Who We Are
At Taproot Research Collective, we support immigrant justice organizations with the data and insights you need to strengthen your fundraising, service provision, rapid response, and advocacy efforts.
Our approach is driven by practice-based knowledge, rigorous research methodologies, and the lived experience of individuals and communities most impacted by immigration, detention, and deportation policy. We bring a deep commitment to research ethics, equity and intersectionality, and co-creation of solutions.
Our mission is simple: Taproot Research Collective strengthens the work of those advancing immigrant justice by making their impact visible, measurable, and meaningful.
Marina Burka, Founder & Principal
Marina has worked in immigration law and policy, service provision, and program management for the past decade. Most recently, she held a senior role at The Resurrection Project managing several multi-million dollar immigrant justice funding programs in Illinois. She has led several immigration legal clinics, provided technical assistance to dozens of immigrant justice organizations, and has designed, conducted, and directed various community-centered research and evaluations. Her work spans nonprofits, research institutes, and academic institutions, with expertise in mixed-methods research, program evaluation, and people-centered design. A qualitative researcher by training, Marina brings a deep commitment to equity, storytelling through data, and strengthening organizations that serve immigrant communities.
Marina was a Fulbright Scholar to the United Kingdom. She holds a Master of Research in Human Geography from the University of Glasgow, and a Bachelor of Science in Human Geography from Penn State University. She is fluent in Spanish.