Meet the program’s makers

Ricky Gray grass - LEG program Manager, Eddie Spears - LEG Foreman, and Jeri Baker - One Spirit Director, introduce the LEG program together and share the exciting developments to come.

How it all started

The Lakota Empowerment Group (LEG) was born on a freezing Saturday morning in the depths of winter.

When a family in Allen was found living in a trailer at frigid temperatures, One Spirit, our supporting organization and close ally, called for Ricky Gray Grass’s help and skills. After helping the family, this one mission’s success raised the question: “Why stop here?”.

Seeing the sheer volume of families and elders living in nearly unlivable conditions and the untapped potential of determined local individuals, the vision for LEG was born. Thanks to Ricky Gray Grass (Director) and Eddie Spears (Foreman), the program has since grown in the number of workers, projects achieved and critical supporters. Since that first project in January 2025, the team has grown to completing nearly 10 full-scale renovations in our first year alone.

Over 30 homes are now on the waiting list to get a LEG up!

Housing on the Rez

A mobile home with a plywood-covered door and a window surrounded by torn, peeling siding. Two tires are stacked in front, with weeds and grass growing at the base.
Back of house with boarded-up windows, plywood covering windows, brick and siding exterior, wooden stairs leading to door, overgrown grass, and a sidewalk in a suburban area.
A metal door with a small window is set in a corrugated metal building. The door has a damaged bottom and a handle with an additional lock. There is a wooden ramp and steps leading up to the door. To the left, there is a red mobility scooter. Debris,
Side of a house with boarded windows, beige siding, and a brick corner, in a rural area with grass and trees.
Interior wall with a window, holes in the wall, and damaged flooring.
Blue house with boarded-up windows and front steps in a rural area, under a partly cloudy sky.
A house with blue siding and boarded-up windows with plywood. Satellite dishes are mounted on the side of the house, and the lawn in front is green with some plants near the foundation. The sky is partly cloudy with blue patches.
View of a building with a large window, construction framing around the window, and various construction materials including a microwave, a box of Froot Loops cereal, and a bucket. The exterior siding of the building is white with horizontal panels.
Attic insulation and ductwork with wooden beams and a circular vent opening
A wall with multiple holes and damage, revealing the wall's interior. The floor has some debris and a floor vent, and there is a power outlet on the wall.
The exterior of a weathered wooden shed with an open door, cluttered with various tools, boxes, and objects outside. Snow is on the ground, and there are garden tools hanging on the wall.
Ceiling with a large hole exposing insulation and structural elements, in a room with a window and furniture.

Our path forward

Step One: Completed

We’ve built the team, trained apprentices, and completed over 10 major renovations.

Step Two: Grow

Acquire dedicated work trucks, trailers, and a Bobcat to increase efficiency. Improving our capabilities, response time and efficiency to help more households.

Step Three: The vision

Grow as a self-sufficient Lakota-owned entity and secure larger contracts with local organizations and businesses, stimulating the local economy and workforce.

A person wearing a black hoodie, plaid shorts, and brown work boots standing on a ladder, installing or inspecting siding on a building under a clear blue sky.
Three workers install electrical boxes on the exterior wall of a building wrapped in Thermo ply insulation. One worker kneels while the other two work while sitting on the grass.
Person installing or inspecting siding on a building with insulation panels and a mounted electrical box.
Two workers installing siding on a house in a grassy area.
Two men working on siding of a house, one using a hammer on the exterior wall while standing on a ladder, the other standing on a deck observing.
Three people working on the exterior of a white house with two ladders; one person on each ladder, and a third person standing on the ground observing.
Four workers repairing the exterior of a house, with one person on a step ladder, one on a taller ladder, and two on the ground, during the daytime with a clear blue sky.
Person using a power saw to cut a wooden board outdoors on a work table, with construction materials and vehicles in the background.
A man in a brown hoodie is painting or preparing a wall for painting with a roller on a ladder.
Two women are building a wooden structure outside a green building, measuring and assembling the wood on the ground.
A person wearing a black cap and T-shirt using a yellow power saw to cut a wooden plank, standing outdoors at a construction site with various tools, lumber, and trucks visible in the background.
Construction site with a partially built wooden porch in front of a green metal building, tools and materials scattered on the ground, and a person wearing boots and dark clothing on the right side.
Two individuals on a sloped, textured rooftop under a blue sky with scattered clouds, one wearing a red hat and the other with a hooded jacket.
A man wearing a bright orange hat and sunglasses working on roofing shingles on a house's roof, standing on a blue step stool, with a tool belt and gloves, in a rural area with trees and hills in the background.
Two workers are installing or repairing roofing shingles on a sloped roof, holding power tools under a clear sky.
Four workers installing or repairing solar panels on the roof of a yellow house under a clear blue sky.
Two workers installing marble-look tiles on the floor, one kneeling and placing tiles, the other kneeling in the background, in a room under construction.

Your next steps

Join the others in supporting our cause.

We’re raising funds for tools, trucks, trailers, bobcats and operational costs.

The Lakota Empowerment Group team standing outside a wooden house, under trees, on a sunny day.
Donate

Want to see what projects we’ve accomplished?

Learn more about how we're building homes for those in need.

Three people working on a home renovation, painting and preparing the interior space with tools, paint, and materials.
Our Projects