THE OPALUS REPORT
INTERVIEW WITH DR. ADRIENNE COLEMAN
In this interview, we sit down with Dr. Coleman to learn more about her work to develop the Diversity in STEM Model. Included in the discussion is Michael Pegues the CIO for the City of Aurora as we explore ways to implement her research on a municipal level.
PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATOR
MASTER’S ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY
​
Dr. Adrienne Coleman, a nationally recognized speaker/researcher, serves as the Director of Equity and Inclusion at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA).
She has served as an AmeriCorps member and has been part of the United States delegation team that assisted Moldova (Eastern Europe) in addressing issues of human trafficking and inadequate health education.
Dr. Coleman is the recipient of the NAACP 2016 Trailblazer in Education Award, the 2013 - 2016 Leon Lederman Scholar’s Award, and the IMSA 2012 E = MC2 award.
She worked at Rutgers as an educator and part of student affairs,
taught a social justice and public health course, and
helped develop their first social justice minor.
She began running the Promise Program (older students) and Leading Students to Success Program (5th-8th grade) at IMSA with a focus on having Black and Latino kids in leadership positions.
DR. Adrienne Coleman
REPORT 002
FEBRUARY 26, 2020
Overview & Timestamps
(6.33)
MOTIVATION RESEARCH
SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO BEST INSPIRE AND SUPPORT STUDENTS THAT WERE UNDERREPRESENTED IN STEM AND WANTING TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE OF BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS, SHE ASKED STUDENTS WHAT MOTIVATED THEM THROUGH INTERVIEWING FACULTY, STUDENTS, STAFF, PARENTS, AND LOW INCOME AND WEALTHY STUDENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
#1 FACTOR OF MOTIVATION WAS: “THE OBLIGATION THEY HAVE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES TO BE ROLE MODELS, MAKE A DIFFERENCE, HONOR WHAT THEIR ANCESTORS HAVE DONE FOR THEM, AND TO BREAK SOME OF THOSE NEGATIVE STIGMAS.”
DIVERSIFYING STEM THINK TANKS BROUGHT TOGETHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND EXPERTS AND CREATED THE D-STEM EQUITY MODEL, A RESEARCH BACKED MODEL THAT CREATES A FRAMEWORK FOR DIVERSIFYING STEM EDUCATION TO CAREER PATHWAYS.
(9.55)
D-STEM EQUITY MODEL
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
(10.05)
LEVEL ONE - THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEM
VISION GAP: NOT SEEING REPRESENTATION IN THE STEM PROFESSION
OPPORTUNITY GAP: LACK OF ACCESS OR ABILITY TO ATTEND AFTERSCHOOL OR SUMMER STEM PROGRAMS
CULTURAL PERCEPTION GAP: IMPLICIT BIAS THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE TO COMPLETE RIGOROUS STEM PROGRAMS
STEM EDUCATION GAP: NOT HAVING ACCESS TO QUALITY STEM TEACHERS OR ACCESS TO LABS/TECHNOLOGY
GENERATIONAL GAP: THE DISCONNECT THE PARENTS HAVE (LESS THAN 7% OF BLACK/LATINOS IN STEM) FROM THE FIELD, NOT KNOWING WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE OR HAVING ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY
ECONOMIC GAP: NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD PROGRAMS OR ATTENDING SPECIALIZED SCHOOLS OR SCHOOLS NOT HAVING TECH TEACHERS
IDENTIFICATION GAP: TWO KIDS TAKING APART A PHONE, THE WHITE KID IS CALLED CURIOUS AND THE BLACK KID IS CALLED DESTRUCTIVE, UNDERSTANDING THAT IMPLICIT BIAS
STEM PROFESSIONAL TO EDUCATOR GAP: EXPEDITED PROCESS- FINDING A WAY TO HAVE CAREER KNOWLEDGE ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO TEACH IN THE STEM FIELD WITHOUT NEEDING TO GO BACK TO UNDERGRAD
(20.00)
LEVEL TWO – STEM MOTIVATION
-
EARLY EXPOSURE: PRE-K
-
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE STEM CURRICULUM
-
CONVERSATIONS ON RACE
-
PERSONALIZED ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION
-
STEM LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
(27.00)
LEVEL THREE – BRIDGING THE RACIAL STEM DIVIDE
WE NEED
-
POLICY MAKING DIVERSITY IN STEM A PRIORITY
-
COLLABORATE STEM INITIATIVES
-
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PEDAGOGY
TRACTION:
UC BERKELEY – TRAINED THE STEM FACULTY ON THE MODEL, WORKED WITH NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCHOLARS ON HOW TO DO CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MENTORING
NAACP - HAS IMPLEMENTED THE PROGRAM AT NORTH CENTRAL
THE JORDAN FOUNDATION - HAS IMPLEMENTED ASPECTS
POLICY:
DEVELOPED AN EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE POLICY WITH IMSA 2 YEARS AGO
WORKED WITH NAPERVILLE SHARING WHAT A RACIAL EQUITY POLICY WOULD LOOK LIKE
​
​
(37.40) Michael Pegues
HOW WOULD YOU ENVISION THIS BEING IMPLEMENTED AT A MUNICIPAL LEVEL?
-
ADVISING POLICY
-
STARTING STEM PATHWAY PROGRAMS
-
HOSTING CONVERSATION ON RACE/STEM
​
​
(48.45) Michael Pegues
MINORITIES IN LEADERSHIP ROLES
​
​
​
A special thank you to Dr. Coleman for taking the time to meet with us and share her passion and expertise. We also appreciate Michael Pegues joining the conversation and bringing his visionary mindset and commitment to building the brightest future for the city of Aurora.
​
​
