Our Approach
We often hear the phrase “the work” or “doing the work”, but what does it mean? For A Thousand Generations it means engaging the immediate moment with pause in response to our past and future—to thrive beyond surviving, trauma, and oppressive forces. Our aim is to provide the necessary space, resources, support and opportunity for reflection and celebration when our humanity is threatened or attacked. We create these moments in hopes of doing the work. Through our projects, programming, and events, we offer our people three areas for doing the work—soul work, social works, and art work. Though each area is distinct, our practices can include a combination of the areas.
Soul work: personal growth, self-care, and emotional learning for self-actualization
Social works: community care and empowerment through practical resources, services and justice campaigns
Art work: storytelling and cultural archiving through art and creative expression Think of us as a community and cultural home!
We wanted a place to house the things we’ve started and the work that will continue. Prior to 1000G’s formal existence, members of the team have collaborated and/or created the following projects and events: #SSS (Summer Slumber Slam) Teen Retreat; Oh, I Love You Sis Young Women’s Empowerment Brunch; Let’s Talk, a youth community forum on justice and faith; Back to School P.E.P. Rally; Black History Art & Thought; and a host of work under other organizations.
Core Values
Love
Peace
Peace
Love is for everybody and at the center of the work we do. Our love is intentional, unconditional and accountable.
Peace
Peace
Peace
We are a soft place to land after and through difficult experiences.
Grace
Peace
Unlearning
We are gracious with ourselves and our community members. Grace leaves room for growth.
Unlearning
Unlearning
Unlearning
We are committed to unlearning what we carried solely to survive and committed to understanding what we need to thrive.
Liberation
Unlearning
Liberation
Freedom is the right of every person.Our freedom is inextricably tied to conditions of the most vulnerable among us.
Staff
Lexus Dawn Jordan, Executive Director
Who yo people? Where you from? We know the questions. Hear directly from our founder/ director, Lexus Dawn Jordan:
My people are Martha and Joe, Theresa and Adolph, Leonard and Zita. They and so many others make up my village. They are the generations I carry within me. These are the people that named me. I recognize the privilege and blessing it is to feel and be at home in this name and all that it calls me to be, Lexus Dawn Jordan. I'm a native of Kenner, LA and won’t hesitate to clarify that fact. Along with the accompanying line, “You did not fly into New Orleans, you flew into Kenner.” Let me add my life is wholly lived in the Greater New Orleans area, and I’m humbly grateful to experience and witness the culture.
I hold a B.A. in Communication Studies from Xavier University of Louisiana and a M.A. in the same from Louisiana State University. My scholarship is concentrated in Performance Studies with work that is driven by identity, cultural, and community narratives. With over 5 years of professional experience as a youth advocate, I have provided direct services including mentoring and juvenile justice case management. I embrace the role of youth and community advocate through learning, listening, and involvement in several projects. I have also been a diligent leader in faith-based work that informs how to care for the whole person. My ministry experience is multigenerational, but my heart is working in youth ministry with over 10 years of service in leading, coordinating, and teaching. No matter the prescribed space, I find myself doing the work at the intersection of scholarship, community, and ministry. I envision A Thousand Generation to be the intersection.
In graduate school, I encountered the work of D. Soyini Madison, professor, performance studies scholar and practitioner, director, and author. In Acts of Activism: Human Rights as Radical Performance, Madison raises the question, “What shall I do with what I have witnessed?” At that moment, I knew my response has been and will always be --Tell the story.
