Sometimes, Small Conversations Create Big Changes
A reflection from Amina Mukhtar, Senior Concentric Program Manager
In October 2025, Katie Sienkowski, Director of Community Food Club, asked our Treetops Concentric Leaders what cultural foods they would like to see on Food Club’s shelves. I wanted to ask about halal meat, but I felt shy. I knew it was expensive and worried I might be asking too much from our nonprofit partner. You see, I have experienced this before. As a mother advocating for my own children, I have been told that providing halal food on school menus was too expensive. So, I was nervous to ask again.
But this time, Katie’s genuine care for community members and her passion for supporting their needs gave me the courage to speak up once more, and I am so glad I did! Katie welcomed my request with an open heart. She didn’t see it as a challenge. Instead, she reached out to different suppliers until she found someone who shared her passion for making halal food accessible to the community. A few months later, I received exciting news: Food Club now had halal chicken and ground beef available for members!
Fast forward to October 2026. During our Food Club tour with the 2026 Concentric Leaders, Katie shared this story again. Hearing her tell the story brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me that sometimes we are afraid to speak up because we think our needs might be too much to ask. But how can change happen if we don’t share what our communities need? And how beautiful is it when someone not only listens but also takes action?
This story is about more than halal meat. It is about being heard, valued, and included. One conversation sparked curiosity. Curiosity led to advocacy. Advocacy led to action. And action created better access for our community. This was a win for both Food Club and Treetops Collective as community partners!
This experience also brought back another beautiful memory about what it means to truly include everyone. During a gathering connected to the Welcome Plan, a community leader worked with a Latino restaurant to make sure a halal food option was available. I remember taking a picture of the menu because it was the first time I had seen a Latino restaurant offering a halal option outside the walls of Treetops. That small act of inclusion meant so much to me. When I thanked her, she shared something I will never forget:
“My friend, if you can eat, everyone can eat. But if everyone can eat and you cannot, then we have not included everyone.”
Those were the words I had always wished to hear when advocating for my own children and the Muslim community of West Michigan.
A special shout-out to Hollin De La Cruz! As a leader of the Welcome Plan, you have walked closely alongside immigrant and refugee communities, listening to their voices and advocating for their needs. Thank you for showing West Michigan that belonging is not just something we talk about, but something we create through our actions. Your leadership and care are a beautiful example of what true inclusion looks like.
As I reflect on both experiences, I see something beautiful they have in common. Hollin and Katie showed me that true inclusion begins when we listen, but its real impact comes when we take action. That is exactly why what Katie did meant so much to me. She reminded me that sometimes the difference is not just in the resources we have, but in how willing we are to listen, care, and find a way.
And you know what? I learned that sometimes, all it takes is an invitation to share, the courage to speak up, and someone who is willing to listen and cares enough to go above and beyond to meet the needs of communities whose voices are often overlooked in schools, food programs, and other community services simply because they are not part of the majority, even when those needs are rooted in religious beliefs and dietary requirements.
My heartfelt thanks go to Food Club and the generous meat distributor. What a beautiful example of how kindness, care, and partnership can create an impact all the way from New Jersey to Michigan! And a special thank-you to Katie. Thank you, Katie, for your genuine care, your willingness to listen, and the beautiful impact you continue to make in our community. You reminded me that community needs should never be seen as too much to ask, but as opportunities to listen, learn, and create meaningful change together.
Because, my friend, belonging is not just about welcoming people into a space or offering services. It is about listening to their voices, valuing their needs with dignity, and making sure no one is left out.
With Love & Compassion,
Amina Mukhtar
Treetops Collective Sr. Concentric Program Manager
