‘Lunchtime Opportunity Tables’ Expose MCS Students to Community Opportunities

Pictured from L-R: Cornelius Dollison - Community Organizer, Jennifer Mearns - Spouse of BSU President Mearns, DiLynn Phelps - Assistant Superintendent, Chris Walker - MCH Principal, Drew Shermeta - Social Studies Department, Ken Hudson - Executive Director - Whitely Community Council, Mary Dollison - Community Organizer. Photo providedPictured from L-R: Cornelius Dollison - Community Organizer, Jennifer Mearns - Spouse of BSU President Mearns, DiLynn Phelps - Assistant Superintendent, Chris Walker - MCH Principal, Drew Shermeta - Social Studies Department, Ken Hudson - Executive Director - Whitely Community Council, Mary Dollison - Community Organizer. Photo provided

April 16, 2018

By: Mike Rhodes—

Muncie, IN—Every month, a variety of community organizations and businesses stop by Muncie Central High School during lunchtime to meet and greet students through a program called Lunchtime Opportunity Tables.

The program is offered by the Whitely Community Council and aims to put students in touch with local businesses and organizations they may not normally have much contact with.  Lunchtime Opportunity Tables are held during 3 lunchtime periods in the MCHS cafeteria.

Ken Hudson is executive director of the Whitely Community Council. He says the goal of Lunchtime Opportunity Tables is to also expose our future leaders to opportunities in the community that may be waiting for them after their high school career has ended.

Ken said, “We’ve had Ivy Tech here a number of times to talk with students about preparing for college and opportunities available at Ivy Tech.”

The Lunchtime Opportunity Tables program is a byproduct of another community group activity at the school. Every Monday and Tuesday at 7:30am, citizens from the community come to the school and greet students and teachers as they arrive at school. Ken says the early morning greetings have improved morale at the school.

(L-R) Alisha Partain and Anna Williams are pictured talking with Seth Davidson, Assistant Director of Admissions at Ivy Tech.

(L-R) Alisha Partain and Anna Williams are pictured talking with Seth Davidson, Assistant Director of Admissions at Ivy Tech. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

Local participants for the April 13, 2018 Lunchtime Opportunity Tables included:

 – BSU Office of the President (Jennifer Mearns)
 – Northeast Indiana Area Health Education Center (Valeri Beamer)
– Old National Bank
– Muncie Public Library (Tenisha Harris, Stuart Cotton, Connection Corner)
– Ivy Tech (Seth Davidson)
– Cardinal Zumba (Shannon and Riley Powers)
– David Owsley Museum of Art (Tania Said)
– Gordy’s Framing (Carl Schafer)
– BSU Audiology
– Downtown Farm Stand (Dave Ring)
– Sustainable Science (Carolyn and John Vann)

Ken said, “The Lunchtime Opportunity Tables program is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the good work being done in our schools and the partnerships that are making it happen.”

As an added bonus, the Lunchtime Opportunity Tables program has reduced the number of lunchroom fights at the school— from 22 to 2.

 
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