Alliance for Cultural
and Ethnic Harmony

Mayor's
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Yessenia Aguirre is a youth advisory member of the board. She moved to Holland five years ago from Florida, and is a graduate of West Ottawa High School. Now a sophomore at Hope College with an interest in studying psychology, she was a Phelps Scholar and is a member of LaRU. Yessenia has been involved with Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP) for three years and worked on the Hispanic Youth Leadership Conference in 2009. She says: "I wanted to be part of the Alliance because its purpose and mission to have unity within the diversities in the community really speaks to me; it's a movement I want to be part of."

Jack Hyde a high school special education teacher in New Jersey and suburban Chicago for many years, retired to Holland in 2000. He has a master's degree in special education and is author of "Just Another Brick or How I Survived over 8500 School Lunches," an education memoir and treatise. He writes a weekly column for the Holland Sentinel. Jack says: "When we moved to Holland, my biggest fear was that there would be a lack of diverse population. I have been pleased to learn otherwise; lives are strengthened by diverse people who gather in friendship and trust and learn from one another. Celebrating our diversity in ethnicity, faith, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, and age is a positive option to ignoring differences or trying to fit them into a preconceived mold. ACEH leads in many ways with positive examples and I want to help that continue and grow."

Jauanna Jackson taught elementary music in West Ottawa schools for 24 years. She grew up in Inkster, went to Western Michigan University, and lived in California. The move to Holland was "challenging culturally, socially, and politically given our African American roots," she says. Jauanna has 3 children and has been active in many civic groups. She says: "I want to give time and support to an organization that I admire and respect because it consistently demonstrates the 'right stuff' by sponsoring activities and giving voice to issues that impact the well-being of a culturally diverse Holland area."

Bin Lim has been an ACEH member from its founding and has served as treasurer. He is an engineer, retired from Herman Miller, and active in the Lakeshore Interfaith Institute. Bin and his wife, Lisa, have 4 children and 3 grandchild. He says, "I think ACEH is a unique organization attracting progressive, open-minded, and compassionate people who are trying to dismantle the (sometimes ever so subtle) social injustices in our community by getting involved in discussion in a very personal way. We have to educate ourselves and the community, to get rid of our prejudices and unconscious false understanding of others. I have no choice but to be active and hope to attract others to do the same."

Norma Luna works part-time as a nurse for a local agency and as an on-call instruction aide for Holland Public Schools. She was on the Holland Human Relations Commission 1993-95 and has been active in the community, taking part in the Neighborhood Leadership Academy and Holland Citizen Police Academy. She coordinates the All For One Dance group led by her teenage daughter, Dominique Vargas. Norma also has two adult sons and two grandchildren. She says: "I want to be part of the board to contribute a little of my past as well as my growing knowledge of working with diverse groups in the community. I can share ideas that we use to continue our diverse dance program and hear how young people feel about barriers that exist because of discrimination. We need to promote unity."

Victor Orozco was born in Guanajuato, Mexico; when he was 10, his family moved to Chicago. He retired in 2008 from working at Tiara Yachts and served on the Holland City Council from 1993 to 2007. He and his wife, Rosa, have 3 children, 2 stepchildren, and 14 grandchildren. Victor says: "I have been part of many social groups that promote good race relations and it has been my personal journey to make this world a better place for justice and equal rights for all. I will work to do the same on the board of ACEH."

Francisco J. Panuco is a senior at West Ottawa High School, part of the Hope College Upward Bound program, and a participant in Calling All Colors and H.O.P.E. (Hispanic Organization for Pride and Education). Francisco was chosen as 2009-10 Fiesta King by Latin Americans United for Progress; he's been part of LAUP for the past three years. He wants to become a psychologist and plans to attend a four-year college. Francisco says: "I enjoy being involved for many reasons but the main one is that I love my community --- it's not too big or too small; it's just right.

"I came on the ACEH youth advisory board because I love seeing all cultures as one. I believe that we are all the same. We all have a voice and it's important to use our voice for the betterment of the community."

Rev. Angela Taylor Perry is pastor of Reconciliation Ministries at Faith Christian Reformed Church, Holland; her Hearts in Harmony program seeks to intentionally create multiracial friendships. An artist, poet, and vocalist, in 2005 she was the first African American woman to graduate from Calvin Theological Seminary. Angela is married, with adult children and several grandchildren, and defines herself as a "22-year survivor of multiple sclerosis." She says: "I believe my desire to bring people into harmonious reconciliation is also the passion of Alliance people. I have found ACEH to be a group of sincere folk who have a passion and an appreciation for people of all nations. Because I have a need to be connected multiculturally, I want to walk my journey of life with others who have the same need."

Lucia Rios was born in Holland and for 6 years has worked for the local nonprofit Disability Network/Lakeshore, where she focuses on accessibility and youth with disabilities. She graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in journalism and comparative religion. Lucia also volunteers in the community and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She says: "I believe in the value of educating our community about all cultures and differences. I think what ACEH does is beneficial and encouraging, and I would love to be part of strengthening what has already been put in place."

Mary Yedinak taught in Holland Public Schools for 29 years, including elementary school physically and health-impaired children and sixth grade science and communications arts students; she retired in 2000 and substitute-teaches at Corpus Christi Catholic School. She was active in the Holland Education Association, serving as treasurer and as a negotiator. Mary says, "As a Catholic, a single person, and with non-Dutch heritage, I have had some interesting experiences in Holland." Mary previously filled the remaining term of board member Dan Cornelissen and has now been elected to a full term. She says: "We are diverse in many ways. I believe everyone should be treated equally and with dignity. I wish to help promote that treatment for everyone."

Marvin Younger taught Holland elementary students for over 30 years; he also trained teachers for the Federated States of Micronesia. He serves on the Lakeshore Area Youth Leadership board, Upward Bound, and the city's Human Relations Commission, International Relations Commission, and Multicultural Network, and is involved in two multicultural celebrations in the city. He has been an ACEH board member for two years, serving as president in 2008-09. Marvin says: "I hope to continue to give back to the community by fostering a respect for and acceptance of the diversity that is so much a part of Holland, working to build bridges of communication between ethnic groups and the city, and examining ways to involve all stakeholders in the life of this community."

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