Thanks to the commitment of both the Treetops team and the Al-Tawheed Islamic Center, the atmosphere of the event was transformed into a safer haven of inclusive cultural values and radical welcome. Treetops staff took on the role of welcoming greeters, embracing each guest with open arms and radiant smiles, setting the stage for a memorable evening.
Guests of 100 adults from all backgrounds came together to experience the hijab firsthand, stepping into the prayer room after removing their shoes. Led by the Imam of the masjid, we shared a peaceful Maghrib prayer as the sun dipped down— The Maghrib prayer is the fourth of the five daily prayers performed by Muslims. It is offered just after sunset, marking the transition from day to night. A moment for reflection, gratitude, and seeking blessings.
As I opened the event with a warm and cheerful welcome, I had a bit of a hiccup—I completely forgot the name of the founder of World Hijab Day (Namaz Khan) and neglected to introduce myself. What a facilitator, right? Blame it on my scatterbrain! Anyway, let me introduce myself on this blog. My name is Amina Mukhtar, and I have the pleasure of serving as the manager of the women's concentric program here at Treetops. I proudly identify as a Muslimah, someone who humbly submits to her creator, and as a Hijabi, embracing the practice of wearing the hijab.
Despite my forgetfulness, the event was filled with a sense of community and light-heartedness that captured my heart. Sadia's (Hijabi Swahili Collective Care Specialist) touching mother-daughter duo left a lasting impression on all of us as they presented together. Najma (Sadia’s daughter) recited the Quran in Arabic. Below is the translation of the Ayah, she read- In the Quran (24:31) Allah says, “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their ˹hidden˺ adornments except to their husbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their sons, their stepsons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, their fellow women, those ˹bond women˺ in their possession, male attendants with no desire, or children who are still unaware of women’s nakedness. Let them not stomp their feet, drawing attention to their hidden adornments. Turn to Allah in repentance all together, O believers, so that you may be successful.”
Sadia's presentation explored the deeper meanings of hijab, particularly Her words reminded us that hijab is not just about covering one's head; it's a symbol of modesty, dignity, and obedience to Allah's teachings. As a Treetops community, we embrace diversity and cherish the opportunity to learn from one another.
Following Sadia's presentation, we enjoyed a delightful Hijab fashion show led by Rahma Mudnur (Hijabi Alumni Concentric Leader), showcasing the beauty of hijab across the younger generation from ages 4 to 20 years old. Then, as one big family, we gathered to share a delicious meal prepared with love by Marla Hoekwater (Office Assistant), Salma Hassani (Hijabi Dari Concentric Leader), Munira Mohamed (Hijabi Concentric Coach), Kala Pokhrel (Nepali Concentric Leader) and others from the Treetops team. The flavors of the Treetops Collective filled the air, while children laughed and played in the nearby kids' room and ate together.
As the evening prayer drew to a close, at Isha prayer (5th and last prayer of the day), the Imam (prayer leader) reminded us of the significance of hijab as a symbol of Muslim women's faith. Together with Tarah Carnahan (Executive Director of Treetops) and Sadia, we concluded with a peaceful supplication session, fostering unity and reflection.
To close off the night, we presented awards to our dedicated staff and Hijabi sisters with beautiful flowers to guests—a reminder to embrace our individual uniqueness and to flourish as we are. Together, as a team, we are making a positive impact by spreading awareness and extending radical welcome to all.
]]>
As I stood in the cold drizzle outside Forest Hills Fine Arts Center I stood with hundreds of neighbors, some becoming citizens today, and some playing a supportive role. I reveled in this picture of America. African patterns, Nepali Kaftans, sparkly dresses and fancy shoes looking their best despite the cold climate around us this January day. Each one with their own unique journey, complex stories and identities that countless books could be written about, and yet a singular status they are pursuing - Naturalization - each seeking freedom and security through this step.
I greeted a young college student with Murakaza neza, welcome in Kinyarwanda, when she told me where she was from. Her sleepy 8am eyes lighting up at the familiar coming from an unexpected place. We talked about the Rwandan community in Grand Rapids and how isolated her family is so I took her number to connect her to a community that is waiting to embrace her, and also hoping she might want to lead some teen girls in our Concentric program next year!
Once inside I found myself next to a Turkish woman I know, but wasn’t anticipating seeing, who is waiting for asylum - there to cheer on her friend.
62 countries. 192 people. Each making a conscious decision to make this place their home.
Then I spotted the woman I was there to celebrate - my dear friend Rasheeda! In her stunning pink suit and vibrant smile she stood with pride when they finally got to S and called out Sudan.
Pride for the countries and culture they represent and pride for the flag they are waving today. They can both be true.
There are stretches when my American identity feels challenging, when some things we represent don’t represent me (which should always be the case in a democracy!) But today, I am witnessing the best of who we are, the hopeful imagination of a nation of immigrants. Even when I know history tells me that our idealized concept of the city on a hill and the Statue of Liberty were only welcoming certain people and how racialized and exclusionary our welcome has been as a country - I still feel like it could become true. That this nation of every tribe, tongue, belief, identity, race, nationality find common ground to live at peace with one another. What a beautiful picture of paradise.
The judge presiding over the ceremony named that this is his favorite part of his job, that he is so glad that each of these individuals will be a part of his community because he knows they will make us better. He named lies these new citizens may have heard in the media like immigrants are criminals, or are lazy and looking for a free meal, etc. He refuted each one with statistics and proclaimed them to be the best of us.
After handing Rasheeda a rose and taking some pictures of her family I rushed out for another meeting, but with a pep in my step, because this is why I show up to work each day - to celebrate, learn from and create opportunities with the dynamic new neighbors who are making West Michigan home!
These two organizations were selected from a pool of 30 applicants with the help of a committee of volunteers from our monthly giving program. Our committee identified five initial applicants that were asked to provide follow up information, and from those responses three finalists were selected. The finalists were then presented to 127 monthly donors for their consideration and digital voting.
Learn more about ImmiGreatness at their website, which has volunteer and donation opportunities listed under the Get Involved menu! Make sure to follow them on social media as well - sharing their posts and stories is a great way to help promote the work of a young organization and increase their visibility in your networks.
“Being a small organization with big plans, receiving a grant like this is going to have a huge impact on our operations and overall mission at ImmiGreatness. Our biggest focus these past 2 years has been working with first-generation students to provide resources for them when it comes to navigating higher education past high school, careers and professional fields, and any other general support they may need. Students from immigrant backgrounds are often at a disadvantage because they lack the proper support and understanding of a society that their parents are not familiar with, because they did not grow up here. ImmiGreatness has a team of Consultants, who also come from immigrant backgrounds, and they use their lessons, mistakes, and experiences to help the generations after them pave a successful path for themselves. We are currently working with East Kentwood High School to consistently meet with and offer mentoring services and workshops to 50+ students, but with this grant, we will be able to add more Consultants to our team and begin working with more schools to reach first-generation students in other districts. This grant will allow us to expand our reach, offer even more resources, and reward our Consultants who are generously volunteering their time and effort to equip generations of successful immigrants in West Michigan. We are extremely grateful for Treetops and their donors for making this possible for us, and the community for their unwavering support towards our mission.”
Learn more about MTCIR via the flyer found here. Contact information is provided for those who would like to get involved directly with their work!
Co-Founder and Board Secretary Irene Routté wanted to share this with Treetops supporters regarding the award of this grant:
"As a new non-profit, this grant money is invaluable! We are currently working on putting data, development and marketing systems into place so that we can become more sustainable and grow as an organization. The money received will go towards this work."
Learn more about Puertas Abiertas and how to support their work directly via their website. Treetops Collective and Puertas Abiertas have also embarked on a partnership to ensure immigrants and refugees fleeing domestic violence have stronger support systems designed for their specific needs. Stay tuned for additional information from us about how you can join us in meeting this critical need.
This is what being deeply rooted looks like. This is why investment in community leaders matters.
Each individual’s experience speaks of the uniqueness of their own journey, of their strengths, ideas, of the people who walked alongside them as they grew. Loryna is a Concentric Leader, currently leading the Ukrainian group. Below is an excerpt from her speech at this year's fundraising luncheon.
Helping others has always been important to me! In difficult times for me, I always had people who helped me. I also always wanted to be such a support for someone. But I could not even imagine that I would help people from my country who are fleeing from the war.
The lives of Ukrainians changed on February 24 at 4:20 am. Many people had to go 4,770 miles from home and start building a life from scratch.
I remember the first call from Treetops. It happened December last year, and I was very excited and a little nervous because helping people is a big responsibility. I was worried if I would be able to do it, but Treetops had several months to prepare us. And it helped a lot. They gave us confidence and made it clear that we are not alone and that we can always turn to them and ask for help.
I learned how to be patient because when you help people it is not easy sometimes. Not only do I help women, but they also often teach me something new.
Now all the women in my group have full-time jobs, and 4 of them have a driver's license. I am always surprised how quickly they achieve their goals! I am proud of each of them and they have never once complained that it is difficult for them or that they will not be able to achieve something.
Seeing people's gratitude is the best reward. I am also very grateful for each of you, because it means that you are interested in helping others. We have the ability to change other people's lives for the better and give them hope and add happiness.
