The week is here. Take a moment to catch your breath.
And remember these things: The event will happen. Something may not turn out exactly as you planned. Someone will say the whole thing was stupid – someone always does, no matter what the event is. You’ll wish you would have done X instead of Y. Like any campaign, it won’t be perfect.
That’s life.
But know this: You are doing important work, the kind of work that changes the world, one person at a time.
We know that bias and prejudice diminish when people have positive interactions across racial and ethnic lines. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to negatively stereotype a group when you have a positive impression from someone within that group.
Does campuswide change happen quickly? Of course not. But change does happen. And small changes can grow into larger change.
So get the cameras ready for Mix It Up at Lunch Day. And keep your eyes and ears open. We promise you’ll see something that will make you smile, a moment that illustrates why this work is worthwhile. You’ll see a student who usually sits alone sitting instead at a table filled with others, making that first tentative effort to reach out. You’ll see mixed-up groups comparing notes, finding out they have more in common than they thought. You’ll see people you never expected to see talking to each other.
And don’t forget to celebrate your success. Call the planning group together, and let them all know they’re part of a campaign that can make the school climate more welcoming, where a varied group is working to create a safe and inclusive place for all students.
Margaret Mead said it best, and her words resonate with the ideals imbedded in Mix It Up:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Mix It Up at Lunch Day is tomorrow!
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