Education

Students at Krop High School “Mix It Up” at Lunch

The lunch was designed to have students think beyond age, culture, race, ethnicity, religion and social circle.

Most high school students would never think of having lunch with total strangers, but on Tuesday, 200 students at Dr. Michael Krop High School decided to mix it up.

The "Mix It Up Lunch" was designed to have students think beyond age, culture, race, ethnicity, religion and social circle. Students and staff at the school, which Trayvon Martin attended, said they see fighting racial and cultural prejudice as part of their legacy.

"We're a very diverse school," said senior Daniela Michanie, who helped organize the event. "But what happens is there's a lot of self-segregation. People drift into the groups they think they're supposed to be in."

The students sat at tables or in circles on the floor. They exchanged pleasantries, but more importantly, talked about what they had in common.

"It's all about getting kids to sort of get out of their comfort zones and sit with people they typically wouldn't, and the whole point is our attempt to end racism and hate here at Krop," Michanie said.

The lunch was part of a nationwide movement sponsored by the Teaching Tolerance Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. At Krop, students plan to host a Mix It Up lunch at least once a month.

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