From Food Desert to Garden Hub: Green Our Planet Breaks Ground on New Community Headquarters

Green Our Planet Broke Ground on Something Much Bigger Than a Building

At 10:30 AM on June 5th, the summer heat shimmered off the pavement on North Las Vegas Boulevard. By the time guests started arriving at 4333 N Las Vegas Blvd, the air was buzzing—not just from the sun, but from something else: hope.  

The event brought together a powerful coalition of supporters—Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, members of Los Vaqueros, and teams from Cox Communications, Formula 1, Link Logistics, the Venetian, Compassionate Las Vegas, Endowment Partners, and Moonridge Group among many others. Green Our Planet Board Members Dr. Gard Jameson, Tanisha Perry, James Bristow, and Emily Ellis were also in attendance.

Two white tents offered a bit of shade. Cold drinks and fresh snacks were on hand. But the real story unfolded inside the building itself.

Once a dental clinic abandoned for more than five years, the 7,000-square-foot space stood stripped to its bones—raw, dusty, and full of promise. Guests wandered through the exposed framework and paused before renderings showing what the space will soon become:

• A hydroponics lab, where students will grow thousands of pounds of fresh food and discover how science, sustainability, and the future of farming go hand-in-hand.
• An innovative classroom, where teachers and students will explore STEM, nutrition, and conservation together.
• A state-of-the-art teaching kitchen, where chefs and nutritionists will help families turn freshly harvested produce into meals that nourish both body and soul.
• A co-working and operations hub for the Green Our Planet team, which serves over 400 Nevada schools and thousands more schools across the country.
• A thriving community garden, filled with fruits, vegetables, and native plants.
• A welcoming lobby, anchored by a lush green Donor Recognition Wall—reminding every visitor that beauty belongs here.

The Need Is Urgent. The Vision Is Bold.

The average household income in this neighborhood is just $40,000. Unemployment is more than twice the national average. When Walmart closed its doors in 2016, the area was left a food desert. Today, Pastor McCoy’s After Market—a hybrid food pantry and mini-market next door to our new headquarters—is often the only reliable source of food for many local families.

And yet, this community is rich with potential. It’s home to elders, families, and students who deserve access to fresh food, green spaces, and opportunity.

When Commissioner Kirkpatrick called and asked if we’d be willing to transform this building, we said yes—without hesitation. With the help of Los Vaqueros and the dedicated Green Our Planet team, we rolled up our sleeves and began planting the roots of something extraordinary.

“We Feel Most Alive in the Presence of the Beautiful…”

During the ceremony, Green Our Planet’s co-founder Kim MacQuarrie opened with a blessing for the land and the ancestors who once lived here. Dr. Gard Jameson spoke of worms and angels—of how small creatures and unseen forces shape the health of a planet and allow humans to thrive. Commissioner Kirkpatrick reminded us how this all began—with her vision and a phone call to see if Green Our Planet might be interested in having their headquarters in this space.

Then Green Our Planet’s CEO, Ciara Byrne spoke from the heart.

She shared a story about Bill Strickland, the founder and former CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation.  It is one of the most successful nonprofits in the United States working with disadvantaged youth through involvement with the arts and providing job training for adults.   Bill’s life was changed when an art teacher handed him a lump of clay and showed him how he could create something beautiful.  This connection to beauty shaped the direction of Bill’s career and life. Ciara shared with the guests that, like Bill, she believes beauty can heal communities. That beauty is not ornamental—it’s essential. Beauty restores dignity, sparks hope, and transforms lives.

That’s what this new headquarters is all about.

A Transformational Gift

In the days following the event, something extraordinary happened: Tom and Leslie Thomas pledged $500,000 to support the creation of this new space.

Their transformational gift brings us within reach of our $2.7 million goal—and stands as a resounding vote of confidence in the power of this project to uplift a community, feed families, and inspire generations.

Their generosity will help breathe life into every corner of the space—from the hydroponics lab to the teaching kitchen, from the garden to the green wall in the lobby.  We are deeply grateful to Tom and Leslie for helping to turn vision into momentum—and momentum into reality.

Help Us Grow This Vision

This new headquarters isn’t just for Green Our Planet. It’s for this community. For students, families, and future generations. But to bring it fully to life, we need your help.

Today, we’re inviting you to join our most committed champions.
We are launching the opportunity to become one of 60 Foundation Donors—a group of visionaries who will carry this project across the finish line.

Here’s what it means to join:

• Pledge $5,000 per year for 3 years.
  
  
• Help fund the salaries of a hydroponics technician, a full-time farmer, nutritionists, and a community event coordinator.
  
  
• Make it possible for hundreds of families to grow their own food, learn new skills, and reconnect with the land—and each other.
  
  

We’re not just building a building.
We’re building a future.

Will you be one of the 60 who helps make it possible?
Join us today—and help us grow something truly unforgettable.