]]>It was a Friday morning, March, 2020. I was taking the subway to the west end of Toronto, another day of work in my multicolored dream come true, I was in my dim sum on Saturdays, salsa dance on Fridays, momos on Monday promise land where my pastor was Sri Lankan just like my dad and even my white friends had pita bread stocked in their pantry, just like my mom.
I was listening to another episode of The Daily where Michael Babaro was again discussing a quickly unfolding, mysterious disaster. We all know what happened next. For me, a global pandemic led me home to Grand Rapids. I was heartbroken. A dream interrupted.
I knew if I was going to try to survive here again, if I was going to find belonging, I needed to find my people. I needed a place to be seen, to be heard, to be understood, to be loved. What I really needed was friendship.
I know Treetops is a non profit, and I know when we think non profit we think “helping people in need” Well. I was in need.
I’d heard about the opportunity to “volunteer” through a program that matched women up for 8 months of doing life together. Just every day stuff. I met Halima when she and I were matched as partners. It was awkward at first, but the Treetops staff were totally cheering us on. The goal – be friends! No obligations, no responsibilities, no special skills required, just be open hearted to something new, a friendship.
It wasn’t our job to change the world, or each other. It was just an opportunity to be in relationship, and isn’t that where all change begins? In relationships of trust and empathy and listening and laughing and crying and learning and growing?
Halima and I spent the winter eating Korean foods - our favorite - picking apples, making pies, I once sent leftover apple pie home with Halima and she brought me the pan back full of samosas. For Halima’s birthday we baked a beautiful cake and decorated it with pink frosting to resemble the Instagram posts we had been sending each other for a couple weeks as inspiration. We watched Freaky Friday. I met her sisters, her mom. She met my family, some of my friends. We saw the butterflies at Fredrick Meijer Gardens, we went for walks that we called “hikes”. We listened to Taylor Swift endlesslyyyyy.
When I lived in Toronto I did not just survive, I thrived, and that is because it is a diverse city of immigrants and native people who are committed to making room for each other and honoring the dignity of every human. Grand Rapids is growing to be more welcoming and inclusive, and Treetops is modeling what our city could look like if we cherished belonging as much as surviving. The flourishing of this city depends on the flourishing of people living in the most vulnerable circumstances.
My parents immigrated here and raised me and my 3 siblings. We survived and thrived because of the people who stepped out of their bubble not to help us but to befriend us. They are the ones that came to our weddings, our funerals, our birthday parties. Someday maybe Halima and I will throw each other baby showers and bring each other meals, I bet she will make samosas and they will save my life.
I came to Treetops looking for deeper connection, and I found that in my relationship with Halima. Today I want to invite you to not merely share space and a meal with those at your table today, but to take advantage of this time to deepen your sense of community and connection. Instead of hopping on our phones to kill time, let’s actually look up and see one another.
]]>
Tell me about yourself and why you started Stanton Interiors:
Margaux, owner and interior designer at Stanton Interiors, developed her passion for design from her parents' love and appreciation for all things beautiful - art, fashion pieces, architecture, decor, cobbled streets, how a chef plated a dish, the shape of a faucet, everything and anything! As she began designing her own spaces and eventually homes, she was able to refine her appreciation for turning spaces into works of art. She began working with friends and family to help design and style their homes and the enjoyment of watching others fall back in love with their homes inspired the start of Stanton Interiors. Stanton Interiors was founded on the belief that everyone deserves a space that they’re excited to come home to every day – a space that is not only beautiful and comfortable, but also functional and personal to them.
What cross-cultural work inspires you most/why are you passionate about cross-cultural decor and connection?
Having grown up in Hong Kong, a place of many international influences, Margaux has always appreciated learning about and experiencing cultures of both my own heritage and those of others. Being abroad meant she was lucky to be able to travel often. While food is a known favorite of Margaux's to experience and explore, the colors, traditions, languages and way of life of other cultures plays a large role in the textiles, shapes and designs she uses in her work. Margaux finds that by bringing cross-cultural influences into a space, it can help create a unique style that acknowledges history and focuses on classic looks over fleeting trends.
How would you describe the importance of space/decor/style in making a space feel welcoming to all?
When you walk into a room and you feel drawn to relax on the couch with a warm tea, or enter a kitchen and picture yourself chopping vegetables and herbs to create a delicious dish - this is our goal. We believe that the design and decor of a space affects your mood and can even make some of your day-to-day tasks such as folding clothes enjoyable and relaxing.
Immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs are making significant contributions to the Kent County economy, without the support of funding streams dedicated to New American innovation.
Because of the financial stability offered to us by monthly donations, Treetops is able to innovate new solutions to current issues facing refugees and immigrants. We wanted to offer that same opportunity to newcomer businesses in the form of a grant funded by all monthly donations collected every year during December.
Treasure for All Nations Daycare, led by Ngoi Nicole Banza
West Michigan Home Care, led by Krishna Bista
Didas' Language Facility
ACCESO VIP
Tena's 24hr Childcare
Emme's Plantain Chips
Motherland Cultural Connections
Monthly donors are eligible to vote each January for the newest grant winner. Applications are open from mid-November through mid-December.
Monthly giving is foundational to our financial sustainability at Treetops Collective, and we want to share the difference monthly giving makes to us with our newest neighbors.
You can learn more about New American entrepreneurship and its impact on our community from New American Economy. There is a great need for additional funding for New American innovation and ideas here in Kent County. If you have ideas or connections that would benefit New American entrepreneurs, we'd love to chat! Drop us a line at info@treetopscollective.org to get the conversation started.
]]>When it came time to organize our office, we already knew the importance of intentional and creative use of space. That is where Mabel Heitmeier of Spark Joy in MI came in.
Mabel believes in creating tidy spaces that offer comfort and peace. At Treetops, these values align with our desire to create a space that feels welcoming for all. Mabel is a certified organizing consultant trained by Marie Kondo, a tidying expert, bestselling author, and star of Netflix's hit show, "Tidying up with Marie Kondo" and "Sparking Joy."
Mabel says, "I founded Spark Joy in MI because I was inspired by small space organization from my childhood in Hong Kong and frequent travels around the world. I am passionate about helping people to get organized and live their ideal lifestyle surrounded by only the things that spark joy."
Inspired by her first job in Hong Kong, which included opening a new US branch office in 2017, Mabel says, "Having the experience of being a New American myself, I understand how important it is for New Americans to have a purposeful space to call their own, to connect with others, and build relationships and belonging."
She goes on to explain, "Research has shown that organization can positively impact many aspects of our lives (finances, relationships, career, spirituality, health, hobbies, community, etc.). By surrounding ourselves with only the things that spark joy and designating proper homes for these items, we are making our space a more welcoming place for all who live and visit here."
The core values of Treetops inform the work we do everyday and support our mission. The values of Radical Welcome and Cross-Cultural Connection resonate most with Mabel. "I am passionate about sharing joy with others by developing genuine relationships, and I strive to create an inclusive environment to meet people right where they are at."
The old, dusty warehouse building at 906 Division S has been completely transformed into a beautiful and welcoming office and event space. And thanks to Mabel at Spark Joy in MI, our office, storage, and event supplies are organized in a simple and efficient way for our team and guests.
"I am looking forward to making more meaningful contributions to Treetops and my community. Let's Choose Joy and Spread Welcome!"
Hello friends of Treetops Collective. My name is Amina (she/her), and I am a Collective Care Specialist and Concentric Leader for the Somali community here at Treetops Collective. I am a practicing Muslim (one that submits to God). This year at Treetops Collective, we are celebrating Eid al- Adha planned by AC (they/them) and Munira Mohamed (she/her).
AC: We are so excited to celebrate Eid al-Adha with all of you! We recognize that representation is important for all languages, cultures and religions. Especially with our Treetops Collective communities, it’s extremely vital that we celebrate and bring everyone together in uplifting our neighbors, friends, and communities.
This year we will start smaller and begin Eid al-Adha with some welcoming words, food, communion, prayer, and a closing celebration! We are also welcoming children and will provide a play room and childcare. This will be our first Eid and looking forward to many more in the future. Treetops strives to include all of our represented communities and anyone who is seeking a place to belong.
Amina: Eid al-Adha, also known as Eid ul-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the most important religious festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide. This joyous occasion marks the end of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mekkah, and to show respect to the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (may peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son, Ismail (Ishmael), as an act of obedience to God. In this blog, we will explore the significance of Eid al-Adha, its traditions, and the values it symbolizes.
Amina: The story behind Eid al-Adha revolves around the tale of Prophet Ibrahim's ultimate act of faith. According to the narrative of the Quran, Prophet Ibrahim had a recurring dream where he was commanded by God to sacrifice his beloved son. Although this was a challenging test, prophet Ibrahim's (may peace be upon him) steadfast devotion led him to prepare for the sacrifice. However, just as the prophet was about to fulfill God's command, an angel intervened and replaced Ismail (may peace be upon him) with a ram. This act demonstrated Prophet Ibrahim's absolute submission to God's will and represents the fundamentals of Eid al-Adha. As Muslims (one who submits to God), we celebrate his faithfulness to God (Allah).
