Hannah Lively, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at West Virginia Wesleyan College, began the “Lunch Bunch” program at Buckhannon-Academy Elementary School to bridge the gap between students in 4th to 5th grade and adults with diverse backgrounds.
Students, including many athletes from West Virginia Wesleyan College, have been visiting Buckhannon-Academy Elementary School to eat lunch and converse with students from diverse backgrounds.
Raveena Navaglund, a captain of the Women’s Lacrosse team, stated, “Attending the diversity luncheon reminded me how important it is to celebrate our differences and find common ground at a young age. Seeing the kids embrace each other’s cultures with curiosity and respect was truly inspiring. My favorite part was witnessing how open-minded and eager they were to learn from one another and us college students.”
Ella Gomez, a team captain of the Women’s Lacrosse team, as well, stated, “Attending the luncheon was a wonderful experience. I learned how important it is to provide positive diverse role models for kids at such a young age.
“My favorite part was when we introduced ourselves and our backgrounds. I was proud to say I came from a biracial family and relating to the other biracial kids brought a meaningful sense of belonging despite our age difference. I look forward to attending the next one.”
This program was started due to Lively’s vision to bring students with diverse backgrounds together in the community. Young students have the opportunity to engage in intentional, positive interactions.
Lively, alongside West Virginia Wesleyan College, wants to ensure students are supported and have a safe space at all times. Many hands and hearts have been supporting this initiative within the walls of BAES. Adam White, Principal of BAES, William Squires, Vice Principal of BAES, Kirsten Coit-Fetty, counselor at BAES, and Jaeneika Westfall, a Buckhannon-Upshur High School alumna, have each been a helpful source in bridging the gap in staff awareness and student support.
Lively states, “Partnering with WVWC and sharing common goals, roles, and backgrounds can strengthen our community within the education system to prepare all students for successful futures.”
It is Lively’s goal to include topics such as unconscious bias and Diversity vs. Inclusion, and offer Q&A sessions for students. She also hopes to find funding for books that represent cultures and positive messages to include at the visits. This program has sparked parents’ attention which in turn has created a diversity committee at BAES. The committee includes parents and PTO representatives wishing to broaden the reach to all grade levels.
