“Mix It Up at Lunch Day”
Today my daughter’s school is taking part in Mix it Up at Lunch Day, “to build on the momentum of change created by the election of Barack Obama as the first black president of the United States, and to show our commitment to providing an inclusive learning environment for all students.”
“Mix It Up at Lunch Day” is the flagship event of Mix it Up, a nationwide project that encourages K-12 students to identify, question and cross social boundaries within their schools and communities. “This year, the day has a special significance,” says Mix It Up Director, Samantha Elliott Briggs, “because students across America, inspired by the presidential election’s result, are excited about doing their part to tear down the walls that divide us.”
10,000 schools are expected to participate this year. To know that millions of students across the U.S. are reaching out to others and looking for ways to be more inclusive is not only awe-inspiring, but downright amazing! The beauty and power of “Mix It Up at Lunch Day” is that it highlights the importance of inclusive learning environments with a simple call to action; one that encourages youth to step out of their comfort zones and sit next to a school mate they’ve never talked to before—a simple gesture that has the potential to build bridges, foster understanding and form friendships that wouldn’t be built, fostered or formed otherwise.
Participating students are encouraged to share stories about their experiences with “Mix It Up Day” and to read the stories of others‘. And for those interested in submitting essays for a chance to be published, here’s a list of themes.
Great things happen when we mix. Please share your story so we can all learn from it!
November 16th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Great idea. I had my son read this post and challenged him to try it at school this week!
November 16th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
This is an idea that shouldn’t be confined to schools–we all need to mix it up!