“We started as an organization eight years ago with the intention and vision to imagine a world where anyone who has experienced the pain of displacement can live a vibrant and full life in connection with their neighbors, and this building is a strategy for our community to join in together and do that.”
Tarah Carnahan is Executive Director and Co-founder of Treetops Collective, an organization dedicated to supporting refugee and immigrant women during their transition to West Michigan.

The organization opened its new coffee shop at 906 Division Street South in Grand Rapids. But the shop aims to be much more than a coffee shop.
“We have a retail store that features refugee-made and inspired goods, so you can find things that share a message of welcome or around women’s empowerment, products that have been designed and created by teen social enterprise interns, so teens, high school age girls who have come to our country as newcomers and are getting to have a paid internship to bring a product to life.”

The building will also feature a cross-cultural community center that will host celebrations and milestone events, as well as the café featuring coffee and chai from around the world.
Profits from the shops will be reinvested into Treetops’ programs, helping immigrants and refugees develop entrepreneur skills through future partnerships with businesses like the Downtown Market.
“I hope that people are encouraged to act in their own neighborhoods, in their own businesses, wherever they find themselves, that they have something to do in order to welcome well.”