One Spirit

10/08/2026

Tonight, a little basket carried a whole lot of love.

One of the girls who comes to the Allen Youth Center almost every day had been sick and in the hospital, and we were all worried about her. When she came home this evening, her friends wanted to make sure she knew how much she had been missed.

With help from our director, Tai, a group of kids put together a “boo basket,” a little cloth basket covered in ghosts and filled with her favorite snacks. Then they went together to bring her the basket, flowers, and the comfort of seeing friends who care.

The idea was theirs. We simply helped them bring it to life.

These kids show up for each other, and we are proud to support the caring friendships they are building. Tonight was a sweet reminder that some of the most meaningful moments at AYC happen when our young people take the love they find here and carry it to someone who needs it.

10/08/2026

Before the horses and the thundering buffalo herds, there was another chapter of Lakota life, one many people have never heard.

Among forests, lakes, and rivers, Lakota ancestors followed the seasons, harvested wild rice, and cultivated gardens using practices we now call regenerative agriculture. Their relationship with dogs helped lay the foundation for a transformation that would change life on the Plains.

🌿 Click below to explore these woodland roots and the knowledge and adaptability that helped shape the journey west.

When we picture the Lakota today, we see an ocean of Great Plains, with warriors riding alongside hundreds of thundering buffalo on horseback. But this iconic image is only half the story.Looking as far back as 400 years ago, before the Lakota spoke the dialect of the plains, they dwelled alongside....

10/04/2026

10/04/2026

The horse transformed Lakota life, the buffalo sustained it—and generations later, their sacred connection is still shaping the future.

Read the article below to discover how horses and buffalo transformed Lakota life on the Great Plains—and how leaders like Bamm Brewer are carrying those traditions forward for the next generation.

Combining their ancestral woodland resilience with these new arrivals, the Lakota adapted at an unimaginable pace. Within a 70-year window, they transformed from semi-sedentary woodland farmers to the undisputed masters of the Great Plains. The vast oceans of grass, once too expansive to traverse on...

09/19/2026

Good morning, we are open 8am to 6pm today. Have a good weekend and see you soon.

09/18/2026

We’re out here at the Oyate Teca Project with Team Buche Cares for the Future of Food Event! We’re honored to be a part of the discussion. 🍎 🥕 🥦

✨A huge shoutout to Pour Out Your Heart Coffeehouse for our delicious drinks. ✨

09/16/2026

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, a 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 business 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! Hire a team that was built for helping those in need.
We’re capable of tackling a plethora of different projects. Our skills are learnt through rigourous, life-saving builds.

What we do

Ground-up Builds
Having done several major rennovations, we’ve started doing builds from the ground up.

Tiny houses are our preffered build so far. Affordable, durable, energy efficient and fast.

We built our last house in under two months during the heart of winter.

Roofing

Walls and Siding

Doors and Windows

Winterization

Plumbing and Electrical

Decks, Stairs and Floors

Laundry and Appliance Repairs

Hire Us!

Lakota Empowerment Group renovates homes and trains workers on Pine Ridge, empowering families with better living conditions and fostering local economic growth.

09/15/2026