As part of the community Big/Little Read, join us at the Holland Museum to celebrate some local heroes who work to create change, help others, and protect our community. Hear their stories, learn about the heroes who inspire them, and take part in a historic heroes’ scavenger hunt and other family-friendly activities. Meet Fire Marshal Bret Groendyke, Sarah Yore-Van Oosterhout from Lighthouse Immigration Advocates, Veteran Russ Miller, I AM Academy Directors and educators Lindsay and Henry Cherry, Brianna Miranda from the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, as well as Dwayne Betcher and Lindsay Zrull from the Herrick Public Library, Johnny Rodriguez, Executive Director, Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP), and Megan Winters from the Harbor Humane Society. Visitors can be a hero by adopting an animal that evening!

This program took place on Monday, November 14, 2022
This was a FREE second Monday, family program sponsored by THE MEIJER FOUNDATION
(Free admission for all guests)
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Holland Museum

Schedule

4:30 to 5:00 pm

• Craft Session: Make Your Own Super Pet Comic Book
• Hosts: Harbor Humane & Herrick District Library

5:00 to 5:30 pm

• Read Aloud with Hosts: LAUP & Lighthouse Immigration Advocates

5:30 to 6:00 pm

• Craft Session: Hometown Heroes Cards. Make a card to be sent to a veteran or firefighter in your community!
• Hosts: Holland Fire Department & Russ Miller

6:00 to 6:30 pm

• Read Aloud with Hosts: I Am Academy & the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan

Local Hero Biographies

Sarah Yore-Van Oosterhout

Sarah Yore-Van Oosterhout (she/her/ella) is the founding and managing attorney with Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates, a local Holland non-profit that walks alongside immigrants, migrants, refugees, and other community members to achieve their immigration goals.

Brianna (Bree) Miranda

Brianna (Bree) Miranda started at the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan (FHCWM) in March of 2019, since then she has been the Education and Outreach Coordinator providing program coordination for all education and outreach activities as well as providing information on fair housing rights to the community at large.

Jen Self-Aulgur

Jen Self-Aulgur has been with Harbor Humane Society since September 2016 and involved in animal welfare since 2002, creating many programs including humane education programs and camps, low income/cost vaccine clinics, and many community engagement events.

Russ M. Miller

Russ M. Miller, LLIF is a Vietnam Veteran serving from 1968 to 1971 in the US Army Security Agency and was a member of a Special Operations Unit assigned to the Military Assistance Command Vietnam. Russ spent some of his career with Principal Financial Group, finishing as a VP and managing director in Indonesia and the People’s Republic of China and then as founder of Performance Institute, LLC, a consulting firm based in Holland and Beijing, China.

Bret Groendyke

Bret Groendyke has served in the fire service since September of 2002 and was a firefighter/EMTB with Holland beginning in April 2013. He became the Fire Marshal for the City of Holland in February of 2018 and enjoys serving the community and providing education on all things related to the fire service.

Lindsay Zrull

Lindsay Zrull is a Public Services Librarian at Herrick District Library. Zrull has degrees from The New School, the University of Michigan, and Harvard Extension School. She loves to read women’s history books and stories with strong heroines. Zrull also writes young adult novels about foster care.

Dwayne Betcher

Dwayne Betcher has been at the Herrick Library going on 38 years and has served as a 25-year Union leader and Local President of SEIU, a W. Michigan Union.

Johnny Rodriguez

Johnny Rodriguez, the son of hardworking Mexican immigrants, graduated from Holland High School and then Hope College in 2009. After 11 years in Human Resources and Talent Acquisition Leadership, he wanted to use his talents, connections, and enthusiasm for non-profit work supporting the Latino community. As Executive Director of Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP), Johnny leads the only Latino-focused organization in Holland.  

Henry and Lindsay Cherry

Henry and Lindsay Cherry, both committed educators, developed I AM ACADEMY to support African American students in Holland. While also addressing needs of poverty, hunger, and societal inequities, they have recruited and trained mentors, many of whom were minority students from Hope College and other post-secondary education backgrounds to work with these talented young people. 

Cultural Lens Program Premier Sponsors

Support from: