Community Engagement Opportunities (CEO) is one of the many rent scholarship programs Pres House Apartments residents can apply to. Residents in CEO spend the year working towards goals related to community, service, learning, and wellness, and PHA’s 2025-2026 CEO participants have certainly made the most of their fall semesters. To fulfill his CEO wellness goal, resident Will V. spent the semester training for and completing a half marathon! Whether running, gardening, learning harmonica, helping prepare dinners for PHA residents, or volunteering for the Frozen Meals program, these residents are conquering their goals and making meaningful contributions to Pres House and their local community.

Community Dinner Connections

As part of their service and community goals for the CEO program, residents Callie and Suki enjoyed helping Chef Mary prepare and serve food at PHA’s Community Dinners. They also learned new kitchen skills along the way! “I learned how to properly roll a burrito, which is a new skill I will take with me,” Callie shares. She reflects that working alongside Chef Mary and other PHA residents gave her the opportunity “to hear their stories and build new relationships. I really enjoyed not only helping in the kitchen but also serving the food I helped prepare—it made the experience feel meaningful and rewarding.”

Suki volunteered to help serve food at the PHA Halloween Community Dinner, and also enjoyed connecting with other residents. She shares, “during my shift, I had a great time talking to other volunteers as well as the residents who showed up. Helping out at community dinners makes me feel a sense of community with those who live in PH apartment.” Whether rolling burritos or dishing out delicious meals, volunteering at PHA dinners is a great way Callie, Suki, and other CEO participants have been connecting with their community.

Rooted in Community

CEO offers residents many opportunities to expand their comfort zone and try new activities. On a sunny fall day, one CEO resident brought some friends from class to Allen Centennial Garden. Together, they volunteered to dig out plants so another group could put the new plants of the season in place. She shared, “I am usually not the “in the dirt” kind of girl, so this definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but it was super rewarding to help out our community, and I tried something new!” Green thumb or not, there are so many ways CEO participants “root” themselves in the local community.

Sending Love

One resident spent time volunteering with Letters of Love, where she enjoyed working with other community members “to make inspiring and themed letters for children in the hospital,” she shared. Through Letters of Love, she reflects, “I not only get to fulfill art time, which I love, but also help my community.” Way to spread the love!