Wardell Lewis Jr. Interview: AGIdealist Microgrants 2025 Grantee
New Orleans Grand Marshal Wardell Lewis Jr. shares the meaning of second lines. Also, how the 2025 AGIdealist Microgrant helped bring his latest creation to life.
Based in New Orleans, Grand Marshal Wardell Lewis Jr. is a second line legend and culture-bearer, known for leading second lines with an unmistakable energy and style. Today, he follows the footsteps of his grandfather and father to carry that legacy forward into the next generations.
In 2025, Wardell was selected as one of ten recipients of the A Great Idealist Microgrant, which helped him create a show-starting set of second line regalia. We spoke with him about celebrating culture, his creative process, and why passing the tradition on to youth matters.
This interview is with Wardell Lewis Jr., a Grand Marshal and culture-bearer who has spent decades bringing his energy to the second line.
For people who might be new to the tradition, how would you describe a second line?
Okay, I’ll describe what a second line is. I am the first line along with the brass band. Then come the second liners, the people who come out to the event. They will be called the second line.
Then, all the people sharing our culture with people from another place. When I see that group of people dancing and having fun, that excites me and motivates me. It gets the adrenaline pumping in my blood and makes me want to dance even more.
Do you remember the first time you experienced a second line? What was that like?
The first time I experienced a second line, I was two years old when I paraded with my father. Then the very first time that I paraded in a second line was in 1988 with the YMO…and it was fun. I could not wait to hit the streets! It was exciting. I had a blast.
You’re known as a Grand Marshal. What does that role mean to you personally?
The role of Grand Marshal means a lot to me, because I am the center of attraction and I believe in putting on a great show at all times. I interact with the crowd and I feed off the crowd.
What inspires your personal style when it comes to your creations?
My personal style for creation starts with a vision. Then I come up with the colors and designs that will make other people say “Wow, beautiful!”
Second lines carry a lot of history and meaning. What traditions do you feel most responsible for carrying forward?
The history of the second line runs deep in my family, starting with my granddad, Percy "Pete" Lewis and my father Wardell Lewis Sr. Everything I do now and in the future is about honoring them and keeping our legacy alive, moving forward with the culture.
When you’re leading a parade, what does it feel like in the moment—when the music hits and the crowd starts moving?
It makes me overexcited. It makes me put on a great performance at all times. The bigger the crowd, the harder I go.
How do second lines bring people together in ways that other spaces might not?
[Second lines] bring the community together on a positive note. People really look forward to them, seeing people put on great shows and putting on a great second line.
Tell me about getting the microgrant. How did you use it?
Receiving the microgrant was a blessing to me. It helped me finish getting ready for my event and buy the materials I needed to finish my creation. I was honored to become a grantee of the microgrant.
Tell us about the regalia you created this year. What did you envision when you started designing it? What was your creative process like?
First, I get a vision. I put the vision on paper and design it. Then, I start going to get the materials. Once I get the materials, I start putting everything together. As I work, new ideas pop in my head and I go with the flow. It all comes together and brings my creations to life.
You’ve brought young people into the experience. Why is it important to involve the next generation?
I believe in keeping the culture alive. If I can help the young ones of today in any way, I will always do it. They are our future of the culture. I remember when I was a young kid and I could not wait to parade. I believe in giving the next kids the opportunity I had and teaching them the culture.
What does it mean to you to see the culture alive and to involve the next generation?
[Keeping the culture alive and involving the next generation] means a hell of a lot to me. It means it gives them a positive outlook on things and they will have fun and they will want to do that all the time, including in school and being productive and being respectful to their peers, meaning their parents and other adults. That’s like giving them a reward, a kudos, for excellence in the community, within their homes, within the school system.
What do you hope young people take away when they see or participate in these traditions?
I have seen several [young people] connected to the culture. They came and formed their own organization. I have a godson and he’s a great dancer. And now, he’s a masking Indian. He’s creating his own suit. I sit and I talk with him and share visions and creation ideas. He runs with it and then does his own stuff!
When you think about the future of the second line, what gives you hope?
What gives me hope for the future of second lines is everything. This culture will never die. It is the breath that New Orleans breathes. It’s a rich culture—and the culture has a lot of people backing it. With the new generation doing what they’re doing now, it’s going to keep on going and going.
Do you have any visions for this year?
I really appreciate what y’all have done. Actually, I’m already about to start creating something else for the upcoming second line season and [next year’s] Mardi Gras. I already have the ideas and the visions in my mind. I'm already putting it on paper and I’m ready to start getting the work done!
Wardell Lewis Jr.’s work reminds us that culture is something people keep alive together. Through the movement and artistry of the second line, he brings people into the streets to celebrate community and joy.
We’re grateful to Wardell for sharing his time and his deep commitment to passing the culture forward. With the support of the A Great Idealist Microgrant, he brought a new vision to life and shared it with his community, especially young people who are discovering their own place in the tradition.
At A Great Idea, we believe powerful ideas often start the same way: we see something we love and put our collective energy into it. Wardell continues to show what that looks like in motion. If you’re working on something that could bring people together and strengthen your community, we’d love to explore your great idea with you. Learn more about how we support community-led change.
