Why We Start with Culture and Behavior
Most financial literacy programs teach what to do. At Cultivar, we start with why.
Why do we spend the way we do?
Why are some habits hard to break?
Why does money feel complicated—or out of reach?
The answer is rooted in our stories:
Family. Culture. Lived experience.
Cultivar builds financial confidence by starting there. With identity, behavior, and trust—not spreadsheets.
Why do we spend the way we do?
Why are some habits hard to break?
Why does money feel complicated—or out of reach?
The answer is rooted in our stories:
Family. Culture. Lived experience.
Cultivar builds financial confidence by starting there. With identity, behavior, and trust—not spreadsheets.
Why do we spend the way we do?
Why are some habits hard to break?
Why does money feel complicated—or out of reach?
The answer is rooted in our stories:
Family. Culture. Lived experience.
Cultivar builds financial confidence by starting there.
With identity, behavior, and trust—not spreadsheets.
Why do we spend the way we do?
Why are some habits hard to break?
Why does money feel complicated—or out of reach?
The answer is rooted in our stories:
Family. Culture. Lived experience.
Cultivar builds financial confidence by starting there.
With identity, behavior, and trust—not spreadsheets.
Why do we spend the way we do?
Why are some habits hard to break?
Why does money feel complicated—or out of reach?
The answer is rooted in our stories:
Family. Culture. Lived experience.
Cultivar builds financial confidence by starting there. With identity, behavior, and trust—not spreadsheets.
Why do we spend the way we do?
Why are some habits hard to break?
Why does money feel complicated—or out of reach?
The answer is rooted in our stories:
Family. Culture. Lived experience.
Cultivar builds financial confidence by starting there.
With identity, behavior, and trust—not spreadsheets.
Leadership
Financial learning that feels real, familiar, and grounded in people’s lives.
We teach money through the lens of real life—not just rules.
We teach money through the lens of real life—not just rules.
We ground financial lessons in actual stories—not abstract advice.
We ground financial lessons in actual stories—not abstract advice.
We build habits through culture, language, and trust—not shame.
We build habits through culture, language, and trust—not shame.
We meet families where they are—with tools that fit how they live.
We meet families where they are—with tools that fit how they live.
We build money confidence as a family—not in isolation.
We build money confidence as a family—not in isolation.
“Framer is one of the best web builders I have ever tried. It’s like magic.”
“Framer is one of the best web builders I have ever tried. It’s like magic.”
Author
Leadership
Leadership
Arellana Barela Levenson
President, Cultivar Communities
Arellana Barela Levenson is a strategist, builder, and bridge between systems. With over two decades of leadership across banking, philanthropy, education, and development, she founded Cultivar Communities to expand access to economic opportunity for families too often left out.
Grounded in her heritage and lived experience, Arellana leads with the belief that transformation starts at the kitchen table with knowledge, confidence, and community. Cultivar blends financial tools, storytelling, and human-centered design to spark belonging and long-term impact to families.
Arellana Barela Levenson
President, Cultivar Communities
Arellana Barela Levenson is a strategist, builder, and bridge between systems. With over two decades of leadership across banking, philanthropy, education, and development, she founded Cultivar Communities to expand access to economic opportunity for families too often left out.
Grounded in her heritage and lived experience, Arellana leads with the belief that transformation starts at the kitchen table with knowledge, confidence, and community. Cultivar blends financial tools, storytelling, and human-centered design to spark belonging and long-term impact to families.
Looking Ahead
Looking Ahead
OUR VISION
OUR VISION
Cultivar Communities began with a vision to connect place, prosperity, and purpose. While our current focus is on building financial confidence through Cultivar Kids, our long-term vision includes developing housing and neighborhood models rooted in ownership, dignity, and cultural relevance.
As we grow, we’ll continue bridging education and place to help families build wealth, wellness, and belonging from the ground up. This work is deeply personal. It’s inspired by my father’s grit, my mother’s loyalty, and the belief that families when given the tools can shape futures rooted in pride, purpose, and possibility.
Cultivar Communities began with a vision to connect place, prosperity, and purpose. While our current focus is on building financial confidence through Cultivar Kids, our long-term vision includes developing housing and neighborhood models rooted in ownership, dignity, and cultural relevance.
As we grow, we’ll continue bridging education and place to help families build wealth, wellness, and belonging from the ground up. This work is deeply personal. It’s inspired by my father’s grit, my mother’s loyalty, and the belief that families when given the tools can shape futures rooted in pride, purpose, and possibility.
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