Who Is JXN?

Video Courtesy of Metta Bastet

What’s In a Name?

The JXN Project, also known as JXN, is a historic preservation non-profit organization dedicated to capturing the pivotal role of Jackson Ward in the Black American experience – an often under-told narrative about the nation’s first historically registered Black urban neighborhood, given that 1 in 4 Black Americans can retrace their roots to the Richmond, Virginia region.

  • JXN was co-founded in 2021 by sisters Enjoli Moon and Sesha Joi Moon, PhD. It all began with a simple question -"Who is the Jackson in Jackson Ward?" - and little did they know, but those seven words would help to unearth some of the hidden histories of the city's sixth ward. The project's work is focused on recontextualizing the origin story of Jackson Ward - with a research focus spanning from 1768 when the first parcels of land were sold through a lottery by the descendant of William Byrd, who is credited with founding the City of Richmond, for private use on the northern edge of the city to 1871 when that same edge was gerrymandered as a political district commonly known as "Jackson Ward." The project is guided by eight key pillars to include pedagogy, philanthropy, preservation, and proprietorship, as well as public art, public engagement, public programming, and public policy.

    JXN began its work with a year-long sesquicentennial celebration for Jackson Ward titled "Illuminating Legacies: Giles B. Jackson Day" - followed by a six-part "JXN Project Summer Lecture Series" with the Library of Virginia and Richmond Public Library. The project concluded its sesquicentennial celebration with the city's largest mass honorary street installation for "Unveiling The Vanguard", which included Abraham Skipwith Alley. The alley was named in tribute to Abraham Peyton Skipwith whom the project considers as "The Founding Father of Jackson Ward" - which inspired the project's most notable initiative known as "The Skipwith-Roper Homecoming" as part of the U.S. Semiquincentennial. As part of the homecoming initiative, the project curated an exhibition with the Library of Virginia titled "House to Highway: Reclaiming a Community History" and partnered with PBS NPR VPM to produce a documentary titled "Declarations of Independence."

    Since its inception, JXN has donated approximately $250,000 in gifts and|or grants across the state, to include the establishment of endowed scholarship funds with Virginia Union University, Virginia State University, NorfolkState University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Richmond Public Schools - as well as an honorary street designation to the late father of the co-founders, August Moon. These gifts include over $50,000 to support ward-based organizations, such as a $10,000 donation to "The Adele Johnson Fund: Supporting Untold Stories" at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.

    JXN has received the 2025 ChangeMaker Award from Initiatives of Change USA, 2022 RVA Community Makers Award from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, 2022 Richmond History Makers Award for "Advancing OurQuality of Life" from The Valentine, 2022 Leadership in History Awards from the American Association of State and Local History, and 2021 Golden Hammer Award for "Best Placemaking" from Historic Richmond. As co-founders, the Moon Sisters were also ranked second as the "Most Powerful Richmonders of 2022" by Axios and were both recognized as "Top 40 Under 40" by Style Weekly.

JXN Team

The Moon Sisters

The JXN Project was co-founded by two daughters of Richmond, who also happen to be sisters – Dr. Sesha Joi Moon [right] and Enjoli J. Moon [left]. They were raised in equal parts of Blackwell and Byrd Park by Dr. Michon Moon and the late August Moon – and descend from three generations of Jackson Wardians.

Photos Courtesy of Dr. Jenaé Harrington

  • Dr. Sesha Joi Moon is the Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the Commonwealth of Virginia — serving in the Cabinet of Governor Abigail Spanberger. Her prior roles include Chief Impact Officer for Girl Scouts USA, Chief Diversity Officer for the National Institute of Standards & Technology at the U.S. Department of Commerce — and most notably, Chief Diversity Officer for the U.S. House of Representatives during the 117th & 118th Congresses. She also served as Chief Strategist to the National Campaign Co-Chair, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, during Harris for President, as well as Executive-in-Residence with Stacey Abrams’ American Pride Rises. 

    In addition to executive education programs at Harvard University, where she received the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pioneer Award, Dr. Moon holds a Ph.D. from Old Dominion University and B.A. in African American Studies and M.S. from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. During her studies, she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and as an alumna, received the VCU Black History in the Making Award and VCU Alumni Stars Award, while also becoming the first Black queer woman to establish an endowed scholarship fund in school history.

    Dr. Moon has held appointments on the Board of Directors with the African American Federal Executive Association and Commonwealth of Virginia's Criminal Justice Services Board. Her career has been highlighted by the likes of CNN, ESSENCE, and Forbes and in 2023, she was recognized at the United Nations as “100 of the Most Influential People of African Descent”. 

  • Enjoli Moon is the Executive Director of the Afrikana Independent Film Festival, which holds the distinct honor of being the first and only Black film festival in Richmond – hosting a variety of pivotal cultural figures, such asAngela Davis and Nikki Giovanni. She formerly served as Assistant Curator of Film and Special Programs with the Institute of Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University. 

    Enjoli is the Founding Chair of BLK RVA, a Richmond Region Tourism initiative designed to connect Richmond residents and visitors with Black-owned businesses in the area. She and her work has been featured in local and national publications, such as Huffington Post, BET, Essence, Black Enterprise, Travel Noire, The Root and Virginia Currents on PBS. She was recognized as one of the 2021 "People to Meet" for Virginia Business Magazine and received the 2020 VCIC Humanitarian Award, as well as the 2020 Richmond Times-Dispatch Strong Voices Award and Women In the Arts Award by Style Weekly. However, her greatest accomplishment is being a mother to her son, Jonah – an artist and aspiring filmmaker.

Work With JXN

  • The JXN Project is seeking a Development Specialist to lead its multi-million dollar capital campaign in support of the second phase of "The Skipwith Roper Homecoming." This position is part-time and is designated as an independent contractor. The salary range begins at $70,000 and will be competitive and commensurate with experience. To apply, please send an email titled "Development Specialist" with your cover letter, resume, and sample pitch deck to info@thejxnproject.org.