Zabibu reflects as Mama Mohamed translates, “The best part is them teaching us how to be independent as a mother, as a woman, as a wife… Treetops accepted me. They invited me and I became part of them. And I know I'm still part of them and will always be part of them. And the best part is I have the capability of telling people, you know what? There's a place where we can all come together and just say, this is us.”

For one of those women, Nadia Hamad, lead seamstress for many of the products created at Treetops such as bags and children’s clothing, “Treetops changed my life 180 percent,” she said.

“We want this space to feel like a celebration of the diverse community that West Michigan is,” she said. “Often, people don’t realize that so many cultural communities are actually making this place their home right alongside them. We are highlighting and celebrating these different places to create appreciation and more understanding.”

“Veterans and refugees have had really challenging experiences that don’t just end when the conflict ends,” said Tarah Carnahan, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Treetops Collective. I think by having safe spaces, like the coffee shop, to come to and find people who may have had similar experiences and to share like with them, those are the connections we are all about, so the connection felt really natural with us.”

“It’s hard to celebrate something so valuable when half of your heart is still in a warzone,” Freshta Tori Jan said.

“It is thrilling to watch walls come down so that people can come together,” said Tarah Carnahan, executive director and co-founder of Treetops Collective. “We know that we can better activate and celebrate the gifts and talents of New American communities by restoring our historic downtown building.”

"I have mental health that I've been going through since I've came here and one thing that helps me through it is writing it down every thought and that's how the journal came about," Irene, teen enterprise intern.

For over three decades, the ATHENA Awards Celebration has honored more than 100 local leaders that have made a difference for women.

“The gap of making this place home was really evident," Tarah Carnahan Executive Director and Co-founder, explained. "We recognized that in order to create a more welcoming community where new Americans who resettled can find a place of belonging and home again it takes the whole community.”

“I think, overall, it shows all of the kids here that you don’t have to be an adult — you can still spread kindness when you’re young.”

"These women leaders really inspire us and we believe that we are the women we've been waiting for and that women can do hard things. We really celebrate that as an organization."

Celebrating cross-cultural friendship and refugee leadership on Treetops' 4th anniversary.

"We believe that as they flourish, our entire city will flourish," Dana Doll, co-founder, says. "We love Grand Rapids and believe this city has so much to offer as long as people are connected to the right opportunities that fit their gifts."