C8
C8 Community Work
DV8 Foundation
The REAL Level Up

Building a community of professionals, connectors, and advocates in recovery.

Luke and I are working together to foster a network of distributors, supporters, coders, and community advocates—all in recovery, all leveling up together. This is our next step, and we want to take it with DV8 Foundation's guidance.

The Founders
JT
Jarod Thornton
DV8 Foundation alumnus
LT
Luke Touchton
Hope Center graduate

Our Story

Two paths, one mission. How DV8 and Hope Center shaped who we are today.

JT
Jarod Thornton
DV8 Foundation Alumnus

DV8 Foundation's second chance employment model changed my life. Not just because I had a job, but because I had structure, accountability, and a place where people trusted me again while I was still figuring things out.

That foundation is the reason I am able to show up today as a dad, a business owner, and someone involved in my community. Now I want to extend that same model into a new lane: community outreach and professional reintegration.

LT
Luke Touchton
Hope Center Graduate

I completed the Hope Center program several years ago, and it changed the trajectory of my life. Since then, I have rebuilt my life in Lexington, started my own business, and discovered a passion for helping others on their recovery journey.

Once consistent sobriety is established, the real work begins: leveling up in your community, building skills, and creating a sustainable path forward. That is what I am here to help others do.

The REAL Level Up

Working Together

Now we are building something together: a community of professionals, distributors, connectors, supporters, coders, and community advocates—all in recovery, all stepping up to the next level. C8 is our vehicle for this, and we are ready to push it forward.

Our Ask

We are reaching out to DV8 Foundation to ask for support and guidance as we move C8 forward. We would like the opportunity to meet with the board, share our vision, and continue this conversation about how Luke and I can build on the foundation that DV8 has already laid.

This is not about asking for funding. It is about alignment, mentorship, and exploring how our work can extend the mission that gave both of us a second chance.

What we're asking for
  • A meeting with the DV8 board
  • Guidance and mentorship
  • Continued conversation
  • Mission alignment

Pilot Idea

Keep it small and measurable. One neighborhood, one initiative, 30 to 60 days, weekly check-ins.

Scope

1 neighborhood association, 1 clear outreach goal.

Team

2 to 3 outreach partners, trained, scripted, supervised.

Measures

Doors knocked, signatures, businesses contacted, attendance, wins achieved.

The 8 Principles

C8 comes from Community—the letter C plus the remaining 8 letters. A simple rubric for what we're building.

Presence

People showing up. Meetings attended, doors knocked, faces seen.

Trust

Consistency builds trust. Small follow-through enables bigger wins.

Communication

Clear, human info. Not perfect messaging, just real delivery.

Participation

People feel invited, not managed. Engagement over vanity metrics.

Accountability

Who owns the follow up. Accountability creates momentum.

Visibility

Wins are shared. People support what they can see working.

Belonging

People stay involved when they feel they matter.

Contribution

Everyone needs a way to give back. Contribution creates ownership.

See What We're Building

Structured pathways for people in recovery. Community advocates, remote work, and more. Real skills, real work, real community.

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