Students at Timbercrest Junior High today are joining 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 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. Many schools plan similar barrier-busting activities throughout the day. Some use the event to kick off a yearlong exploration of social divisions.

“Mix It Up is a positive step that schools can take to help create learning environments where students see each other as individuals and not just as members of a separate group,” said Teaching Tolerance Director Maureen Costello. “When people step out of their cliques and get to know someone, they realize just how much they have in common.”

Timbercrest is a school striving for inclusion and acceptance of all students. Yearly, Timbercrest has guest speakers and student incorporate lessons promoting acceptance and fighting bullying and stereotypes.  Timbercrest students are a vital part of how the environment of the school feels.  Leadership is a fundamental part of the Timbercrest community, and is encouraged through programs such as WEB, ASB and the leadership classes.  Timbercrest is always looking for ways to better the school and make the school atmosphere enjoyable for all students regardless of differences, and Mix It Up day will break more barriers between students and provide everyone at school with a safe space.

The Southern Poverty Law Center established Teaching Tolerance in 1991 to provide educators with free resources designed to reduce prejudice, improve intergroup relations and support equitable school experiences for the nation’s children.

Questions about Mix It Up Day can be directed to Leadership Coordinators Brigitte Wheeler and Jay Stookey or WEB Coordinators Ann McGowan and Dylan Slatton at Timbercrest Junior High.