Changing perspectives through the classroom.
Efua Richardson
Nov. 8, 2019
This week on Lewis Life, we’re featuring our very own sociology professor, Dr. Buntin and Natalie Coleman, an entrepreneur doing phenomenal work in the city of Lockport.
Let’s begin with Dr. Buntin. Growing up as a half white, half Mexican biracial child, Dr. Buntin was fascinated by society and its functions, namely the inequalities that are structured in society. As a college student originally studying journalism, Dr. Buntin took a sociology class that changed her outlook on the world around her.
“I took a sociology class and was like, ‘This helps me understand myself, it helps me understand society,’ and I really wanted to learn more about [sociology] and ultimately help other college students after me do the same,” said Buntin. “Being able to understand that your position in society shapes how you see the world.”
Going on to receive her doctorate, Dr. Buntin now teaches social diversity and social justice courses. To give her students a better understanding of the inequalities, namely educational inequality, Dr. Buntin partners with the Fairmont School, a K-12 elementary and junior high school in Lockport. The course requires that students earn 20 hours of community service and most often, they choose to work with Fairmont.
For Lewis students, this program offers better insight into a school struggling with very limited resources. “Going into [Fairmont], they can kind of understand better what we’re talking about in the classroom when we’re talking about what it means to not have as many resources in your school,” said Dr. Buntin.
These after school programs have proven to be successful beyond what Buntin could have imagined. “Our students have done some really amazing and interesting work in Fairmont and they’re continuing to do so,” she said. “I think for them, being able to connect with kids that are younger than them allows them to be that college role model.”
Dr. Buntin is not the only one doing important work with the Fairmont School. Entrepreneur Natalie Coleman is also contributing a positive impact on the Fairmont community with her after school program, After the Peanut.
“My inspiration behind creating After the Peanut was based on my knowledge about the lack of African American scientists and inventors that were recognized, not so much that they existed,” said Coleman. “ I wanted to spread a little bit more of equity and STEM education because sometimes students in lower socioeconomic areas don’t always get as many opportunities as those in more affluent areas.”
Some of Coleman’s current program offerings include those related to STEM education. Two of Coleman’s local programs in the Lockport area are the Moneymakers Club at Fairmont Elementary and Junior High School and the Kidvestors Club located on the south side of Joliet. Both of those clubs are free to students in third through eighth grade and allow them to learn about financial literacy.
“They’re actually going to be participating in creating a stock portfolio and building a business in order to earn real cash in May,” said Coleman.
“We love learning about money,” said a student in the program.
The work being done in the Fairmont community has already proven beneficial for the children and their families, who are in full support of these programs Lewis is involved with.