Jun 14 2008
The ExxonMobil Green Team today celebrated the start of its 27th year in Dallas with a day of environmental activities at ExxonMobil's corporate headquarters. Forty Green Team students participated in hands-on learning stations set up by the Dallas Zoo, environmental service projects benefiting partner nonprofit agencies, and a nature walk through ExxonMobil's grounds to learn about native plants and animals. The grounds at ExxonMobil's headquarters are certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council as a "Wildlife at Work Habitat," a distinction the site has maintained since 2003.
One of ExxonMobil's signature community programs, the Green Team provides a meaningful work experience and educational opportunities for Dallas-area high school students from low- to moderate-income families.
Students are placed with local nonprofits for eight weeks, where they work in teams of four to six on environmental and conservation projects including research, education and public awareness campaigns. In addition to their work experience, students also receive weekly instruction from the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and attend classes in career exploration, leadership development and environmental engineering. On Fridays, the Green Team members participate in educational field trips and activities with an environmental focus. Students are paid for all time spent in the program.
“The ExxonMobil Green Team presents a unique opportunity for high school students to gain professional experience and take college-level courses while learning about the environment, their community and the role nonprofit organizations play in both of those areas,” said Truman Bell, senior program officer for education and diversity, ExxonMobil Foundation. “We hope this program inspires the students to achieve their educational goals and lays the foundation for continued involvement as leaders in the community.”
The ExxonMobil Green Team is administered by the Volunteer Center of North Texas. ExxonMobil supports the program with a grant of more than $189,000, which funds student salaries and administration expenses.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with ExxonMobil as the administrator of the Green Team program this year,” said Phyllis Bernstein, chair, Volunteer Center of North Texas' Dallas County Council on Volunteerism. “We know the talents of these students will be invaluable to the agencies they are working with and we are eager to see the impact their work has on the community this summer.”
Since its launch in 1981, ExxonMobil has invested more than $6.1 million in the Dallas program reaching approximately 3,350 students. The ExxonMobil Green Team is currently in place in eight cities including: Torrance, Calif.; Chalmette, La.; Clinton, N.J.; Paulsboro, N.J.; Beaumont, Texas; Dallas; Houston; and, Arlington, Va.