Eid al-Adha is observed on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The festivities begin with a collective community prayer at the masjid where Muslims gather to worship and seek blessings. It is customary to wear new or clean clothes and perfume on this special day. The lecture delivered during the prayer highlights the significance of sacrifice, compassion, and gratitude.
One of the key rituals of Eid al-Adha is the sacrifice of an animal, typically a goat, sheep, cow, or camel. This act symbolizes the prophet's willingness to sacrifice his son and serves as a reminder of the importance of selflessness and submission to God. The meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts: one-third is given to the family, one-third to friends and neighbors, and the remaining third to the less fortunate, ensuring that everyone can partake in the celebrations. My family in the United States does not sacrifice, but we send money back home to Somalia and ask families to perform the sacrifice on our behalf.
Eid al-Adha reinforces the values of unity and charity within the Muslim community. It is a time for families and friends to come together, share meals, and strengthen their bonds. Additionally, Muslims are encouraged to engage in acts of charity and extend their generosity to those in need. Donating to charitable organizations, feeding the hungry, and providing financial assistance are common practices during Eid al-Adha, emphasizing the spirit of compassion and empathy.
Eid al-Adha is a festive occasion filled with various traditions. Families prepare delicious meals, featuring special dishes and sweets, and invite loved ones to join in the celebrations. Traditional clothing, such as colorful abaya and traditional jewelry, adds to the joyous atmosphere. Children receive gifts of money (in my family they also get ice cream), enhancing their excitement and making the festival a memorable experience.
Eid al-Adha is a sacred time for Muslims worldwide, honoring Prophet Ibrahim's faith and devotion to Allah. It serves as a reminder of the values of sacrifice, gratitude, compassion, and unity. Through acts of worship, sharing meals, giving to those in need, and spending time with loved ones, Muslims come together to celebrate this significant festival. Eid al-Adha not only reinforces religious beliefs but also promotes a sense of community, reinforcing the importance of empathy and kindness in our lives. Here at Treetops we are celebrating and bringing awareness to Eid al-Adha as a community.
]]>Title 42 ended on May 11, 2023 after 3 years, and with it, thousands of migrants will seek asylum at the southern border. There is a lot of talk around the issue of the border, so understanding who is there, why they are there, and what will happen to them is important.
Read: https://www.nytimes.com/
Read: https://
Listen: https://open.spotify.com/
Watch: https://www.instagram.
Read: https://www.nytimes.com/
Listen: https://open.spotify.com/
Read: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/11/world/americas/title-42-migration-us-border.html
Read: https://www.nytimes.com/
World Hijab Day was started in 2013 by Nazma Khan to encourage freedom of religious expression and cultural understanding. As a child and young woman, Nazma was discriminated against for wearing her hijab. As the only hijabi in her school, she realized that others made fun of her out of ignorance. If they knew why wearing a hijab was important to her and her faith, maybe they would have treated her differently.
A hijab is a head covering worn by Muslim women as a sign of their faith. The most common hijab is a scarf worn to cover most, if not all, of the hair, neck and shoulders. Customs on how the hijab is worn varies based on different Muslim cultures and locations. Women wear the hijab for modesty and privacy when in the presence of unrelated men.
Since not all Muslim women wear a hijab, and the style and custom in which hijabs are worn varies significantly, becoming hijabi is often a journey. While some women commit to wearing a hijab as a young girl, others wait until later in life, or go back and forth between wearing it and not. It is a very personal decision related to not only cultural norms, but also her individual relationship with religion.
Besides a woman's internal journey as hijabi, there is often external pressure to consider as well. Some countries require women to wear a hijab outside the home while other countries do not allow women to wear it, even if they do so freely. In some extreme cases, women are punished for breaking secular hijab laws.
Beyond politics and the law, many women also feel pressure to wear (or not wear) a hijab because of social media or encouragement from family and friends.
Ultimately, to wear a hijab is a personal choice. Many Muslim women choose to express their religious beliefs and commitment to their faith by wearing a hijab. Others opt to live out their faith in other ways. One of our Concentric Leaders, Amina, says, "I chose to wear the Hijab because it is a part of my religion and culture. Hijab makes me feel beautiful, protected and connected with my creator."
The purpose of World Hijab Day is to invite others to learn more about the decision to be hijabi. Understanding the personal and cultural choices of others helps us feel connected to each other. At Treetops, we celebrate our differences and what makes us unique. We are so grateful to the hijabis in our community who are doing incredible welcoming work in Grand Rapids, supporting refugees and immigrants. We hope you are able to celebrate World Hijab Day with us!
]]>In communities all over the world, tending to a neighbor through conversation over tea eases the weight and grief of life, but those social bonds and deep connections are disrupted through the refugee resettlement process - isolation now compounding the trauma of being uprooted.
When we first started Circles of Support groups (six-week group education on trauma and stress management), our aim was to provide therapeutic tools to a group of people in the same language group that utilized the wisdom of collective culture. We hoped to destigmatize mental health and provide the care they needed.
One of the group members said that she found healing through the program when sharing a cup of tea and a bite to eat with others in the same language and culture.
This often isn’t what therapy looks like in the U.S1.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic began impacting West Michigan, we have witnessed a significant rise in the concern about mental health and an increased awareness of how a person’s mental health impacts their life as a whole.
Shared experiences of isolation, anxiety, and relational strain as a result of the pandemic have, in many ways, created opportunities for conversation about topics that have long held stigma. Very early on in the pandemic, we heard the same calls for open conversation, increased access to care, and creativity in approaching mental health issues from leaders of all different backgrounds.
And the New American leaders we partner with named additional barriers to access that immigrants and refugees were facing in obtaining the support they needed.
Our staff–particularly in the Concentric program–have witnessed ongoing stigma directed toward people receiving therapeutic services, particularly at facilities associated with in-patient, crisis care. This leads immigrant and refugee community members to avoid even outpatient services provided at these facilities unless circumstances are truly dire.
If a New American community member decides to access care, they are likely to encounter barriers related to language, transportation, and culture, not to mention challenges in navigating insurance systems and finding a provider (which are common regardless of a person’s background)2.
Treetops Collective is not a mental health care provider. We are not equipped to meet the various mental health needs that our newest neighbors face.
But we can help build bridges.
The cross-cultural community center we are working toward at 906 Division offers many opportunities for increasing access to mental health support outside of traditional therapeutic settings.
Addressing mental health needs throughout our community is a daunting task and no one organization, counseling office, or therapist will resolve the issues that exist on their own. Transformation will take a collective effort, and we believe that this building can be a home for that collaborative work. Will you join us?
Ready to talk more about a transformational gift to cultivate belonging in West Michigan? Set up a time to meet with our Development Director, Abby, here. We need each and every person mobilizing and inviting their neighbors to be involved in establishing this collective space where we can share true cross-cultural community for generations!
1Murray, K. E., Davidson, G. R., & Schweitzer, R. D. (2010). Review of refugee mental health interventions following resettlement: Best practices and recommendations. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 80(4), 576–585.
2Aten, J. D., & Hwang, J. (Eds.). (2021). Refugee mental health. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000226-000]]>Hundreds of families have since arrived in West Michigan in search of safety, freedom, and new opportunities. Their plight, unfortunately, did not end once they set foot on American soil.
With so many hoops to jump through, resources and services to navigate, a new language to understand, and the very real hurdle to finding housing, a job, and community, many felt the pain of hope deferred yet again.
There’s a narrative about the U.S. that has gotten a lot of air time: if you have lost your livelihood, family, or way of life in another country, resettling in the U.S. is the solution.
At Treetops, we see a much more complex story play out every day. We meet women and teen girls whose families built businesses, engaged in rich communal life, or were seen as leaders before war, persecution, violence, climate change, or economic challenges made life where they were impossible.
Arrival in the U.S. is very rarely an end to the struggle.
Here in the Grand Rapids area specifically, we see new neighbors experience isolation when they cannot afford driver’s training lessons or are unsure of the process for taking a driving test.
We see parents working multiple jobs to provide for their families but leaving little time for English language classes or time to connect with each other.
We see families trying to preserve their ways of life while also navigating new cultural norms without the help of new neighbors.
In short, we see many families who live in West Michigan but do not feel like it is their home, even decades after arriving.
In order for communities to be places where people can rebuild their lives, we all need to commit to a different way of living together.
You're invited to join us, and over 20 of our local partners, in creating spaces in which that different way of life can happen. Since buying our building in 2018, we have been working toward and dreaming of a space that is inhabited by our community at large. In September 2022, those dreams will start to take shape as renovations begin to turn the first floor of 906 Division Ave S into a cross-cultural community center dedicated to welcoming immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers to West Michigan.
Meeting these present needs is essential. And we also know that long-term transformation in this community must look beyond the needs of today. That’s where you–our extended community–comes in.
We have very intentionally chosen to define this community center as cross-cultural. That means that whoever you are, whatever your background and story, we hope that you will find connection and belonging here as well.
Imagine the event space being a place where community meals take place, highlighting different cuisines from around the world at each gathering.
Or picture a lunch time language class for community members wanting to learn Nepali or Swahili or Kinyarwanda or Spanish.
