LANCASTER, Pa. — An artist, a community activist and an educator. Sir Dominique Jordan describes himself as a combination of those things: an "artivist."
"I want people to feel inspired," said Jordan. "To create their own new, their own special solutions to the problems that they see, the dilemmas they see every single day."
Jordan says "artivisim" is activism and artistry coming together for a common goal.
Born and raised in the Red Rose City, he's bringing that mix of creativity, music and activism to teens—and to the streets of Lancaster with the Block Rite Program.
He and hundreds of young volunteers cleaned up several city blocks, over the past few years. Jordan has helped them to look at ordinary things with a new perspective.
"One person's trash is another person's treasure, right? So we want to inspire people to keep on staying creative and also look outside the box," said Jordan. "You may find something deemed not useful. But you can find ways to repurpose it and make it more vibrant."
He turned the items they collected into an art installation, titled "Woke Up, Had to Get the Blockrite."
It's dedicated to the cleanup effort and filled with bright, graffiti-filled finds that have been given new life.
It also includes pieces created by local artists helping the movement.
"Through the work that I do, working with children in the community, I like to spread my joy and spread my love," said artist Sophia Gabriela. "Hopefully help kids find their voice through art and poetry."
The city's Public Art Community Engagement Program is showcasing the installation all month at the Ware Center.
But Jordan wants to continue inspiring the community long after Black History Month.
"One thing that I feel we don't emphasize enough is that Black history is American history, and it happens all year round," said Jordan. "It should happen all year round and encompassing everyday life."
He hopes his journey encourages the next generation to join in on the conversation.
"You don't have to agree with everything everyone else believes. But to come together and do something even as miniscule in some sense, as (clean) litter. To be able to learn all these things and be given these other opportunities because of it has been a blessing," said Jordan.