Added on November 3, 2014 Sara Swanson

Middle Schoolers Take a Step Toward Breaking Down Social Barriers on “Mix-It-Up at Lunch” Day

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Photo courtesy of Manchester Voices.

Students at Manchester Middle School joined more than one million other students across the country to help break down social and racial barriers by participating in the 12th annual Mix It Up at Lunch Day. The goal is to create learning environments where students see each other as individuals and not just as members of a separate group.

The event, launched by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance project in 2002, encourages students to sit with someone new in the cafeteria for just one day. Cafeterias are the focus of Mix It Up because that’s where a school’s social boundaries are most obvious. But when people step out of their cliques and get to know someone, they are able to realize just how much they have in common.

Students were divided among 15 lunch tables. Half of students were assigned to specific tables and invited to bring one friend with them. Once at the table, students were provided with “super hero” themed conversation starters such as, “If you could have a super power, what would it be?” Approximately thirty high school students volunteered as group leaders to help keep conversations flowing. Additionally, as part of the middle school’s spirit week, students were encouraged to wear mismatched clothes.

Principal Shanna Spickard stated “Mix It Up day is a great opportunity for students to break down barriers by getting to know students out of their comfort circles. It was great that Miss Hannah and Mrs. Huber Stein were able to recruit HS students to help with fun, safe conversations around a super hero theme.”

To watch a short video of the event click HERE.

This event was sponsored by Manchester Community School District and Manchester Voices. For more information about “mix-it-up” day or Manchester Voices, contact Lindsay Hannah at (734) 476-0686 or through email at Lindsay@kbamichigan.com.