For some people, community service involves a Saturday afternoonof serving food to the homeless or organizing a food pantry, butfor Coco Martinez, Omar Sanchez, Michelle Rogers and Omar Morales,community service is a day-to-day, live-in experience.
In the heart of Dallas, outside the “Park Citiesbubble,” these four SMU students live in the I.C.E. House(Inner Community Experience) where they mentor elementary throughhigh school aged inner city youth.
Dr. Bruce Levy, who has taught at SMU for 12 years, is thedirector of the I.C.E House and plays a big part in trying to keepthe program running. Because the I.C.E House does not receivefinancial assistance from SMU, Levy has to continually search forfunding.
The I.C.E. House was built in 1991 by SMU students and facultyas a part of the Habitat for Humanity program and receives a largeportion of their funding from a three-year grant given by theCoca-Cola Bottling Company.
“The program promotes the children’s educationalsuccess while we [mentors] are branching out and seeing differentaspects of the Dallas community. It’s been a true learningexperience,” senior Coco Martinez said.
Another one of the I.C.E House mentors, Omar Morales, firstheard about the program last year as a freshman and remembers alack of these types of programs when he was younger.
“I grew up in a neighborhood just like it; I would haveliked someone to have done the same for me when I waslittle,” he said.
Taking the opportunity to help, Morales now lives in the I.C.EHouse and is able to connect with many children who share similarissues as he did in his youth.
Senior Omar Salas describes his time at the I.C.E House as an”awesome experience.”
Salas, who works closely with the kids, said that at first they”… tried to test me … they tried to betough.”
Through great efforts Salas can now say that many of the kidshave “changed their ways.”
“It’s great to see the difference you have onthem,” Salas said, looking back at the progress they havemade.
In an effort to attract youth from the neighborhoods, I.C.EHouse members went throughout the community knocking door-to-doormeeting with parents to promote the program. Within a couple daysthe I.C.E. House was packed with kids.
“Not only were neighborhood kids at the house, but kidsfrom other neighborhoods were having their moms drop themoff,” Martinez said. For I.C.E. House members, results ofthis magnitude were very inspiring.
Mentors work with the youth three times a week in two-hoursessions. During that time, the youth are assisted with homework,play games and go on field trips.
Dr. Levy regards much of the success to the dedicated volunteersthat he works with. “They have been great and done anincredible job in refining and improving the program.”
To learn more about the I.C.E House, or if you are interested involunteering, contact Bruce Levy at [email protected].
