Tonya's Transition: Support Tonya's Passage Home

My name is David Malana, I am Creative Leader of Color the Water, a racial justice organization that offers free surf lessons, media, and community to all BIPOC as a way to heal and replenish in the quest to end systemic racism. We are grieving the loss of our dearest Tonya, and are in need of resources while we support each other through this. Please support the peaceful passage of our dear friend, poet, surfer, and activist Tonya by donating toward her funeral services and with transitional support for those who Tonya nurtured and cared for.

Tonya Ingram was so many things to us: a poet, a surfer, a friend, and an inspiration. Her untimely passing has left us all reeling. Though she had been living with lupus, there was always a sense that Tonya was going to make it through and see all her dreams to fruition. Whether those dreams be to continue her already accoladed poetic and literary career, to liberate herself as well as young poets through ocean play and surfing, or tell the story of her struggles to live everyday life through film, Tonya dreamt as immense as was her impact on those fortunate enough to know her. This is so important to us and to the communities that Tonya was a part of, and we so dearly want to be able to offer Tonya the transition into the afterlife she longed for while also making sure her family isn't further impacted by their loss with financial burden.

100% of the funds raised from this (aside from fees GoFoundMe takes out) will support the following:

We are hoping for a miracle, to be honest. As an organization, we've more or less exhausted our asking well recently, but the idea of Tonya transitioning as easeful and joyfully as possible supercedes and misgivings we have about reaching out.

On a personal note, Tonya was someone I so desperately wanted to be there for more, but didn't always make the time. It's been a lesson in what it means to really show up for people, and how sometimes removing those last little barriers to connection can make all the difference. Tonya was that to so many. She lived through pain and suffering just to function in daily life, and yet she still showered so many with the gifts of her voice, her encouragement, her wisdom, and her joy. In a world where joy seems harder and harder to come by, Tonya always seemed to keep some in store for me when I needed it, and for that I will be eternally grateful. Please help support Tonya's journey home to a place of peace and rest that she embodied for so many while here, and that we so deeply hope for, for her.