Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has a long history of serving every county in Texas, with agents and specialists positioned to provide hands-on education and programs based on scientific research. Through a grassroots approach, AgriLife ensures that residents across the state can access local agents familiar with their county’s unique challenges and emerging needs.

In East Texas, this commitment is strengthened by a growing partnership with the Community Sustainability Team at Communities Unlimited (CU). AgriLife’s expansive network provides strength in numbers.

“Dealing with complex issues like rural health can be discouraging at times,” said Anna Stehling, AgriLife Planning Program Coordinator. “It’s still a work in progress, both in Texas and across the U.S., as communities figure out how to prioritize and invest in rural health. Having a broad network helps because so many people are working on similar challenges. Sharing ideas and learning from successful approaches elsewhere allows us to better meet the needs of the communities we serve.”

One of the most active partnerships between CU and AgriLife can be seen in Alto, Texas, where Senior Community Resource Manager Kristy Bice has played a key role in advancing two major community initiatives — the Story Walk program and the Alto Action Plan.

“Kristy has been involved in almost every weekly meeting, helping move this project forward,” Stehling said. The Story Walk program encourages families to engage with reading while walking along a designated path featuring posted book pages. Meanwhile, the Alto Action Plan, led by local family physician and city council member Luke Johnson, aims to improve connectivity and invest in community spaces, including the development of new parks.

Stehling emphasized that CU’s contributions extend beyond just project support.

“As a local, Kristy brings valuable cultural and environmental context, which strengthens program support and ensures that initiatives are relevant and feasible.”

Beyond Alto, CU is collaborating with AgriLife in Deep East Texas, particularly in Orange County, where Community Resource Manager Yadira Hernandez is working alongside Extension Agent Magen Lee. Their partnership focuses on addressing two critical needs — nutrition education and housing.

“One of the key initiatives involves a nutrition class, which began in March,” Lee said. “The involvement of CU has made it possible to offer a pressure cooker class — something that wouldn’t have been feasible otherwise.”

Additionally, early-stage housing work is underway, an effort that is especially meaningful to Lee, who has a background in social work. “The SNAP education program is open to the public but is generally designed for lower-income individuals, many of whom struggle with access to nutritious food and stable housing,” she explained. “This initiative will help address both concerns, ensuring that people not only know where to find food but also have a pathway to secure, affordable housing.”

CU Community Resource Manager Yolanda Martin has also been in discussions with AgriLife’s economic development agents in Liberty County about future programming opportunities. According to Deep East Texas Extension Agent Kimberly McNair, “One key opportunity for collaboration lies in early learning programs. Many of these programs host monthly parenting classes or meetings, providing a direct channel for engaging parents and spreading awareness about available resources.”

“Yolanda highlighted CU’s wide range of programs that support single parents and low-income families, reinforcing the potential for meaningful collaboration.”

As these collaborations continue to evolve, both CU and AgriLife remain committed to ensuring the sustainability of these community-led initiatives.

“The ideal outcome is a self-sustaining local team that feels empowered to take action on its ideas,” Stehling said.

With projects spanning from nutrition education to community park development, the partnership between CU and AgriLife Extension exemplifies how organizations working together can make a lasting impact in rural Texas. By leveraging each other’s strengths and expertise, these efforts will continue to improve the quality of life for residents across East Texas.

“Texas A&M AgriLife programs and services are a tremendous benefit to individuals and families in rural East Texas,” Kristy said. “CU supports a community’s health and wellness goals by collaborating with local extension agents. In East Texas, we are filling in any resource gaps so community champions can keep moving forward with projects that are building thriving rural communities. It has been exciting to see the development of all the different ways CU is working with Texas AgriLife in East Texas.”