The Faces of the ALLiance: Chris Coffman

Get to know some of the facilitators behind the scenes of the Grinnell ALLiance and learn about what their work entails.

We interviewed Chris Coffman, 7-12 Activities Director, Grinnell-Newburg Community School District

Q: Which Grinnell ALLiance working group do you primarily work with?

A: Along with Vrinda Varia at Grinnell College, I co-chair the Connecting Students committee.

Q: What types of activities or opportunities does this group provide?

A: Our first step was to identify all the ways that middle and high school students are already engaged with Grinnell College students.

Q: What drew you to the work of the Grinnell ALLiance?

A: I felt like the school needed some representation in the ALLiance. There are so many people, myself included, that when bad incidents happen, don’t know what to do in response. I remember when those racist incidents happened at the College, I thought, oh, that’s really too bad, but then you don’t know what to do so you go on with your day. But then the opportunity came to get involved. Through the ALLiance conversations, I can hear different sides of a situation that I hadn’t thought of.

Q: Why is the ALLiance work important to your job?

A: I think it’s the connection especially with the College. In my years here, I think people sometimes feel that the College is on its own, isolated, doing what they want, but it’s important for the schools and the College to work together. I have a great relationship with the Athletics department at the College. The College, the school district and the City have to be able to work together to help reduce people’s negative thoughts and impressions.

Q: Why do you continue to stay involved with the ALLiance?

A: A lot of the same reasons keep me involved. The issue is not just that isolated incidents have happened. Going to some of the Build a Better Grinnell meetings, I started to think of the ALLiance as Building a Better Grinnellian. Whether people think there’s a problem with racism here or not, everybody can be a better person, a better neighbor. I want everybody in Grinnell to feel like this is an awesome place, they love being here. In the schools, we want kids to have positive memories about their school years. And at the College, I hope the students think they had a great experience in this community.

Q: What do you appreciate about Grinnell?

A: I have a family of six boys. Grinnell is a great place for me as a parent to have access to so many things. I grew up in Sigourney, a small town, and in Grinnell there’s just more opportunity. It’s true that Grinnell has changed over the years. Our school enrollment is down; some industries and businesses have left. Many, not everyone, have accepted that. We can still do some great things with what we have.

Q: What’s something that most people don’t know about you?

A: I’m into athletics, I’m a large man, so most people don’t know the other things I’m into. I know about quilting, I used to do cross stitch, I acted, I was in the band. I’ve had a lot of success with athletics, but that’s not all that I’ve done.