By Lorrain Ogan
Published on November 7, 2007
On Nov. 13, about 80 students among three classes will not be attending their normal classroom settings or even be learning their usual material.
Instead, these students will be involved in Mix It Up Day, sponsored by the Teaching Tolerance division of the Southern Poverty Law center in Montgomery, AL.
Mix It Up day is a program designed for grades K -12, but instructors Jane Spruill, Lisa Sims, and Betsy Werre have modified the event for community college students.
Werre wrote that it is “a national campaign that supports students to identify, question and cross social boundaries that separate them from each other and help build inclusive, welcoming learning environments.”
This idea sprouted when the Education and Social Sciences Club took a field trip to visit the Civil Rights Memorial, the Rosa Parks Museum, and the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala., where they heard about the program.
Because the three professors were together, they decided to create an interdepartmental project. The classes involved are Sims’ Introduction to Sociology, Werre’s Introduction to Education, and Spruill’s Teaching Diverse Populations.
“We are so excited about this event!” Werre said.
Refreshments will be provided through Student Affairs, and Student Activities Director Dennis Reynolds is providing space for the students to gather. Tables will be set up for about 20 small groups in the Student Center.
“The students will have the opportunity to be in at least 3 different groups, giving them maximum exposure to new faces,” said Sims.
Each group will first participate in a few ice-breakers to learn a few facts about each other. Afterward they will complete a few diversity tasks together which will eventually allow them to brainstorm with each other as to how “inclusivity” can be fostered within our families and community.
To act upon their ideas, they will then make and record a pledge on an arm bracelet that they can wear to remember “Mix It Up,” even when school is over.
This is the first time PJC has ever participated in Mix It Up Day, but hopes are that in the future more PJC students and instructors would like to participate as well. Mix It Up Day is a very flexible activity and could be adjusted to fit the curriculum of many other programs offered at PJC.
“The ‘Mix It Up’ activity is all about providing an opportunity that may not exist otherwise,” Sims said.
The goal of this activity is to build inclusivity within a diverse student body by crossing social boundaries. Because students are so busy between school and work, chances to get to know others in different social groups are rare.
To learn more about Mix It Up Day and continue the discussion after Nov. 13, visit mixitup@tolerance.org.