On Monday, December 1st at 10 AM EST, Room for All will be livestreaming an Interview of Jan Koopman (she/her), a dedicated former Board Member and Advocate for people with HIV/AIDS during the height of the crisis in the U.S.A. Registration is required at the link below.
Born in Holland, Michigan, Koopman graduated with her BA from Hope College in 1974. From then until graduating with her MPA from George Washington University in 1977, she worked as a Legislative Assistant on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.. After 14 years in Budget Analysis, in 1991 Koopman became the Executive Director of the Grand Rapids AIDS Resource Center. This center has been called “an unmatched resource in the fight against AIDS”, and under her leadership, it expanded its services to more clients.
Retirement didn’t stick: from 1998-2001, Jan Koopman was Program Manager for HIV/AIDS Services, and worked within the administrations of other non-profits and public sector positions until retiring in 2020. From 1991-2005, she was the Member and Community Co-Chair for the Community AIDS Council in West Central Michigan. She also held membership in the Michigan HIV/AIDS Council.
President of North Grand Rapids Classis from 2010-2012, Koopman faithfully served Room for All on our Board of Directors from 2009-2015 and 2018-2024. Her service also includes being an Elder at Central Reformed and Trinity Reformed in Grand Rapids. Widowed in 2016, Koopman has two adult children, Daniel and Julia, and 3 granddaughters.