Perhaps you’re an entrepreneur tackling yet another roadblock but now there’s a coworking space nearby where you can find other creative people from all over the world who can tap into their experience to help you create an innovative solution you couldn’t have found on your own.
We want you to be here, so we need your help.
Treetops Collective is embarking on a community-based fundraising campaign to bring this vision to life.
You can keep track of our progress and make a gift here.
We’ll be sharing in the coming weeks about why we believe this renovation had to happen now, what community partners have joined us, and what this change will mean for West Michigan. Make sure you’re on our email list (sign up at the bottom of this page) and following along on social media (@treetopscollective).
Ready to talk more about a transformational gift to cultivate belonging in West Michigan? Set up a time to meet with our Development Director, Abby, here. We need each and every person mobilizing and inviting their neighbors to be involved in establishing this collective space where we can share true cross-cultural community for generations!
]]>Mental health has received much more public attention in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stress of a pandemic has had a tremendous impact on mental health, and our ability to constantly access information and breaking news has increased our collective sense of anxiety. While these issues were not new, the pandemic brought them to light in a new way and has opened the door to respond in new ways.
Since late 2020, Treetops has been meeting regularly with other organizations and agencies in Kent County to discuss the particular barriers New Americans face in accessing mental health resources that are in high demand. There has been advocacy to insurance companies, training for healthcare providers, and identification of professionals eager to work with New Americans.
All of this work had been done to increase access to individual therapy services, a very specific type of mental health response. However, many members of our community are not interested in individual therapy, often due to cultural differences and social stigma. In the fall of 2021, Kent County was preparing to welcome hundreds of families from Afghanistan and there was a collective recognition that mental health services would be essential for these new neighbors.
With the help of two generous therapists, many transportation and childcare volunteers, interpreters, and the whole Treetops team, we embarked on an alternative solution through a program called Circles of Support.
Circles of Support was a 6-week program that turned into 24 weeks of beautiful community, connection, and healing for a group of Afghan New Americans. From November through May, we met and shared experiences, processed emotions, and learned better coping skills to manage stress. Over the course of this program, 73 adults participated in groups while children attended school or on-site childcare.
A common thread throughout this experience was the ripple effect of our conversations that went well beyond the confines of our circle. Mothers who were better able to calm themselves during times of stress could be an example for their children to do the same. Others were able to invite more from their language community to join us, and our circle opened to include more of those who needed support.
We all deal with stress in life. That’s a given. However, we often deal with our stress in isolation, forgetting that as human beings we rely on community and support to cope and work through our pain. And during times of acute stress, like during a relocation, war, or separation from family, like this group has experienced, our need for connection with those who understand our experience is essential to healing.
At Treetops, we are honored to provide this space for others to connect over a cup of tea and hopefully make their transition to a new life a little brighter. Circles of Support is continuing right now in Swahili- and Kinyarwanda-speaking communities. Our ultimate vision is to have a circle taking place in every language represented in Kent County.
Innovation at Treetops Collective is primarily made possible by the 100+ monthly donors who sustain our work. Recurring gifts are the strong foundation that keep our work going month to month so that we are able to co-create solutions when opportunities arise. Now is a perfect time to join our work as a monthly donor! Gifts of all sizes make this work happen.
]]>The following post was shared on the Treetops Collective Instagram and Facebook pages on May 25 following gun violence and mass shootings in Buffalo, NY, Kentwood, MI and Uvalde, TX.
Inconceivable loss, pain, and injustice all around us, filling our news feeds and weighing on our hearts and minds. Shootings in our community outside a school this week. And now the loss of these precious children - many of whom came seeking safety and a better life in our country. It’s too much.
We continue to wrestle with what it means to be global citizens, inherently connected to the whole of humanity, and also participants of a particular community in a particular place. How do we not look away from human suffering, but also know when we need to care for our hearts in order to show up faithfully for the people in front of us, our family and neighbors who are shouldering hard things? In order to respond and be willing to be inconvenienced we also need rest and care personally. There is no road map for this, but as a community it is worth our consideration so we can be committed for the long haul.
May we be people who do not shoulder the collective weight of all of these tragedies on our own, isolation creates more fear and despair. Now is a time we need each other to grieve together and be hope for each other. We may be weary, but together we can find the endurance needed to create more peaceful, connected communities.
Join us in taking 5 minutes today to respond by offering care to a neighbor, checking in on someone you know who has been holding a lot, calling a legislator about the safety of our communities, or simply seeking a few moments to feel whole yourself.
]]>The work we do is often quite messy and difficult. Our first five years have often included adapting our work, developing patience with one another, and sometimes apologizing for things we have missed or commitments unfulfilled. Continuing to be open to learning from one another takes a lot of vulnerability, and that can be really tough. But this value of celebration reminds us that we do not wait until we have “arrived” to celebrate what is working. We can celebrate what has been created now, even as we continue to improve and grow.
Our first five years have been filled with things to celebrate:
And so much more! I am so grateful for each person who has invested their time, talents, resources into this collective work as program members, Concentric leaders, Cross-Cultural partners, transportation and childcare volunteers, staff, donors, board members, ambassadors, cheerleaders, and partners.
But we never forget the second half of our definition of celebration - “while collectively working toward a better tomorrow.” These first five years have just been the beginning.
As we look toward the next five years, we want to expand on this foundation we have built together. Even as we celebrate the milestone in front of us, we are working toward our vision for the next five years.
In 2027, I hope the following statements are true of our community:
These are big dreams, but they’re all goals that our team is working toward today. When Dana and I embarked on this journey over five years ago a lot of those dreams seemed wild and big and yet more of them have been realized than we could have imagined. Stepping forward in collaboration and from a posture of abundance makes the impossible possible.
Our fundamental hope is that these first five years have just been the beginning. We believe there is so much more to come, with all the yearning and impatience that comes with it. We did not get to where we are alone, and we will not see any of these dreams fulfilled without the continued partnership of this collective.
In order to ensure that these first five years are just the beginning, we need YOU. Monthly giving is a key piece of how we see this work being done collectively. Monthly donors are cultivators for our work; this incremental, wide support of many ensures that we are never beholden to any one major donor, or contour our work to suit one idea of what success looks like.
Monthly gifts, of all sizes, sustain our programs throughout the year, and help us to plan out when and how we can grow as an organization. As we look forward to the years ahead, monthly support is the strong foundation upon which we can continue to build our efforts in becoming a more welcoming community, not just because of necessary funding, but because it also represents 100’s of individuals living out our mission and values on their street corners, in their workplaces, as friends and neighbors AND THAT is what will ultimately transform our community in a place where all belong.
When you become a monthly donor to Treetops Collective, you join us in the long-term relationships we are forming with New American women and teen girls, with local ethnic based organizations and leaders, and with all who seek to serve and create opportunities for our newest neighbors. You can step into this special role on our team as a member of the Cultivator’s Club, joining us today and each month, creating a monthly rhythm of remembering that we are better together!
Thank you for celebrating this milestone with us this month! We are so excited to see what the future holds for this collective and for West Michigan as we continue striving to be a place where anyone who has experienced the pain of displacement can live a vibrant, whole life in connection with their neighbors.
With deep hope,
Tarah Carnahan, Executive Director and Co-Founder
]]>
Dana Doll (DD) is a co-founder of Treetops Collective and was the first Executive Director until she departed for a new opportunity in family philanthropy at the end of 2019.
Tarah Carnahan (TC) is a co-founder of Treetops Collective and the current Executive Director, moving into this role in March of 2020 after building our social enterprise work for over three years.
We asked each of them specific questions about the past and present at Treetops Collective to remind us all of this history as we pursue the next five years and beyond.
When you first started Treetops Collective, what did you hope the impact would be? What were you trying to accomplish?
TC: My deep hope was that our community would have a better awareness of how we need each other, and that we would grow in our connection and care for each other.
DD: My hope was that this would be a lasting community where refugees and New Americans could find belonging. Watching what my siblings went through who came as refugees 22 years ago and then working in refugee resettlement 12 years ago, I saw that resettlement does not equate to belonging. Resettlement is the lifesaving work of assisting a New American with the basic needs in order to survive here-a place to live and to work, a medical home to receive healthcare, a school for their children to grow.
Belonging is different. It’s that moment when a woman is able to offer her own gifts to her new community, when she has a deep understanding of her new neighborhood and has agency to use her voice, reach her goals, and take the next step that’s right for her. It’s when she no longer feels like a perpetual recipient of hospitality but a fully participating member of her community. It’s social capital-having people to call on in both good and bad times. Belonging is sometimes hard to ‘measure’ in our non-profit mentality, but it makes all the difference in our quality of life as humans.
There are a lot of nonprofit organizations in West Michigan - what gaps did you see in what was already being done?
DD: We have two excellent organizations in Grand Rapids who provide the crucial work of resettlement and one organization who focuses on education. Though they also enhance their work with philanthropic support, they are primarily federally-funded to do one job and to do it well, and that’s the work of resettlement I described above.
There are also several highly effective community organizations birthed out of the many nationalities Grand Rapids is lucky to be home to (both as immigrants and refugees) like the Bhutanese Community of Michigan, the African Collaborative Network, and many others.
