Treetops Welcomes Joanna Boer as Board Chair

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of our new Board Chair, Joanna Boer, an inspiring leader with a background in social enterprise and a passion for creativity and impact. Joanna brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience at this pivotal moment in our organization’s journey to invest in refugee women and girls.⁠
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This is a historic moment as Joanna becomes the first immigrant woman to lead our Board, a true testament to our commitment to diversity and the values of inclusion we uphold. Her vision and leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our work and ensuring that we continue to empower and uplift the voices of refugee women and girls in our community.⁠
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In celebration of this milestone and all that lies ahead, we invite you to be part of this new chapter in our story. Join us in making a monthly gift of $25 or more to support our mission and fuel the important work we do. ⁠

"I am deeply honored and excited to step into the role of Board Chair at Treetops. Having personally experienced their radical welcome, I am committed to helping expand their reach so that more New Americans in Grand Rapids can benefit from this life-changing support. Treetops not only provides a meaningful sense of belonging but also delivers tangible resources that empower individuals and families to thrive. It is a privilege to work alongside Tarah Carnahan, our visionary Executive Director, whose leadership and passion continue to drive this mission forward. The entire board and I are dedicated to equipping and empowering her as we work together to strengthen and grow Treetops' impact in the community."⁠

As someone who spent more than half her life as an expatriate, Joanna is passionate about belonging and building community wherever she is.  She moved to Grand Rapids from Lagos, Nigeria to lead Calvin University along with her husband.  At Calvin, she was successful at contributing to the significant turnaround in morale of the students, faculty and staff of the institution.  She also launched a wide variety of new programs and initiatives that contributed to remarkable short term growth, and served as an advisor and mentor to Calvin students building start up businesses through the Start-Up Garage and the Women's Business Network.

Prior to moving to Michigan in 2022, Joanna spent 12 years in Lagos, Nigeria where she was the founder and CEO of Empire Jane, a business that manufactured and marketed Nigerian themed soft household furnishings.  These products are now in thousands of homes around the world, including that of the Director General of a UN agency and the Vice President of Nigeria.  In addition, her company led to the establishment and growth of an entirely new industry of Nigeria-focused high quality locally made products that celebrate Nigeria's culture and creativity.  

Joanna has also lived and worked in Kenya and Mauritania, has a Masters degree in Human Resource Management from the University of London, and a bachelor's degree from Calvin College.  She is from Trinidad and Tobago, and has four sons.  In her spare time, Joanna loves to travel, read, write, enjoy music and the arts, and take high tea wherever and whenever possible.