Meet Our Team
Joel Groat
Executive Director
Hi, I’m Joel, and I am excited to be the new Executive Director for RPM. My passion is to help people grow and flourish in all areas of their lives and relationships.
I was born in Michigan and lived in Grand Rapids till I was eleven years old. It was then our family moved to Costa Rica for a year of language school, and after that to Venezuela where my parents were missionaries for the next 16 years. I loved living there and was both sad and excited when I left Venezuela to attend college here in Grand Rapids.
I attended both Cornerstone and Calvin Universities and did a double major in English and Spanish (Writing and Literature). After graduating from college (1983) I worked as a bi-lingual community organizer in the Roosevelt Park area and helped start the Grandville Ave Neighborhood Association.
In 1985 my wife and I went to Venezuela where for two years she taught elementary school and I did church and camp work. When we returned to Grand Rapids in 1987, I completed my Master’s in New Testament from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and started working full-time for the Institute for Religious Research. I served with IRR for 34 years, the last twelve as Director of Ministries and then Executive Director. My favorite role with IRR was as a teacher and trainer, traveling to over 20 different countries primarily in Latin America and Africa, doing conference speaking and adjunct teaching in the areas of religion and spirituality as well as Christian leadership.
In my free time, I enjoy good coffee, road trips with Lois (especially to Michigan’s west coast and beaches), biking, playing piano and guitar, helping my adult kids work on their cars and homes, and playing with our grandkids. Lois and I have been married since 1983, and continue to live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
I love that I grew up as a TCK – tri-cultural kid – with a blended cultural heritage that allowed me to be bilingual and at home in the Hispanic community.
I’m excited to return to the Roosevelt Park area and use my ministry and leadership experience with RPM as we help people grow and thrive both individually and as a community.
Jacky Osegueda
Director of Operations
Where are you from?
El Salvador
When did you first get involved at RPM?
I was waiting in the waiting area for the evening yoga class. The class had been cancelled, and the previous director, Steve, came and talked to me for a while and talked to me about volunteer opportunities. He asked me if I would be interested in office work and I told Steve that I used to work in the past for a German nonprofit organization and various other charities. So it sounded interesting to me when Steve suggested that I volunteer here as his Executive Assistant. And then I began serving in other capacities here as well.
Why do you love RPM? What do you want people to know about RPM?
I love that the work I do not only helps those I immediately serve, but could actually impact social change. The possibilities are so great at a nonprofit and I love having the opportunity to impact the future. Every day is a surprise, there is not a normal day here. One day you may be helping out with fundraising and administration and the next day you may be doing something totally different. You learn to wear many hats.
What do you like to do when you are not at work?
I like to stay up to date regarding ways to improve one’s credit, savings and finances. And I try to spend time with my loved ones. I love to stay connected by phone and by social media with my family who live in Spain, Uruguay, and Switzerland.
Fun Fact
I’m terrified of snakes!
Angela Brock
ESL Coordinator
Hello, my name is Angela Brock and I am the ESL Coordinator at RPM. I was born in colorful Colorado, but have found myself in Grand Rapids, MI after graduating from Calvin University with a B.A. in Linguistics and a Minor in English as a Second Language. I first became involved at RPM as a volunteer ESL teacher in 2019.
If you had asked me back then if I thought I have what it takes to be a good instructor, I would have told you NO. But after meeting the wonderful students and community here, building relationships, and growing interpersonal, career, and cross-cultural skills, I have found that good teaching doesn’t necessarily come from natural ability, but from a heart to listen, learn, and lesson plan conscious of the reality your students face. (And to remember that making mistakes is how we both learn language and learn how to teach better!) The biggest lesson I’ve learned and I want to now pass on to my students is that trying again is the best learning method.
I am so excited and feel very blessed to be a part of this community and organization.
When I am not at work, I’m lesson planning… Just kidding. I am often learning other languages for fun and to connect with friends (I am currently training my Portuguese skills). I love deep and meaningful conversations over tea/coffee or spending time writing stories and about life.
Fun fact: I never thought I was going to be a teacher.
I’ve studied Spanish, Latin, Hungarian, Japanese, Cantonese, and Portuguese.
