The Momentum Center is a well-funded organization with many volunteers. In fact, there are many volunteers for the Anti-Racism Task Force that also have connections to Grand Haven Area Public Schools.
Tracey Nauta
Let’s start with Tracey Nauta. Tracey appears on several of the Momentum Center Anti-Racism Task Force videos. Tracey ran for GHAPS school board in 2020, but did not win. Tracy is also a member of the GHAPS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Andy Ingall
Andy Ingall appears in Momentum Center Anti-Racism Task Force videos including the October Town Hall: Racism and Religion Part 1. Andy Ingall is the former Superintendent of GHAPS who recently retired at the end of 2021.
Mary Jane Evink
Mary Jane Evink is very involved with the Momentum Center Anti-Racism Task Force and several boards in the community. She screens and coordinates most of the questions posed to guest speakers. Mary Jane has also volunteered with the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance. In fact Mary Jane Evink participated in a panel discussion entitled How Teaching Critical Race Theory In Schools Prepares Youth To Create An Equitable Future. Here is a News Article on the panel discussion.
Mary Jane Evink was on the board at MASFPS – Michigan Association of State and Federal Program Specialists. Here is a quote from their website, “MASFPS exists to organize, unify, and nourish an alliance of individuals and organizations concerned with Compensatory Education. Founded November 3, 1969, we facilitate conversation and collaboration among member organizations and government partners. We’re active in the development and enactment of State and Federal legislation affecting education and strive to enhance the professional competence of education professionals.”
Mary Jane Evink is currently on the board of the Grand Haven Schools Foundation. According to their website “GHSF seizes the opportunity to impact children early, when the window of opportunity is greatest. By funding preschool scholarships, kindergarten readiness efforts, and school enrichment programs, a child’s education foundation will be set for even greater learning.” Does this mean that the anti-racism agenda is now being presented to our pre-schoolers?
Finally, Mary Jane Evink is a former member of the board of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.
This is the same Mary Jane Evink, who tells parents Critical Race Theory is not being taught at Grand Haven Schools. This is the same Mary Jane Evink who is in charge of all major curriculum decisions for Grand Haven Area Public Schools. She has been an employee of GHAPS since 1993. In fact, Superintendent Scott Grimes and the Grand Haven School Board trust her so much that one might say Mary Jane Evink is running the Grand Haven Area Public School District.
Deanna Rolffs
Deanna Rolffs was a guest speaker during The Town Hall Meeting on Talking about Racism (October 5, 2020). Deanna Rolffs speaks on white supremacy and white power and privilege. I highly recommend watching Deanna as she is the same consultant who has been leading the teachers in Professional Development at Grand Haven Area Public Schools. Later in the video after Deanna seconds book recommendations of Waking Up White by Debby Irving and How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, Deanna recommends the book White Fragility by Robin DeAngelo.
Brian Wheeler
But perhaps the most interesting connection between the Momentum Center and GHAPS is Brian Wheeler. Brian Wheeler, a long time volunteer for the Momentum Center, was welcomed to the board of directors in January 2021.
Just a few short months later he was accused of embezzling approximately $900,000 from GHAPS and went on the run from the police.
He was soon found in Muskegon, MI and arrested. While awaiting trial he contracted Covid which postponed his trial. Sadly, Brian Wheeler was found dead in his jail cell January 27, 2022 and the cause of death is still under investigation.
Brian Wheeler was a volunteer for the Momentum Center Anti-Racism Task Force in charge of cyber security, member of the Momentum Center board of directors, and was also head of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and Assistant Superintendent for Technology, Transportation and Operations for Grand Haven Area Public Schools. Brian Wheeler appears in many town hall videos including The Town Hall Meeting on Talking about Racism (October 5, 2020) around the 18 second mark.
So the real question is what do all of these connections really mean? Aren’t schools supposed to be politically neutral? If at least eleven members of leadership at GHAPS (Marc Eickholt, Scott Grimes, Mary Jane Evink, Jason Reinecke, Sarah McElrath, Andy Ingall, John Siemion, Brian Wheeler, Tracey Nauta, Tammy Basil and Chris Streng) have connections to liberal leaning committees and non-profit organizations, are our children getting a politically neutral education?