Pillars & Initiatives
We advance liberation for Black descendant communities by building local power, and creating sustainable futures.
Pillars of Progress
Heritage & Cultural Preservation
Preserving the stories, places, and traditions that shape Black descendant communities.
The Wallace Cultural District is our most ambitious preservation initiative, representing a model for protecting descendant communities through ecological stewardship.
Located in Wallace, Louisiana, the district is being developed as a living cultural landscape that preserves history while creating opportunities for education, tourism, research, and community gathering. The project supports efforts to secure a National Register designation for Wallace, with distinct historical sites including:
- Many Waters House & River Parish Archive
- Fee Fo Lay Café & Welcome Center
- Movement House (Olga House)
In partnership with the Archaeology Department at the University of New Orleans, we’re cultivating field-based learning opportunities and community-centered scholarships for Black descendants. Under the leadership of Dr. Ryan Gray, this historic preservation program utilizes the Woodland Plantation as a de facto archeological field school.
A future contemplative landscape honoring Indigenous communities, enslaved ancestors, Maroon settlements, and freedom movements that shaped the region. The project will serve as both a memorial and a gathering space for reflection, learning, and healing.
Environmental Justice
Protecting people, land, water, and air from extractive industries.
We partner with local residents, grassroots organizations, and national allies to challenge harmful industrial expansion and advocate for policies that protect communities across Louisiana's River Parishes
A community resource center for preparedness, response, and recovery. Developed in response to climate change and industrial disasters, The Hub is equipped to support thousands of nearby residents with:
- Solar-powered emergency infrastructure
- Cooling, charging, and communications resources
- Emergency supply storage
- Industrial disaster planning resources
Mary Plantation is one of only four properties listed on the Historic Register in Plaquemines Parish that now offers a unique retreat opportunity for social and environmental justice groups. Whereas many plantation homes are utilized as wedding venues, Mary Plantation was gifted to The Descendants Project by a supporter who believed restoration and healing were best achieved under Black stewardship.
Economic Liberation
Building community-controlled systems that allow descendant communities to thrive.
Through partnerships with labor organizations and industry professionals, we connect residents to emerging workforce pathways, including opportunities within the film industry and other sectors that support a just transition away from extractive economies.
Designed to bring fresh food, emergency supplies, and community resources directly into neighborhoods, Movement Maroon expands food access and mutual aid to River Parish communities. Following the success of Descendants Alliance for Support and Help (DASH), our rapid-response initiative to Hurricane Ida in 2021, this program also provides environmental justice education, powered by our electric vehicle infrastructure.
