Students set to break social barriers during National Mix It Up at Lunch Day

An estimated 1 million students across the country will step out of their cliques and challenge stereotypes today as part of National Mix It Up at Lunch Day – an event designed to foster respect among students by asking them to sit with someone new at lunch for just one day.

The program, launched by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance project in 2002, is designed to help educators create schools where students see each other as individuals – not just members of separate groups. Breaking down these barriers can help reduce bullying and create a school that is safe and welcoming for all students.

“Each year we hear from teachers and students across the country about the positive impact of Mix It Up,” said Maureen Costello, Teaching Tolerance director. “More and more students are discovering how much they have in common with their classmates.”

Cafeterias are the focus of the program because that’s where a school’s social boundaries are most obvious. But many schools plan similar barrier-breaking activities outside the lunchroom. Some schools use the event to kick off yearlong explorations of social divisions.

Although today is the official launch date for the event, schools can “Mix It Up” any time. Each school sets its own agenda, makes its own plans and chooses its own theme for Mix It Up. Schools are encouraged to register their event. 

Teaching Tolerance is dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation’s children. It produces and distributes tools at no cost to teachers, including Teaching Tolerance magazine, online curricula and professional development resources, and multimedia teaching kits that introduce students to various civil rights issues.