Our Story
We started by asking questions. How can the world do a better job of welcoming refugees? How can we answer that question in our own community? How can we be a city where refugee women can sink their roots down and flourish with their families for generations to come?
We passionately believe that each of our new neighbors has gifts, skills, and dreams that make our city better. Our mission is to connect these women to people and opportunities so they can flourish for generations to come. Our story is still unfolding, and we invite you to join in.
We passionately believe that each of our new neighbors has gifts, skills, and dreams that make our city better. Our mission is to connect these women to people and opportunities so they can flourish for generations to come. Our story is still unfolding, and we invite you to join in.
Our Team & Board of Directors
The team and board of directors at Treetops Collective represent a variety of backgrounds, professions and personalities. We’re a mix of educators, lawyers, students, quiet guides, vocal advocates, creative thinkers and faithful neighbors. We were born here in Michigan, in East Africa, and a few places in between. Whether our role holds 5 hours or 40, we bring our whole selves to this work!
What brings us together is:
- We’ve experienced hospitality in a foreign place and remember what it’s like to feel welcomed.
- We think the world can do a much better job of welcoming refugees who have been forced to leave their homes.
- We believe everyone is created with gifts to share and we want to see our community become a place where all can flourish and no one feels alone.
Treetops Team
Bimla Subba
Concentric Leader
Nepali Language Group
Nepali Language Group
she/her
Huda Dyke
Concentric Leader
Arabic Language Group
Arabic Language Group
she/her
Marla Hoekwater
Office Assistant
she/her
Munira Mohammed
Concentric Leader
Swahili Language Group
Swahili Language Group
she/her
Nedal Moanes
Concentric Leader
Sudanese Arabic Language Group
Sudanese Arabic Language Group
she/her
Rahma Madnur
Concentric Leader
Somali Language Group
Somali Language Group
she/her
San Hpound
Concentric Leader
Burmese Langauge Group
Burmese Langauge Group
she/her
Yeshiamba Kidanemariam
Concentric Leader
Tigrinya & Amharic Language Group
Tigrinya & Amharic Language Group
she/her
Interns
Board of Directors
Mandy Sharp Eizinger
Board President
Program Manager
Johnson Center for Philanthropy
Johnson Center for Philanthropy
Dilli R. Gautam
Vice President
President Bhutanese Community of MI; Associate Director of Community Engagement at Bethany Christian Services
Scott Zylstra
Board Treasurer
VP of Finance
Automatic Spring
Automatic Spring
Olayinka Ope
Board Secretary
Attorney
Varnum LLP
Varnum LLP
Laura Hofman Watrous
Board Member
Immigration Attorney
Law Office Of Laura Hofman, PLLC
Law Office Of Laura Hofman, PLLC
Matías Martinez
Board Member
Owner and Realtor
Give Back Realty
Give Back Realty
Raul Herrera-Pina
Board Member
Branch Manager
Huntington National Bank
Huntington National Bank
Mirabel Fonyuy Umenei
Board Member
Founder of Motherland Cultural Connections &
Beriven Consulting
Beriven Consulting
Director of African Collaborative Network
Aldina Babic
Community Relations Manager
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Board Committees
Fund Development Committee
Katie Brubaker
Human Resources Committee
Mandy Sharp Eizinger
Mary Degner
Michelle De Bie
Mary Degner
Michelle De Bie
Finance Committee
Scott Zylstra
Nick Punt
Stephanie Vail
Volunteer Teams
Community Events Team
Marla Hoekwater
Alaina Hoekwater
Lindsey Ruffin
Our Partners
Treetops Collective believes in connecting neighbors of all backgrounds to cultivate more creative solutions. By bringing together unique partners we create a climate for innovation, organic collaboration, and out-of-the-box thinking for everyone involved.
Future Partners
Treetops growth depends on the investment of a diverse group of stakeholders recognizing their capacity to connect, influence, and create opportunity through their businesses, faith communities, neighborhoods, circles of friends, and families. If you are driven by the same values that we are, and believe that you can respond to the global refugee crisis on your very own street corner, let's talk!