Rosa Isela
Office Upkeep & Childcare
Hello! My name is Rosa Isela. I was born in Mexico City and I have been living in Grand Rapids since 1998. I am married and have two children who attend Michigan State and a daughter in City High. In March of 2019 I obtained my GED. I like to work with children whether it’s arts and crafts or bible lessons. I am very happy and blessed to work at Roosevelt Park Ministries because it is a place where families can find an answer to their questions and find helpful resources that can help support their families. I also take care of disinfecting the rooms after class and other upkeep tasks in office.
Volunteers & Interns
Bill Van Tol
ESL Teacher
Where are you from?
I live in Wyoming, Michigan and spent 41 years teaching overseas, the last 10 before retirement (1997 to 2007) in Mexico City.
When did you first get involved at RPM?
2012
Why do you love RPM? What do you want people to know about RPM?
I love the Latino community and want to help them integrate them into life here. RPM is good at this.
What do you like to do when you are not at work?
I volunteer for numerous organizations and I love to golf.
Fun Fact
I have visited over 50 countries.
What is your favorite vegetable and/or snack?
I love Alambre, a Mexico City specialty.
Ana Ramos-Roels
ESL Teacher
Hola! My name is Ana Ramos. I am a daughter of immigrants, a first generation college grad, a social worker, and most importantly, a Christian. I chose to volunteer at RPM because I attended a graduation last year and it brought me so much joy to see all the graduates receive their certificates. I understand the importance and the difficulty of immigrants learning English and I am so excited to get to know my classes better and help them grow in their English skills. I am happy to join RPM in their mission of reaching those in their community!
Rich Hunefeld
My name is Richard Hunefeld. I have been a volunteer English teacher here at Roosevelt Ministries since 2018. I began as a tutor and substitute, but now I have classes of my own. Usually I teach intermediate English.
I have always wished that I could speak Spanish, so when I retired from my job (I was a shop teacher), I decided to take some classes at the community college. Later I found that at RPM I could improve my Spanish by helping others learn to speak English.
I have found that my students are hard working individuals that want to improve their lives and it gives me great pleasure to help them. Even though learning to speak English is difficult, I try to make my classes interesting and fun. I feel that I am not just a teacher, but that my students and I are doing this together.
Susan Van Bromkhorst
ESL teacher, Spanish teacher
Where are you from?
Grand Rapids.
When did you first get involved at RPM?
June 2014.
Why do you love RPM? What do you want people to know about RPM?
There is something at RPM for everyone in the neighborhood.
What do you like to do when you are not at work?
I like to sing.
Fun Fact
I discovered I could sleep without a pillow.
Jon DeWaal
I am retired after 38 years in education as a teacher and administrator. I have mentored students and I also have taught several semesters. Building a relationship with them takes time and persistence, especially when we don’t understand each other’s language. However, each week becomes better as we pursue a common goal to communicate and understand each other.
What advice would I give future volunteers, staff members, or students?
Become vulnerable. It will open so many doors to building relationships. You will become real and authentic with the people you serve.
Nate Roels
ESL Teacher
My name is Nate Roels, and I am from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I graduated from Calvin College in 2017 with a degree in Digital Filmmaking and minors in Spanish and Business. Currently I run my own video production company, Second Mile Video, where I do videos mostly for nonprofits and ministries. My faith is very important to me, and I attend Iglesia Alas de Aguila in Holland, Michigan with my fiancée, Ana, who I married in the summer of 2019! We both have been involved with Roosevelt Park Ministries in the past, and are excited to continue teaching here.
Carl Burgess
ESL Tutor
When I graduated Calvin in 1970 with an education degree, I taught in Grand Rapids for a short time for various schools in the Grand Rapids school system. I spent 28 years at Kalamzoo Christian High and another 25 years as the Adult Ministry Coordinator at Friendship CRC. In my personal life, I have been married for 52 years and have four children. Lynn and I feel blessed to spend time with our 8 grandchildren. I’m thankful to be a part of the Roosevelt Park Mnistries and the ESL program; they provide for so many Spanish speaker who have a desire to learn English.
