Aug 9 2005
At a ribbon cutting and key presentation in the Eagle Ford neighborhood, Dallas high school students today unveiled two new homes they constructed this summer through the ExxonMobil Green Team program.
These are the first homes built as part of a plan to revitalize the historic Eagle Ford neighborhood in West Dallas. 2005 marks the 24th year of the ExxonMobil Green Team and the 25th home built in Dallas.
"At the end of each summer ExxonMobil is thrilled to see the impact these students make on the community and are thankful for our partners who help make it possible," said Susan Carter, global community relations manager for ExxonMobil.
"ExxonMobil is proud to provide a meaningful work experience for our youth and enhance the student awareness of the important relationship between education and work."
Sponsored by ExxonMobil and managed by the City of Dallas, the ExxonMobil Green Team provides paid summer jobs and educational enrichment classes for 100 Dallas-area high school students. Seventy-six student participants worked for the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department landscaping and maintaining parks and athletic fields across Dallas. In addition, 24 Green Team students built two homes under the supervision of construction technology instructors from North Lake College. The homes were sold to qualified applicants.
"My kids and I are so excited and look forward to moving into our new home," said Zorina Jimenez, an ExxonMobil Green Team homeowner. "My children picked out their rooms once the builders put up the walls. We appreciate the students, Builders of Hope CDC and ExxonMobil for giving me a helping hand in buying my first home. The best thing about having our new home is having our own space and a backyard for the kids. We're counting the days until we get to move in."
The ExxonMobil Green Team encourages students to focus on education through daily classes at the ExxonMobil Academy at El Centro College. During the summer, students in the parks program attend classes at El Centro and explore opportunities available through higher education.
The ExxonMobil Academy teaches basic academic courses in math, reading, writing and computer literacy. Students in the construction program receive on-site construction training and supervision by North Lake College's construction technology instructors.
These construction students also join the parks students for weekly enrichment programs and field trips.
Managed by the City of Dallas Housing Department, the 2005 ExxonMobil Green Team program has many community partners including: City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department; Dallas County Community College District - El Centro College and North Lake College; Builders of Hope CDC; Inwood National Bank; JP Morgan Chase and Acme Brick. The ExxonMobil Green Team is a signature community program funded by ExxonMobil Foundation. ExxonMobil provided a $252,000 grant to the City of Dallas to fund the Green Team summer program this year. Since its launch in 1981, ExxonMobil has invested more than $5.5 million in the Dallas program. Upon completion of the 2005 program, the ExxonMobil Green Team will have reached more than 3,000 students, constructed 25 homes and completed numerous park improvements.
The Dallas program has become a model for ExxonMobil Green Team programs in cities across the country where ExxonMobil has operations, including Beaumont, Texas; Torrance, Calif.; Clinton, N.J.; Paulsboro, N.J.; Chalmette, La.; and Arlington, Va.