Lessons in Service

Service to the community has always been central to a St. Mark’s education. Inherent in the School’s mission is an obligation to serve and a challenge to make a positive impact on the community. Boys carry this mission out in numerous ways, including through countless hours spent volunteering at Austin Street Center, one of Dallas’ largest homeless shelters.  

Beyond the act of service itself, St. Mark’s also educates the boys about the root causes of social issues that organizations like Austin Street address. One clear example is Dr. GayMarie Vaughan’s Literature of Human Rights class. In this senior elective, students read and learn about an array of topics, from free expression and criminal justice to poverty and housing.  

To help boys understand the complex topic of homelessness, Dr. Vaughan recently invited Austin Street Center CEO – and St. Mark’s parent – Daniel Roby to speak to her class.  

“Bringing in guests like this helps bring to life what we’re reading about,” Dr. Vaughan said. “Evoking empathy and turning empathy into action is the central mission of the course.” 

Daniel Roby shared some surprising statistics about homelessness, as well as his personal views on the root causes and potential solutions.  

“There is no one factor causing homelessness,” Roby said. “It happens when you combine multiple factors like poverty, mental health, trauma, plus a single crisis of some kind, combined with a lack of affordable housing and social support.” 

Roby has worked extensively with the City of Dallas and community organizations to address these issues, but stressed that progress takes time, resources, and political will. He encouraged students to approach any conversation about housing with empathy.  

"Engaging in tough conversations about homelessness not only reminds us of our fortunate circumstances but also highlights our responsibility and capacity to make a difference," said Rahil Panchbhaya ’25. "While we students may not directly experience homelessness, understanding its systemic causes and challenges helps us become more aware and empathetic members of society."

It’s a lesson that Jorge Correa, St. Mark’s Director of Community Service, also stresses when he chaperones students at regular Austin Street Dinners. Boys travel to the shelter in south Dallas to serve meals, distribute supplies, and even provide musical performances for residents.  

“When we go to the shelter, we understand that we are not solving the problem of homelessness. We’re merely giving residents a respite from the hard times of their daily lives,” Correa said. “But boys also understand that they have the opportunity to participate in their community, assume civic responsibility, and join others in the search for solutions for today and the future.” 

 

In class, Roby asked whether housing should be a human right. This led to a thoughtful discussion as boys debated the role of city government as well as their own personal responsibility in addressing poverty and homelessness.  

“Our students will grow up to be future leaders, and it’s imperative that they learn about their community around Dallas,” said Isabel Cisneros, St. Mark’s Assistant Director of Community Service. “Daniel asked tough questions and there is no quick fix, but it’s important for our students to collaborate to help create a solution today.” 

Roby is just the latest in a series of speakers Dr. Vaughan has invited to her class. Others have shared personal experiences with the criminal justice system, food insecurity, and even brutal foreign regimes. Each visitor leaves the boys with a fuller picture of complex issues and, hopefully, leads them to ask equally complex questions.   

“It’s important for boys to do a deeper dive than simply volunteering because with greater knowledge, they can better understand the nuances and complexities of a problem,” said Dr. Vaughan. “I hope that Mr. Roby inspired the boys to become engaged citizens and to think about how they can be a part of solutions.” 

In addition to regular Austin Street Dinners, the Junior Class hosts an annual fundraiser each November called McDonald's Week, which directly supports Austin Street Center.