Capri Sun’s Together Table

Capri Sun and kids wave off bullying with the Together Table.

The Together Table aims to drive awareness of bullying in the cafeteria with a seat for every kid.

PITTSBURGH & CHICAGO – October 16, 2018 – Every day, 160,000 students skip school due to fear of bullying and exclusion1, with nearly one quarter of middle schoolers experiencing that bullying in the school cafeteria2. This National Bullying Prevention Month, Capri Sun partnered with anti-bullying experts at No Bully to create The Together Table where no kid sits alone in the lunchroom.

This one long wave-shaped table, offers an alternative to kids sitting at separate tables, so no kid sits alone in the school cafeteria.  As a brand that has always had a seat at the kids’ table, Capri Sun believes everyone deserves to be included during lunch.

“When we saw the staggering stats and numbers of kids affected by bullying we felt compelled to take action,” says Rachel Drof, Director of Brand Build for Capri Sun. “We believe The Together Table is a symbol for kids that will raise awareness of bullying and has the power to build more inclusive lunchrooms one seat at a time.”

“Rejection is the most painful thing that can happen at school,” says Nicholas Carlisle Founder & President of No Bully, “Ensuring that every student has a place at the table is one of the best ways we can come together to end bullying.”

To further raise awareness, Capri Sun is taking the table to the National Mall in Washington, D.C on October 17th.  The table will be prominently displayed, and kids will be invited to sign the table as a pledge to #SitTogether, transforming the table into an even more powerful symbol of inclusiveness.

As a final measure of support, Capri Sun will donate $160,000 – $1 for every student who skips school due to fear of bullying and exclusion¹ – to No Bully³ to support their mission of reducing bullying globally. Join Capri Sun and No Bully to take a stand against bullying by using #SitTogether and sharing The Together Table film on Twitter @Capri_Sun and Facebook @CapriSun.

For more information on Capri Sun and its products, visit www.CapriSun.com.

Please take a moment to read some of our tips for an inclusive lunchtime.

Listen actively, take note of interactions and pay attention to nonverbal cues, which make up most of our daily communication. “Listen to hear” instead of listening to speak!

Understand that students may be reluctant to tell you they are being harassed or bullied. Watch for indirect signs that things are not going well: stomach aches, headaches, irritability, social withdrawal, a sudden change in behavior.

No one eats alone. Make a commitment to Lunchroom Chat tables or brainstorm how your school can ensure that everyone has a lunchtime pal.

Champion respect for everyone in your school. You can be an upstander simply by being a student role model inside and out of the Cafeteria.

Have conversations that promote respect and value all members of your community.

Trusted adults can help! Don’t be afraid to talk to your teacher, especially when you’re looking for solutions.

Identify student leaders who can be classroom and cafeteria allies for students experiencing a challenging time.

Make your goals public with a social vision statement. Let it be known that your entire school community is committed to and accountable for promoting inclusivity at lunchtime.

Empathy is powerful – take time to put yourself in another’s shoes and let them know they are not alone.

Track all the times you intervene on behalf of another classmate and challenge your friends (and yourself!) to a friendly game of No Bully Bingo.

Improve your communal space by brainstorming ways to make your cafeteria welcoming of everyone.

Promote random acts of kindness. Share your snack today, give a compliment, or surprise someone with a thoughtful note.

Stand by your friends and peers, listen and honor confidentiality (e.g. “whatever we say stays in this room”), EXCEPT if you or someone is going to harm yourself/themselves, someone else, or someone is harming you/them.