Tarah and I saw Treetops as a third kind of space. Though Treetops has always had programs with meaningful and measurable outcomes, we were also drawn to Dr. King’s vision of the beloved community, where we draw together diverse people with varying backgrounds to solve problems together, in solidarity and mutuality. This happens in small groups of individuals as well as the convening of organizations.
Creating this community included the hard work of building diverse streams of revenue through enterprise and donations with people who are truly invested in the ‘collective’ so that as our world continues to change quickly, so too can Treetops’ response, something that is hard to do when you’re primarily funded for a contract for services.
My hope is that Treetops is forever a place where the ethos of the beloved community is lived out both through individual leaders from diverse backgrounds as well as the convening of organizational partners, all with a vision of making Grand Rapids a place where we can all find belonging.
TC: We have historically been a city that welcomes refugees, but some of the narrative needed reframing, to emphasize the strengths and resilience of new neighbors and what a gift they will be as neighbors. Nowhere in the city was there a focus on the long-term belonging and cross-cultural connectedness of women.
There were also a lot of assumptions that when someone had arrived they were on track for success, that they had left “the hard place” and now were in America where anything is possible. Although there is opportunity, the ability to access it fully requires language and social connections that are nearly impossible to cultivate when you arrive in an environment where you need to immediately survive, outside of every context you have ever known. There were gaps between refugee resettlement services ending and an individual actually having access to information, choices, and building a sense of confidence in her ability to navigate this new place and make it home.
We also have a value of creativity that guides our work, not just through products in our social enterprise, but through a hopeful imagination of solutions that are possible to long-standing problems. There was a lack of innovation in partnership with New Americans, and leaders of those communities were often not in the room.
What parts of the vision you set out to fulfill have you already seen accomplished?
TC: Unlikely friendships have been formed that wouldn’t have been made anywhere else in the city. People who felt isolated and struggled to make this place home, whether they were a transplant from Seattle or Chicago OR resettled from the Congo or Burma, this work has created a sense of holistic belonging for our people throughout West Michigan.
We’ve also seen a shift in perceptions of the types of jobs or capabilities New Americans possess, and we’ve encouraged individuals to see their influence and ability to make change at a local level in the midst of a mounting global refugee crisis. Businesses are recognizing their power to spread welcome and celebrate the talent and expertise of New Americans through their hiring practices and public communications.
We have continued to center women and that feels really important, and we continue to hear that this is something that makes Treetops unique.
DD: The work of belonging and creating a beloved community is never finished, but I’ve been able to experience the fulfilling of that vision from our early days as a co-founder and continue to see it fulfilled as a donor and a friend of Treetops today. We started Treetops with visionary leaders who once arrived as New Americans themselves and built our first cohorts of women and teen girls with intention and excitement. I witnessed women from different cultures but a shared background of displacement carrying both each other’s joys and challenges together. I witnessed lifelong friendships born between New Americans and long-time residents of West Michigan. We had the great privilege of participating in big and small milestones, from graduation parties to celebrating citizenship, from gaining driver’s licenses to mourning the loss of our loved ones together.
Another part of the vision fulfilled was purchasing a physical space in 2018 for Treetops to make its home and grow this community. This was only made possible through generous members of this beloved collective.
Since leaving Treetops, I’ve had the honor of watching some of the first members of the teen girls group become dynamic team members of Treetops who are making their mark at a young age. Treetops’ Concentric program embodies so many of our original hopes and dreams as co-founders. I am thrilled to watch Treetops continue to evolve as it grows.
What were the major lessons you learned in the early stages of forming Treetops?
DD: It’s hard to describe the numerous and steep learning curves you experience in a non-profit start-up—practical areas like accounting, finance, fundraising and HR, to the bigger and more important questions of vision, co-creating with each other, and taking an asset-based approach to this work. Given the many steep learning curves, my first major lesson is to find yourself a cofounder to build with. I hit the jackpot by meeting Tarah when Treetops was nothing more than a glorified hobby and a visionary Word Document on my computer. We met when I had a toddler and a newborn and she was very pregnant with a toddler in tow. It was such a gift to meet someone with the same heart for this work but a complementary skillset.
Another major lesson I learned is that workplace culture matters. Like all teams, we failed each other plenty of times and had some hard-won lessons, but there was a true spirit of recognizing each other as whole people and loving each other right where we were.
TC: That there is NO arrival. Every goal leads to the next one and there is no settling in; there is always something to refine, build, or consider. It’s imperative to take a long-view of the work, and recognize that the solutions our community needs will take concerted effort and constant adaptability (and a sense of humor).
The reason we so often don’t see progress on big issues is because there is no vision for another way, or a redemptive imagination for the beauty that can be cultivated through broken systems, and the whole collective working toward that mission together. Nothing is possible through a single organization, leader, or idea.
Why are you, Dana, still connected to Treetops as you’ve moved on to other work in the community?
DD: As a donor and an advocate, this mission and vision of Treetops will forever be close to my heart, but more importantly, I have deep respect for the Treetops team and their heart behind their work. They live the mission out with their whole life, not just during the workday. Treetops remains our top monthly and annual giving priority for our family, and we continue to cheer them on. I hope my energy and resources forever support a vision for a future Grand Rapids where New Americans aren’t just welcomed, but truly thrive here.
Tarah, what has it been like to see this vision continue to grow and change in your time at Treetops?
TC: Tiring ;) And fulfilling. I am often unsettled and impatient because I see possibilities that aren’t possible today and I want all the pieces to come together to create a community that is vibrant, celebrating culture and people’s diverse strengths, and ensures that no neighbor walks alone. But when I really stop to reflect about all that has changed from writing initial ideas on post its on a dining room wall while holding a one-week old baby and managing playing toddlers at our feet, to the movement that has legs today it brings me so much joy and gratitude. All of this work has been done alongside SO MANY wonderful, committed, smart, creative and caring people who believe in this vision too!
Dana, what has it been like to see this vision continue to grow and change since your time at Treetops?
DD: I think all leaders struggle with this feeling, sometimes it feels like pride and sometimes it feels like fear, that it all rests on your shoulders. Though I had many reminders throughout my time as Executive Director that none of this would have existed without the whole collective lending their time, insight, leadership, and resources, there is nothing like stepping away completely and watching Treetops thrive to be reminded that these types of movements are bigger than any person or any team. It truly takes a community.
We started Treetops with the desire to never be beholden to a major institutional funder, because one of our greatest values was to listen to the people and communities we were here to serve. It can look like taking a group of Rwandan teenage women to a local commissioners meeting, giving a grant to a New American business startup, bringing together services and resources for new Afghan arrivals, and sometimes it looks like a baby shower for an expectant mother. The nature of this work is emergent, and not prescriptive. I knew when I left that Treetops would continue to change and evolve, but my hope was that listening would always be at the heart of its programs and activities. Their Concentric program and other programs show that they’ve gotten even better at listening to the community and I’m excited to see what’s next.
Tarah will be sharing more about our vision and hopes for the next five years at Treetops next week. Tune in then to learn more about where we hope to be in 2027 and how you can help this community get there!
]]>
At Treetops, our mission is to be a “cross-cultural movement that connects with and invests in New American women leaders, together transforming our communities into places of belonging.” (emphasis added). We work with women in part because women play such a key role in cultivating the social fabric of their communities. We work with women because we believe when we connect women together, they can be a catalyst for change in their community.
And we also work with women because we continue to hear of the need for this kind of partnership and investment. When we began our work with questions about belonging, we consistently heard stories of women who were experiencing isolation as a result of language, transportation, and cultural barriers. While husbands, brothers, and children got jobs and attended school, so many women were home with little ones and managing the housework, or only left home for jobs that under-realized their skills. We felt their isolation, but we also realized the ways this was depriving this community of these incredible, beautiful members.
The primary expression of this belief in the potential of women’s leadership at Treetops Collective is the Concentric program. In this program, twelve women from the community lead groups of women or teen girls from specific language groups. These Concentric leaders are best positioned to have the greatest impact because they are already trusted voices in their communities. They know language and customs, and have experience navigating U.S. systems and cultures without sacrificing their own values and traditions. Through the program, Concentric leaders receive additional training about specific resources available to the women in their groups and tools for managing the challenges of community leadership. They meet monthly to encourage one another, problem solve together, and cultivate cross-cultural community. By investing in these leaders, more women, teen girls, and families are understanding their strength and ability. They can start to see that they belong while building communities within the cohorts they lead where other women find and create belonging too.
One Concentric leader shared, “This year I've seen many women impacted by Treetops Collective. The women in my group lean on each other as a community. The women have gained resources that have helped them increase their independence and benefit their family.”
Another shared the transformation she is seeing in the women in her cohort, saying they are “positive and independent, becoming more vocal and expressing what they need, and learning how to navigate several community resources.”
So today we celebrate. We celebrate the New American women, our neighbors, who are finding the resources they need to care for their loved ones. We celebrate the New American women who are navigating complex systems. We celebrate the New American women who are seeking the connections and relationships to make West Michigan home. We celebrate women everywhere who see the needs and gifts of their neighbors and respond with kindness and generosity.
