Joel Groat
Executive Director
Hi, I’m Joel, and I am excited to be the Executive Director for RPM since early 2022. 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 for the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association as a bi-lingual community organizer 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 youth 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 17 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 be back in the Roosevelt Park area using my multi-cultural 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 El Salvador, Uruguay, and Switzerland.
Fun Fact
I'm terrified of snakes!
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.
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.
Carl Burgess
ESL Instructor
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.
LaVonne Carlson
We’re excited to highlight one of our amazing volunteers who joined our community in early 2025. Inspired by hearing about Roosevelt Park Ministries through Shawnee Park CRC, she decided to get involved, and we’re so glad she did.
She supports the program by working directly with students, creating a welcoming space where learning and connection go hand in hand. She shares that she was drawn to volunteering as a way to respond to the world around her by making a positive, local impact in a meaningful way during a time when people need support and connection.
What stands out most to her is how the experience challenges her in unexpected ways, like explaining parts of language and culture she’s always taken for granted (for example, why “flour” and “flower” sound the same). These moments bring both laughter and growth.
LaVonne has even learned a few Spanish words and phrases to better connect with students, going above and beyond what is required. She has taught Level 3 and brings a thoughtful, insightful approach that has been a true blessing to the program. She is deeply respected and appreciated by those around her for her leadership and the positive impact she brings.
What keeps her coming back is the joy, dedication, and courage she sees in her students. Their motivation continues to inspire her week after week.
Outside of volunteering, she has a Master’s degree in music history and works in IT. LaVonne loves camping, hiking, and backpacking, and she’s even known to crochet hats and baby blankets for others.
We’re grateful for the heart, curiosity, and commitment she brings to our community!
Nate Van Boom
Nate has been volunteering with us for a couple of years.
He first got involved after taking a Spanish as a Second Language class and enjoying it. After about a year, he looked for ways to get more involved and began volunteering.
“I usually teach or assist with the Level 1 English as a Second Language class. I also help out with the coat drive event that brings a lot of community and families.
“I originally started to learn more Spanish, but I’ve found it very rewarding and enjoyable to give back to my community.”
“I think everyone should learn a second language. It expands your thinking and worldview and allows you to communicate with new groups of people. I feel proud and honored to be part of helping others learn, and thankful to learn more myself.”
“What keeps me coming back is my passion for learning languages and having a space where I can both teach my own language and learn more Spanish. I am very inspired by the students learning English, as it is a very difficult language to learn.”
“I think beyond just teaching English and our other services, the program also provides a community. It can be very scary to speak in a second language, so having a comfortable place to practice without fear of failure is really important.”
Fun fact: Nate has three cats and two fish 🐈🐈⬛🐈🐟🐟
