On June 12 each year, people across the country celebrate Loving Day—a holiday that honors the 1967 Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia that struck down laws banning interracial marriage. The landmark case began when Mildred and Richard Loving, a Black and white couple from Virginia, were arrested for getting married. Their subsequent fight for justice led to a ruling that made interracial marriage legal nationwide—a victory that redefined love, family, and freedom in America.

This year, LWHS’ Multiracial Alliance Club (MAC) brought that spirit of love and inclusion to campus with a community-wide celebration of Loving Day.

The idea came from Mika O. '26, one of MAC’s senior leaders: “In the past, we held smaller gatherings where we talked about Loving Day’s history,” Mika said. “But this year, we wanted to go bigger—a whole-school celebration to raise awareness and bring everyone together.”

For years, MAC has offered a space where multiracial students can share experiences, talk about identity, and build community. This year, Mika and one of MAC’s co-leaders, Savion S-P. '26, saw an opportunity: “It’s hard to get folks to come to every meeting, but a big TGIF event draws more people in,” Mika explained. 

The team designed a creative ticket system that made participation fun—students could earn tickets throughout the event to redeem for treats—while keeping the focus on the day’s deeper meaning. “We wanted to make it engaging but still rooted in purpose,” Savion said.

For Mika, MAC has always been a place of personal discovery. She still remembers her first meeting, when a senior asked her, “What are you?” That question sparked a thoughtful, winding conversation about identity—and led Mika to a group of peers who understood the complexities of being multiracial.

“Everyone in MAC brings their full selves,” she said. “It’s a space where you don’t have to explain your background—you can just be.”

Savion echoed that sentiment. He joined the club after Mika invited him to a meeting. “It was the first time I’d been in a space where everyone was mixed,” he said. “It felt like home.” The sense of comfort and connection inspired him to stay involved and help younger students experience that same belonging.

MAC meetings often include conversations about family traditions and “fusion foods” that blend cultures—bagels and lox alongside sushi, for instance, a nod to Mika’s own Jewish and Japanese heritage. “It’s those little things that make you realize your identity isn’t split,” Mika shared. “You’re not half of anything—you’re fully mixed.”

As the multiracial population continues to grow, MAC leaders believe it’s more important than ever to honor the past while embracing the future. “Celebrating Loving Day helps people understand the history behind their families,” Mika said. “It reminds us to appreciate the fight that came before us and to celebrate who we are now.”

In the words of Mika’s grandfather, “The path to breaking barriers is welcoming people into your family.”

That message—of openness, identity, and love—captures what Loving Day at LWHS was all about: bringing people together, celebrating who they are, and continuing the legacy of the Lovings, whose courage made that love possible