Passport Tip: Working on the #SpreadWelcome passport? Be sure to celebrate a woman who has made an impact in your life. Then mark the square complete!
]]>
We've been reflecting quite a bit on our social media pages about the latest refugee crisis the world is witnessing as a result of Russian military forces invading Ukraine, but realized that these conversations were not accessible to those of you who connect with us in other ways. We've compiled some of our thoughts here and are eager to continue engaging with our community about this and many other current events that remind us why being people of radical welcome is so important.
It started 5 years ago with a question.
What if Grand Rapids were the kind of city where New American women are truly welcome? Not just where their presence is tolerated, but where they can sink their roots deep and flourish.
The kind of city where we don’t see “them.” We only see “us.”
What if we were the kind of community where everyone belongs?
Inspired by this dream, Treetops Collective formally launched our programs 5 years ago this March. Since then, hundreds of New American women and their families have become part of this community. They’ve found income, opportunity, and belonging. They’ve shared their incredible talents, voices, and vision. Together we’ve formed lasting connections across cultures and languages.
But for us, celebrating this milestone isn’t so much about the past as it is the future. It’s about what kind of city we’ll be 5 years from now.
Our dream is to spread welcome across all of Grand Rapids.
For New American friends.
For neighbors we’ve never met.
For those just like us and those who couldn’t be more different.
Realizing this dream starts with you.
We’re celebrating 5 years by inviting you to connect more deeply with your neighbors. To discover community in unexpected places. To welcome and be welcomed.
Will you join us?
We'll be announcing more next week! Don't expect an invitation to a gala or luncheon, just know that we'll be inviting you to join us in exploring our community, investing in cross-cultural relationships, and living out the values that drive our work each and every day. Thank you for walking with us!
Update: We've begun our celebration over at treetopscollective.org/welcome5 - join us!
]]>Recently I was reading "All About Love" in which the author, bell hooks, considers definitions of love, bemoaning the fact that a word with so many meanings often becomes meaningless in the public sphere as there is no common, agreed upon definition. She is particularly drawn to Erich Fromm's summation of love as "the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth." Similarly, pointing to the idea of love as an action requiring something of you, Desmond Tutu said, "We tend to think love is a feeling, but it is not. Love is an action; love is something we do for others."
I have found myself more cocooned than normal after an adoption year, followed by a global pandemic. I leaned into reminders like Mother Theresa’s, “Want to love the world? Go home and love your family” and have been wrestling with what boundaries we need as we seek to serve and show up for others without burning out. I don’t know about you but I am less inconvenienced by others today than I was 2 years ago, and although that might feel comfortable, I don’t know that it’s a good thing.
Generosity and neighborly love look like giving not just out of our plenty, but with a heart that is courageous enough to lean away from the fear of scarcity, to give even when it feels like we don’t have enough. A “longer tables not higher fences” kind of living.
Am I willing to help a new neighbor who is homebound due to lack of transportation go to a grocery store on a Saturday afternoon?
Am I willing to navigate COVID safe interactions while inviting someone who is isolated with no social circle, into my home? Are there times where we bend so that someone else doesn’t break?
Am I aware, with ears and eyes open to the people in my proximity who could use an extra gesture of care, whether that be words, an invitation, or a meal delivered.
Am I open to loving a neighbor who I might have conceived of as an enemy? Am I able to receive the gift of a neighbor’s care or service and not pretend that I can do it all on my own, that I actually do need help? Can I even ask for it?
Have you been welcomed in, been given a meal in a busy week, received an encouraging word that was sweeter than honey, or simply exchanged a smile with a stranger that left you feeling seen and that the world is a little smaller? We can be this gift to each other through the profoundly simple act of being a neighbor. By being someone who is willing to extend themselves for another person’s growth and flourishing, believing that through our interconnectedness, our neighbor’s wellbeing is essential to our own.
As we sink our roots deep into community together, may our kindness, gentleness, and love be the nourishment our community needs to stand tall and thrive together.
]]>These are emotions that must be shared in community - what feels impossible to hold alone, might feel lighter together. But together is hard to come by here. These needs are also why Treetops stands uniquely in our value of wholeness, that as much as we want to work on upstream solutions to the barriers New American women face, we must first see her, as she is, and proclaim value.
This moment reinforces why we chose Pashto for our new Afghan Welcome shirt. The welcome greeting holds within it, the sentiment, “May you not be tired.” When we take time to recognize the journey of our newest neighbors, whether it’s a newly arrived Afghan family who is managing the emotions and loss of all that they knew for themselves and their children, or the Congolese mother who arrives pregnant with her children and is finding her way without a road map - it is incomprehensibly tiring.
I challenge you in this season of giving, to look beyond objects, and seek to find ways to give weary people the gift of rest. It could be holding a baby for a new mom (or doing her laundry so she can rest with her new love), it could be an opportunity to treat someone to a massage or getting their nails done that might feel frivolous when competing with never ending bills - it might be supporting the work of Treetops through a monthly gift to show up for women like these.
Whatever expression of care you choose- I think empathy will be the best tool to find what the most life-giving gift you can give might be. As a collective let us attune our hearts and ears to the weary and practice a welcome that says through our actions, “May you not be tired.”
]]>
Last month, 23 teen girls graduated from the Sister Circles program, marking the transformation of a program as we expand our model through the Concentric model. Transitions offer us opportunities for reflection, as we take time to consider again why we have focused our programming on teen girls in New American communities. Our community came up with a long list of reasons that leadership development opportunities for New American teen girls are necessary, all settling into three main areas of focus: identity formation, opportunity, and capacity-building.
Identity Formation
Identity formation is not an experience unique to New American youth - teens of all backgrounds go through the difficult process of finding their identity, particularly in relation to their peers and to their families. However, New American teenagers face additional challenges in defining their identities as they navigate multiple cultures simultaneously. In workshops at Treetops we have heard teens share their discomfort with the ways their American classmates talk back to their teachers, or concerns their parents express about them forming close friendships with American students who have different cultural values. This struggle resonates with all of us who have experienced encountering a new culture - we start to question things that we took for granted as normal and the strengths and weaknesses of the different cultures become more apparent in contrast. For New American teens, school and home can become isolating places where it feels like no one understands the complexities of the world they are navigating. While teenagers from all different backgrounds are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be, New American teens must navigate additional challenges on this journey and deserve to have empathetic and knowledgeable support as they ask these crucial questions.
According to the UNHCR, 54% of the females resettled as refugees in the U.S. since 2019 were under the age of 18. Treetops Collective exists to build cross-cultural communities of belonging, and clearly the high proportion of youth among immigrant and resettled populations has to be taken into account as we consider what is needed to ensure our newest neighbors find belonging.
Opportunity
Teenagers in New American families - especially teen girls - often hold quite a bit more responsibility in their family than their peers. They may watch their American friends live lives quite different from their own, going to shopping malls or joining sports teams after school when they need to get home to care for younger siblings and help out with cooking and cleaning while their parents work second or third shift jobs to provide for their families. Many teen girls who have immigrated to the U.S. have to grow up much more quickly than their American peers, and often carry with them trauma stemming from the pain of displacement and disconnection from the places and people they have called home. If their families are continuing to live on the economic and social margins after moving to the U.S., New American teens may not have opportunities to be in spaces that validate their youth and invite them to dream about their futures without overlooking the many challenges they navigate. New American teens need opportunities to lay down the burden of the responsibilities they hold for themselves and their families, and deserve to have places where they can simply be teenagers, free to explore who they are becoming.
Capacity-Building
New American teens also deserve opportunities that invite them into self-investment. Teen girls in particular may have very narrow ideas of their future, which can be grounded in cultural traditions or simply a lack of knowledge about how to achieve their goals in the U.S. When given space to explore and imagine their lives with abundant hopefulness, paired with concrete steps forward, we have seen teen’s self-confidence blossom. New American teen girls are the future leaders, employees, mothers, and women of our communities. We know that investing in them today matters for the present as well as the future. Teen girls that see themselves as the leads in their own stories, as young women who are capable and strong and creative, inspire confidence in their peers and change narratives about who immigrants and refugees are.
In January 2021, Treetops Collective launched the Concentric leadership multiplier program to celebrate the expertise of New American leaders and expand our model of partnership and capacity building to more women in West Michigan. We see the Concentric program model as a way to address the complex issues New American teen girls face and cultivating cross-cultural connections, while building the capacity of young women leaders.
Our plan is to launch the Teen Concentric Program this summer. In many ways this program will function like the women’s program, but with four Concentric young adult leaders who will each lead cohorts of 7-10 teen girls. Concentric leaders will start their training in August and begin leading their cohorts in October of each year, meeting weekly with cohort members and hosting two cohort-specific workshops along with three cross-cultural gatherings amongst other cohorts over the course of nine months.
We intentionally designed this program to operate on a smaller scale than the women’s program in recognition of the specific opportunities we see in working with New American teen girls. Young adult New American leaders can draw on their cross-cultural experiences as they walk with the members of their cohorts and speak directly to the experience of forming a multicultural identity that both honors their family’s values and recognizes the new environment in which they now live. Cohort workshops are places in which teen girls learn tools to navigate U.S. systems and also develop greater confidence in speaking up, all through a special time dedicated just to them and highlighting their interests and voices. Through the social enterprise internship program, girls are exposed to creative work as a potential career path and take first steps to employment that aligns with their interests and skills. Through a cross-cultural partnership, New American teens develop friendships with local women who can help them meet goals and explore their city.
