"I just do it for fun," he says.

George Escamilla, Martin's brother, says that his younger brother has always enjoyed work and frequently helps their father with plumbing and maintenance work.

His enthusiasm began in earnest about a year ago when he handed out his business card looking for small jobs from his neighbors living in the North Willow Glen area, says North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association co-secretary/treasurer Ken Eklund.

Willow Glen Neighborhood Association board director Dan Erceg also noticed his get-up-and-go attitude, saying, "He's a cool little guy. He likes to paint houses."

But he has the energy to do much more, says Eklund. It was during the May 22 Neighborhood Improvement Day that Eklund noticed Martin (pronounced Mar-TEEN) sitting on his bike looking eager to participate but tentative.

He was watching the project from the sidelines, Eklund says, trying to figure out the best way to get involved.

The association members solved the problem for Martin by handing him a paintbrush, and it's been history ever since.

Martin decided to volunteer his time with the association and attend the monthly meetings, making him the youngest member in the group.

He even brought a 12-year-old friend from the neighborhood to the June meeting.

"I'm so excited about these guys," Erceg says. "They were both born on this street. I had no idea they were inspired by the changes. I didn't coach them or ask them to join."

Martin, who lives on Fuller Avenue, even came up with the idea of the association's last project—to pick up trash and dead brush behind one of the fences that backs up to the railroad tracks.

In honor of Martin's involvement, the association dubbed the June 26 Neighborhood Improvement Day "Keep it Clean for Martin."

While the turnout was small, the five volunteers, including Martin and his 15-year-old brother, George, were able to clear out most of the dead brush and garbage behind the back fence of the duplexes.

"Some of it's probably older than Martin," Erceg says.

Erceg had talked to the person in charge of the railroad track about the cleanup efforts, and the roadmaster was so impressed with the children's interest that he offered a truck to help remove the garbage, Erceg says.

"We do clean along here, but there's a lot of dumping," says Amtrak employee Edward Joseph, who drove the truck.

After spending a Saturday morning improving his neighborhood, Martin said he felt "happy and excited."

"I like to make the neighborhood better so it looks clean and won't be polluted," he says.

The Willow Glen Elementary School fifth-grade student adds that while other children prefer going outside to play, he would rather complete a task.

"He's not a real talker," Eklund says. "He just wants to do the work. It's in his makeup."