Treetops Collective

Our team meeting this week was at a park near the lake. Luba, our Collective Care Manager, led us in a beautiful yoga session. The photo of the tree behind Maya Angelou's wise words was from that day. The theme of our yoga session was balance — balancing life and work and responsibilities and play. While we must learn to balance life day to day, there are also seasonal rhythms to life that stretch beyond what we can hold in 24 hours. We have two periods of rest and renewal at Treetops for this reason. Next week, our entire team will close laptops and shut off notifications. Our only responsibility will be to rest. ⁠ We will be back in the office July 8 inspired; and perhaps a little sunburnt. ☀️⁠ ⁠ #spreadwelcome #restandrenewal #periodofrest #restissacred #mayaangelou

Refugees arrive here, often without connections to people or places, only carrying hope and resilience with their suitcase. The best way to ensure New American families thrive in their new home is not learning English, working or going to school, or even becoming a citizen. It is belonging. Belonging happens in different ways. Through cross-cultural friendship, storytelling through art, sharing food, or finding others who have experienced similar pain and working together to make it easier for the next woman to arrive. And at Treetops, all of this (and more) happens through intentional programming and a safe, shared space. Intentional, beautiful spaces are for everyone. #spreadwelcome #rootedtogether #treetops #refugeewomen

🎉 Wow! We have 993 volunteers registered in our system to date and we are beyond grateful for everyone who has been part of our Treetops story in this way. We are looking for 7 more volunteers to reach our 1000th volunteer in July! The 1000th volunteer who registers and signs up for an orientation AND a volunteer opportunity will receive 10% off our store @rootedtogether.shop and a free coffee/tea at the cafe! Please sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gAPDQ44Z #spreadwelcome #volunteer #grandrapids

Redemptive influence is probably one of our most important values and is woven throughout almost everything we do at Treetops. Yet — it feels somewhat invisible. We might often wonder if you notice. Does my story matter? Who am I in a sea of billions to make a difference? This question even gets asked out loud when you're around refugee teens. "I don't have a story," they say. "No one is interested in my life." We witness a beautiful transformation within these walls when they realize that their story does indeed matter and makes an impressive difference on those who come across it. Most teens in our programs were born in refugee camps, usually in a country foreign to their parents, fleeing war and persecution. They carry with them a unique experience of being from many places and languages, trying to make sense of themselves coming of age in America. It is unparalleled joy to see them together, celebrating their accomplishments like in this photo from their graduation last week. Our work is busy, at times daunting, and there are always new challenges. But the redemptive influence of their stories and their life as it blossoms is exactly the ripple effect our community needs. Walk alongside us and support this work: https://lnkd.in/eymkbdhk #spreadwelcome

Scroll, refresh, swipe. Heart, share, comment. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Unable to escape the unending violence through our phones, we sit in our helplessness, and struggle to comprehend the collective trauma we are witnessing from around the world. It is a reminder that it is the small acts of kindness that we share with our neighbors and family and friends that make the most difference. (And frankly, the only thing we can control). So if you are feeling lost at the state of the world and helpless about your role in it, be encouraged to reach out to your neighbor and know that it matters. #spreadwelcome

C E L E B R A T I O N "It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." — Audre Lorde This concept is why we believe that the very best way to build a community of belonging and resilience and trust and progress is through our shared value of celebration. ..........and probably food too 😂 #spreadwelcome Photo of Treetops staff and leadership at the teen concentric graduation last week 📸 @nedithfaro

✂️ Join us next week on Thursday for our ribbon cutting celebration! Take a tour of our new retail and coffee shop and support the work Treetops is doing with refugees in Grand Rapids. ☕️ The event is open house style from 8:30-1pm with the ribbon cutting ceremony at 9am. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/e_FgNch4 #spreadwelcome #rootedtogether #treetopscollective

"I’m deeply grateful for the work and dedication Treetops has in welcoming New American neighbors and in educating the West Michigan community in how to be welcoming." - Cross Cultural Partner #spreadwelcome

Cross-Cultural Partners, or CCPs, are valuable components of the programming at Treetops. The experience gives members the opportunity to connect with someone more familiar with Grand Rapids and the United States to learn from. It helps them to feel less alone and build connection to a new place. This is not a one-sided relationship, however. CCPs often report as much learning and growth, if not more. The proof is in the data, both the numbers and anecdotal. Intentional cross-cultural relationships have immense benefits for our community as a whole. #spreadwelcome #crosscultural #multicultural #friendship

June is Refugee Awareness Month, also known as Immigrant Heritage Month, which recognizes the courage and determination of refugees who flee their homes due to persecution, conflict, and violence. It also acknowledges the contributions of immigrants who leave their homes to seek opportunity in the United States. World Refugee Day, an international day designated by the United Nations, is celebrated on June 20th each year. The day recognizes the rights, needs, and dreams of refugees, and advocates for just immigration and refugee resettlement policies. 🗓️ Though we celebrate refugees every day at Treetops, we are especially excited that this date coincides with our retail and coffee shop opening. The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 9am followed by mingling, treats, and shopping. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/e_FgNch4 #spreadwelcome #worldrefugeeday #refugeeawarenessmonth #immigrantheritagemonth #wewelcome #choosewelcome