HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Bert Jara is seeking a new challenge.
After two separate stints as Executive Director of Latin Americans United for Progress, he will be leaving the Holland-based organization to become the new Chief Executive Officer of the Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities in Grand Rapids, overseeing the Cook Library and the Cook Arts Center. During his tenure at LAUP, Jara helped develop several youth programs while creating and implementing a financial stability program for the organization.
The LAUP Board has turned to Ernesto Villarreal, the Assistant Director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Hope College, to succeed Jara as Executive Director. Villarreal joined the group last month as its Youth Program Director and agreed to the new role last week when Jara submitted his resignation.
Villarreal takes over the Executive Director duties on February 26th, two days before Jara’s departure from LAUP for his new position.
