operates an old school building (the 1956 Springfield High School) that is now a home to five other organizations including two independent childcare centers, Calhoun Community High School, and several non-profits which collectively serve 200 people daily. The gymnasium and multipurpose room are typically rented for retreats, weddings, concerts, etc. on weekends not just by the Burmese community but by people of all races and ethnicities.

Picture of Burma Center Here.