National Civil Rights Group Recognizes North Branch School for Tolerance Efforts
Designated ‘Mix It Up’ Model School by the Southern Poverty Law Center
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Teaching Tolerance, the educational project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, has named North Branch School as a Mix It Up Model School for its exemplary efforts to foster respect and understanding.
North Branch is one of 76 schools from across the country receiving the honor.
“In today’s polarized world, it’s refreshing to see schools that are doing extraordinary things to encourage students, faculty and staff to cross the social boundaries that so often divide us,” said Maureen Costello, the director of the Teaching Tolerance project. “By recognizing these schools and calling attention to their great work, we hope that other schools will follow their lead.”
The 76 schools recognized were among the 6,000 schools that participated in Teaching Tolerance’s Mix It Up at Lunch Day Program, an effort to break down the barriers between students so there are fewer misunderstandings that can lead to conflicts, bullying and harassment. They will be recognized on the Teaching Tolerance website as Mix It Up Model Schools at http://www.tolerance.org/mix-it-up/model-schools.
Teaching Tolerance is dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation’s children. The program reaches hundreds of thousands of educators and millions of students annually through its Teaching Tolerance magazine, multimedia teaching kits, online curricula, professional development resources and classroom-friendly social justice documentaries. These materials are provided to educators at no cost.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Montgomery, Ala., is a nonprofit civil rights organization that combats bigotry and discrimination through litigation, education and advocacy. For more information, see www.splcenter.org