My name is Ron and I'm a socially engaged artist and activist from Philadelphia, PA. My grandmother is currently buried in a grave without a headstone. She raised me for most of my childhood in an "underserved" part of West Philadelphia. I am raising money to get my grandmother the headstone she deserves after years of her being in a grave without one. For various reasons my family was particularly exposed to and vulnerable to the attacks on our community. This has led to disconnection that I am working to repair as I move on to the next phase of my art project that concerns ancestral engagement. While I considered getting my grandmother a cheap headstone myself, I would like to fundraise in an attempt to get her one that reflects her true value. This headstone will be a symbol of my family beginning to heal the wounds of the past and hopefully also an inspiration for others showing them that it’s never too late to reconnect and repair.

For more information about my grandmother and our relationship please see the open letter I've written to her: Dear Paula (a letter to my Ancestor)