You can join us today by investing in young New American leaders by helping us launch the Teen Concentric Program this summer. Our goal is to raise $30,000 to cover the start-up costs of the program by June 4. Visit our crowdfunding page to see what your gifts can do, and please give what you can! Once you’ve made your contribution, don’t forget to share this opportunity with your networks so this program can truly be community-funded.
]]>
May 5th, 2021
Written by Brooke Hulbert, Treetops Collective Intern
I was a Teacher's Assistant at Hope College when I first met Peninah, the creator of the Find Your Voice journal. Peninah, just a few years younger than me, demonstrated vulnerability and strength as she shared to a class of new faces her mental health journey. When I got my hands on the journal, it became a life-line to me. Finally, a space to be with myself and my thoughts, and an intentional way to prioritize my own mental health. As college students, mental health can often be placed on the back burner. From homework, work-life, student-life and so much more, there always seems to be an infinite list of things standing in the way of our mental health. Though, Peninah helped me to remember mental health should be our number one priority. With the Find Your Voice journal, it’s easy to carve out 5 minutes in your busy schedule to sit down, reflect and be present with yourself and your feelings.
Peninah’s story and journal inspired me to get connected and become an intern with Treetops Collective. My goal was to use the journal as an outlet to advocate for mental health on a campus of arguably over-committed college students who were managing the day to day demands of college-life along with the stressors of the pandemic. It’s no surprise that COVID-19 has impacted the mental health of many. The Journal of Medical Internet Research actually indicates from a study of 195 college-students, 71% of students revealed that their stress and anxiety surged from the pandemic (Son et al., 2020). As a college student myself, I have witnessed this surge and hoped that the journal could mitigate its impact on students' mental health. With the partnership of Anna Bonnema, I have had the opportunity to work with and bring the benefits of the journal to students from the FACES (Fostering a Community of Excellence in Science) program, a peer mentoring program at Hope for underrepresented first-year students.
We helped students to utilize journaling as a tool for mental health by providing prompt activities for students to find creative ways to connect with themselves and the journal. The beautiful thing about these prompts is students had the opportunity to practice the suggested activities when they could find time within their schedules.
A few of these prompts included:
Beyond the journal prompts, students in the FACES program had the opportunity to meet remotely with Peninah. Peninah inspired the students in the same way she initially inspired me. As Peninah vulnerably shared her story with the students, I recognized the look of hope, inspiration and empowerment that registered on the students faces. Throughout this experience, the quote from Brené Brown became all the more real “vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change”. Peninah’s story and journal granted us new found hope to transform ourselves as we journal and center mental health in our daily lives.
The beauty of the Find Your Voice journal is that it holds no limits. Any person, group, organization, et cetera can seek the benefits of this empowering journal. Further, this journal can be used creatively by the beholder. For me, it was the most useful as a day to day check in on my mental health. For others, it has been a coloring book, a planner, a place to draw and so much more. Another bonus this journal provides is affirmative quotes littered throughout the pages that offer much-needed encouragement. It’s been a privilege to learn and grow from Peninah, the Find Your Voice journal and Treetops Collective.
To learn more about Peninah's work and how you can utilize the journal at your organization, visit this page.
I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. In my last semester at a local college, I was matched as a Cross-Cultural Partner with Elizabeth, a mother of 6 from Burundi. Always a bit nervous to enter Elizabeth's home each week, I had feelings of doubt and often thought to myself: Is she bothered by our age gap? Am I intruding? Am I bringing enough to the table? Let me tell you, if you are a new Cross-Cultural Partner, these feelings of inadequacy are normal. My advice for you is to embrace the discomfort. Just like any relationship trust and familiarity take time.
I consider myself a fairly adventurous person, I love to get outdoors and explore. Initially, I had hoped to share these types of experiences with Elizabeth. However, I quickly realized that as a stay at home mother, not to mention pregnant and due in late December, adventure was a bit out of the question! I needed to change my game plan and was recognizing that my expectations and what I had envisioned were disconnected from the reality of our new relationship. That leads me to my second point of advice: don’t over anticipate what your partnership will look like. There is often a vast difference between expectations and reality so being flexible and adaptive are crucial for your cross-cultural partnerships!
Our friendship was unique, especially considering we are inside of a global pandemic, but doesn’t mean our relationship has any less of a value. I have come to know Elizabeth as a loving mother, a generous woman, someone with a good sense of humor, and a singer. She is all of these things and more.
During my first one-on-one with Elizabeth we tackled one of the first things on her list of goals she wanted to accomplish throughout the program, learning to bake a cake. Elizabeth has six children so they celebrate a lot of birthdays in a year! With the help of her kids we had a great time baking cupcakes together. Having an activity planned helped ease the nerves for both of us. From that day on we have slowly been learning more about each other and growing in our friendship.
One of my favorite memories was receiving a call from Elizabeth on Christmas Eve notifying me that she had delivered her baby just a few days prior. I was so excited and honored that she took the time to call me. This was during a “stay at home” mandate when we were connecting over the phone rather than meeting in person. As much as I was excited to see baby Grace, I had to wait a few weeks to meet her when things started to open back up. From then, the majority of our in person meetings included Grace. We chatted while I held her. At the beginning of our relationship I felt like I had to bring something to the table every week. I quickly learned that our relationship was going to be a bit more relaxed. Just by holding Grace for an hour or so I could give Elizabeth a bit of rest. Your partnership may be geared to accomplishing the goals you both stated at the beginning of the process, but even small acts and the simple gift of presence are enough for this friendship! Just show up and the rest will work out.
Most recently, Elizabeth taught me how to make “Samosas”, a savory pastry in which you stuff beef and veggies within a flour paper pocket. I enjoyed learning how to make this dish from her culture. We laughed as she taught me how to fold the flour paper to make it into the correct pocket shape. I kept messing up! Eventually I got it and we made about 30 between the two of us. My favorite thing about these partnerships is that you get to engage in cultural exchange. I taught Elizabeth how to make cake and she taught me how to make Samosas. Embrace and enjoy the cultural differences and curiously engage in hers!
Cross-cultural partnerships are a great way to meet people outside of your community. You get to engage in different cultures and become a part of each other's lives. Invest fully and enjoy the ride!
We invite you to take the next steps towards becoming a Cross-Cultural Partner by creating a Volunteer Profile and attending a Virtual Information Session and Cross-Cultural Partnership Training.
]]>I remember when I first came to the USA, going to the bus in the cold snow, I questioned all the opportunities people talked about and how hard these were to access. I used to cry and hated every moment of it. I remember men who gave me rides having inappropriate conversations with me, and being stuck to one job because I depended on the person who gave me a ride. Everytime I am reminded of this, I think about the other New American women who have to go through the same situation. I did not have kids at the time and it was still hard for me. Imagine how hard it is for a mom with 5 kids to navigate life in a new place without being able to drive.
With this I want to say that driver's training is a requirement for a lot of the New American women we walk with at Treetops Collective. Women are vulnerable and are unable to move forward because of not being able to drive. Being able to drive helps to build a bridge to reach the opportunities the USA offers.
Women who have to depend on others for transportation may be limited to one job that does not pay well and even value them, unable to get to interviews elsewhere or dependent on a friend or neighbor to get a ride to work. A lot of time is lost not being able to invest in themselves and their families. Inability to drive makes going to English classes, accessing better employment opportunities, keeping appointments for their children, attending parent teacher conferences and so many other things much more difficult. It is heartbreaking because women are expected to navigate this life on their own, but cannot advocate for themselves in the best way possible because their life is dictated by those who give them rides.
Driver's training opportunities for New American women will enable women to be independent and feel like they have a voice and power over their lives. It will also protect women from staying in difficult situations or relationships for fear of not getting by; this will empower and give women the confidence they need to navigate life on their own. There are instances where women have been disrespected by men who gave them a ride and found it difficult to say anything because of that help they were getting. Women have lost their voices, with their children and sometimes husbands because they cannot drive themselves; even the community looks down on them if they always have to ask for a ride. Driver's training will give them confidence in themselves and help women to be seen as responsible people in their community. They will have more control over their own schedules and will be seen as respected members of their families who are able to contribute fully.
A lot of times I hear people say refugee women do not invest in themselves. This is not because they do not want to, but their circumstances make it difficult for them. Just imagine, if you have four kids, you have to drop them off at appointments and have to fit in different schedules, go to work afterward and attend English classes, all while using the bus. It is very overwhelming. The bus system here in Grand Rapids is not easily accessible by people in different zip codes, which can be frustrating if you can not even speak the language or know how to read. Teach a woman how to drive and see how quickly she can learn the language because she will be able to attend classes and will have time to attend other events or programs that help them make cross-cultural connections.
