About me
Miller SD
Leo Istas (adoptive father)
Elizabeth, Elijah, Harvey
Smithfield Hams! Many were fed!
Community Revitalization
Addiction Recovery
Serving the children
Speaking at appropriations regarding affordable housing
Secretary Ben Carson
Secretary Ben Carson and affordable housing
At the White House celebrating the First Step Act!
Lobbying for family values
Community Revitalization on 8th St. Sioux Falls
We fed 1900 homeless and poverty stricken!
Tribal Elections Training
Sioux Falls Council Homeless Task Force
Church and his Chics
Wakanyeja
Native American Fellowship Crew
I am running for
District 26 Senate
My name is Dr. Tamara Grove. I live on the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Reservation with
my husband, Pastor Ian Grove, our chickens, and an adopted cat named Church. My adult children are Elizabeth, Harvey, and Elijah.
I was adopted by Leo and Delores Istas of Miller, SD, and grew up helping my parents run the Driftwood Cafe and Istas Miller Bakery. After graduating from college in 1993, I moved to Sioux Falls for 30 years! I moved to Lower Brule in April 2023.
Due to my adoption as a baby, the details of my Native heritage were withheld. Based on DNA data, my Indigenous lineage points towards Lakota Sioux and Anishinaabe. My biological name is Rogers. My father most likely participated in the Indian Relocation Act, and I was part of the Indian Adoption Project.
My Educational Experience:
I earned my undergraduate in Public Relations & Communications and Business Administration at Huron University/Si Tanka and continued on to earn my Masters in Business Administration. In 2015, I earned a Doctorate in Management through Colorado Technical University with an Emphasis in Emerging Media. My research has been published internationally and even impacted federal law!
My Life Experience:
I am a small business owner, consultant, international research author, and speaker. I am also a Co-Pastor at The Hope Center of Lower Brule.
In 2001, I started my first small business as the owner of an American Family Insurance agency. In 2009, I left my agency to pursue teaching at a local university, and in 2011, I began Transformation Consulting.
My Community Service:
2016 Donald Trump Diversity Coalition.
2018 President Donald Trump Community Revitalization Research Lead.
2018 Co-author of Trump Administration’s research for the First Step Act (Criminal Justice Reform).
2017-2018 commissioned by President Trump to author 10 of 12 community revitalization research papers to restore our nation’s impoverished communities.
2019 addressed potential solutions for homelessness and affordable housing at Secretary Ben Carson’s housing initiative in Washington DC
2021-2022 Co-founded the Community Revitalization Collective (CRC) in Sioux Falls to provide solutions and care for homeless Relatives, rehabilitate urban areas, and address local government regarding the impoverished. We also assisted those struggling with various addictions. I worked alongside partners like the Union Gospel Mission, Habitat for Humanity, and Smithfield Foods.
2020-2023 - Served as a Lobbyist for SD Family Policy Council and Protecting SD Kids to ensure SD values are not encroached upon.
2023-Current - I serve the community of Lower Brule through The Hope Center of Lower Brule and The Grove Projects. Our Programs include:
ARISE
Wakanyeja Warriors
Iron Nation Apostolic Hub
Circle of Health and Wellness
2023 - Current - Prison Ministry at the Justice Center in Lower Brule.
2023 - Current - Serve as an advisor for the Lower Brule Drug Court.
2024 - Current - serve on the board of The South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative.