Cultiv8Community

The mission of Cultiv8Community is to connect neighbors to neighbors, engage people with nature, and restore life-giving habitats.

We envision a world where people are connecting with their community and caring for nature, so that all life is flourishing, now and for generations.

Cultiv8Community currently serves the unmet needs of Lamar County and the surrounding counties. According to the 2020 census, Lamar County's poverty level is 19.6%, and Paris's is 23.6%. The Red River County poverty level is 20.2%. The city of Clarksville is 33.3%, and the city of Detroit is 25.6%. These regions are all far above the 11.4% national average. Additionally, 80% of the children in Paris ISD, 97.5% of the children in Clarksville ISD, and 64.8% of the children in Detroit ISD qualify for free/reduced lunches. 

We invite you to help us raise $10,000 this Giving Day to support Community Building, Poverty Alleviation, and Habitat Restoration.

We currently have five core programs - Camp, Connections, Habitat, Housing, and Respite.

Key Programmatic Achievements in 2025:

Cultiv8Camp: Environmental Education

Our flagship youth program connects rural students with nature through progressive, hands-on learning in ecology and land management.

• Impact: Hosted 18 field trips serving 1,490 participants, including new partnerships with schools in Dodd City, Paris (Givens Pre-K), Deport, and Honey Grove.

• Summer Programming: Delivered 120 camper days, including Discovery Days and a three-week program for the Red River Valley Boys & Girls Club.

• Volunteerism: Mobilized 28 individual volunteers contributing 480 total hours towards Cultiv8Camp alone.

Cultiv8Connections: Community & Service

We build a powerful network of rural leaders to solve regional problems through collaboration and service.

• Leadership Development: Facilitated 3 Poverty Simulations for community leaders in Pilot Point and Sulphur Springs.

• Service Trips: Hosted 5 service trips for various youth and collegiate groups (e.g., Lovers Lane UMC, Denton Wesley, Girl Scouts), contributing to over 1,200 total volunteer hours across all programs.

Cultiv8Habitat: Ecological Restoration

In partnership with Wildlife Habitat Federation (WHF), Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) and local landowners, we reclaim land for native pollinator habitats and regenerative agriculture.

• Scope: Managed restoration projects across 201 acres in Lamar, Fannin, Grayson, Wise, and Sommerville counties.

• Infrastructure: Expanded the Graves Farm garden with an orchard (10+ new trees), a greenhouse, and a new birding area with trail expansions.

Cultiv8Housing: Stabilizing Families

We provide high-efficiency, affordable homeownership opportunities for first-time buyers, helping families build generational wealth without sweat-equity requirements.

• Milestones: Completed and sold an 800 sq. ft. home to first-time homeowners on December 31; a second 1,090 sq. ft. home is on the market as we begin 2026.

• Future Growth: Secured 5 additional lots in Paris, TX, exploring build opportunities in additional communities, and established a new homebuyer recruitment partnership with CommunitiesUnlimited.

Cultiv8Respite: Supporting Leaders

We offer free nature-based respite for educators and community leaders to improve mental and physical well-being.

• Reach: Served 211 guests through 44 total visits, including day trips, RV stays, and overnight retreats at the Prothro Center and Graves Farm.