The culture here is individualistic; people are busy with their lives therefore one has to learn to do things on their own – nobody will do it for you. Learning how to drive will help women be able to connect with others in their new community rather than being stuck at home alone. In return, women will build stronger and deeper meaningful relationships and develop a support system. For instance if you have to go to work and need childcare, you can easily drop your kid off to a friend if you drive. Now imagine if you had to ask the same person to babysit for you and also to come pick you up. You know that is putting a burden on another person. Women who can drive can easily move to and fro, developing a sense of community and empowerment.
If we are going to talk of ways to empower New American women and encourage them to have a voice in their own lives, driver's training is a necessity, it is key! This is a fact, a lot of known New American women who are successful, are women who can drive, are respected as responsible people and are also able to advocate for themselves and their families in the best ways possible. This will also lead to improved and better employment opportunities. Women who drive can plan their days as they wish without depending on other people or having people dictating to her when and how she should do things.
This is freedom and it is freedom that I wish for all New American women so that they can all feel like they belong and flourish here in West Michigan.
Want to be a part of connecting New American women with more opportunities and freedom through driver’s training? Give now >>
Written by Abigail Punt, Development Director
Treetops Collective has historically used our relational model to be a connector between New American women and resources and opportunities throughout West Michigan. Being a connector is effective when the barrier to access is a matter of awareness about available resources or knowledge regarding systems navigation. But we also encounter situations where the only barrier is financial, and that is the case with driver's training. Even as we seek to meet strategic, long-term needs in New American communities, we cannot turn away from the practical needs of today that, when met, contribute to long-term flourishing and belonging. To that end, we have decided to launch a Driver's Training Fund to help members of the Concentric program access driver's training.
Through the Driver's Training Fund, we are partnering with Africania Center, a New American-owned business in Grand Rapids that provides intensive and timely driver's training that is particularly designed to meet the specific needs of New Americans. Driver's training through Africania Center includes pick-up and drop-off, translation, and a guarantee of daily driving practice until the student has secured their driver's license. On average, they are working with students one hour per day for three weeks. This type of service would typically cost at least $1300, excluding the cost of hiring a translator. Through this partnership with Treetops Collective and Africania Center, members of the Concentric program will be able to access training for $1200.
The speed at which we will be able to offer scholarships to members of our program will depend on the funds available. This is a need we are asking our community to step up to meet - we did not budget for these funds in 2021 but based on the feedback of the Concentric leaders realized we could not afford to wait to start trying to meet this very practical need. Our goal is to extend this opportunity to four women from each language group represented in Concentric, serving 32 women total by April 2022.
We have chosen a "scholarship" model in recognition of the varying financial capacity among program members. Whatever gap remains between what a program member is able to pay and what the training costs is what we will fill, whether that is $500, $800, or $1200.
The need is great. We carry with us the knowledge that for every woman who accesses driver's training through this fund there will be many others still waiting for assistance. Your support of the Driver's Training Fund can truly help a New American woman start down a new path toward the life she wants to give herself and her family.
]]>If you are new to Treetops Collective, this is a great place to start! You’ll learn the why, what, and how of our work, and how you can be a part of it!.
Mission:
We are a cross-cultural movement that connects with and invests in New American women leaders, together transforming our communities into places of belonging.
Vision:
We imagine a world where any person who has experienced the pain of displacement finds a community where they can live a vibrant, whole life in connection with their neighbors.
Values:
Treetops Collective works with women and teen girls that have immigrated to the U.S. and are working to make West Michigan home. Our programs are designed to support dynamic leaders as they rebuild social and economic capital. We partner with individuals, families, organizations, businesses and faith communities that share our vision for communities in which everyone has the opportunity to utilize their gifts and find true belonging.
Our 2021 plans include the following programs:
Concentric
Concentric invests in New American leaders as they make West Michigan home and transform communities to be more responsive and welcoming to refugees and immigrants. This program is designed to multiply the impact of existing New American leaders throughout West Michigan as they work to close the gap between New American communities and local resources through referrals, regular and individualized member care, and strengthening peer and cross-cultural relationships.
The Concentric women’s group launched with eight leaders on January 11 and we expect to launch the Concentric teen group with four young adult leaders in July, 2021. The women’s group will have the capacity to increase our annual reach from 20 families to 160 families. Within the teen program we expect to reach around 40 teens, a deliberate increase from the 23 teens currently in the Sister Circles program that continues our prioritization of individual program member needs.
Market-Based Solutions - Our Retail Line
The Treetops Collective store highlights the gifts and skills of New American makers, equips our supporters to share messages of welcome and is a one-stop shop for gifts! Your support employs New American creatives and raises awareness for the work of Treetops Collective.
Market-Based Solutions - Teen Enterprise Internship
Treetops Collective’s Teen Enterprise Internship employs cohorts of New American teens for 10 weeks at a time as they develop a new product for our social enterprise from conception through design to production and promotion. The internship curriculum includes developing a resume, practice in going through a job application and interview process, as well as soft skills training such as marketing and storytelling. You can view and purchase past internship products in the Treetops Collective online store!
Market-Based Solutions - Workforce Development
Our wholesale and custom work offerings provide creative work opportunities to New Americans in West Michigan. Your support - both financial and of materials - offer flexible and in-home work to skilled artists throughout the community. Work by Treetops Collective makers can be found at local, women-owned businesses like Solstice Handmade and Stoffer Home.
An updated list of our Board of Directors is kept on our website on the “Who We Are” page. Our board typically meets monthly with occasional breaks for holiday seasons.
We currently have active board committees for Finance, Human Resources, and Fund Development. These committees also meet at least once every two months and provide oversight and support to our operations in these three areas.
If you have specific questions for the Board of Directors you can contact our board president at board@treetopscollective.org.
Our annual audited financial statements and forms 990 are available by emailing giving@treetopscollective.org or by visiting Guidestar.org and searching for Treetops Collective (you may need to register for a free account to view and download all available documents).
Gifts to Treetops Collective are direct investments in New American women and teen girls. Your support can provide workshops and training to the eight women leaders in the Concentric program. Your contribution can build cross-cultural relationships that open our eyes and challenge our narratives about the world and our place in it. Your gifts can connect families to the resources they need to overcome barriers or use their skills to sink their roots down deep in their new communities. Your partnership can provide income-generating opportunities for women and teens with creative gifts through our market-based solutions program. Your donation has the potential to transform West Michigan communities.
This post is intended to be a conversation starter, a tool for our community to use as we explore the opportunities to support work we care about and invest in creative solutions through charitable giving. The information included is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice or wealth management.
From the beginning, our mission at Treetops has always been to not only support New American women and teens that have been through the resettlement process but to transform our communities into places where everyone can belong. This work belongs to all of us, every community member that invests in a cross-cultural friendship or goes beyond hospitality to mutuality in engaging with a new neighbor. True to the “Collective” in our name, every one of us in this community has something to offer and something to gain by being on this journey together.
As an extension of our community building work, I hope that even as we seek out the financial support needed to execute our programs each day we are engaging more deeply with the many community members that respond to that invitation. My hope is that we are not only transforming our communities for people that join them through resettlement and immigration, but for people that have financial resources they want to invest in making their communities stronger. I dream of Treetops being a space in which we are reimagining what it means to be generous and use our material resources to support transformative solutions to the problems we see around us.
From that lens, I hope you’ll join us in the following exercises to identify your giving values and start uncovering potential partners that share your vision.
Exercise One: Identifying Your Giving Values/Priorities
Take 20 minutes on your own or with your family to reflect on the following questions to identify your giving values (we recommend reflecting on these questions in this order):
Exercise Two: Identifying Aligned Partners
There are over 1.6 million 501(c)(3) organizations based in the U.S. - how do we choose which ones to support?
Interested in how Treetops Collective answers these questions? Check out our blog post here.
]]>But friends, real change is not so easy. Real change requires something of us. Discomfort and sacrifice are often inevitable when we actively engage in justice work, in lasting change. Transformation of all forms requires ongoing, perpetual investment.
Sharing information is essential to grassroots efforts and community engagement, but real change happens offline, and real work is done in our hearts, our homes, our communities.
As parents, my husband and I feel everyday the weighty responsibility of sharing our convictions with our kids and helping them understand why we make the decisions we do. This is one of the reasons we chose to start supporting Treetops through monthly giving last year. I know not only the gift that consistent investment is to a growing organization, I also know what a gift it is to our family as we navigate bringing to life the values we hold dear. As we teach our kids to love their neighbors, we get to remind them WHO our neighbors are and that it requires something of us.
Love is active.
Your priorities and values might look different than ours, and that’s an awesome thing - it means that the uniqueness of each of our stories, and what we feel pulled to engage with because of them, will result in a flourishing nonprofit community that is actively caring for and bringing opportunity to the marginalized.
But if you feel drawn to being a part of this cross-cultural movement of connecting with and investing in New American women leaders, then I invite you to join me as a member of our Cultivator’s Club - a steadfast community of monthly donors, showing up each month with gifts of $5-$500. Each member is just as valuable to this collective work that we are creatively striving for together.
For Giving Tuesday this year, I am personally matching the first gift made by any new monthly donor. If you start a monthly gift today, our family will joyfully double the impact of your gift.
I’m so excited for what we can do together. Your commitment allows us to boldly step into 2021 with confidence and hope knowing that you too are walking alongside us each step of the way.
]]>