Gray Memorial Foundation

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Gray Memorial Foundation

Our Mission: To educate and memorialize the life's work and global impact of a trailblazing and legi to be named after an African-American political leader.

To commemorate Congressman Gray’s lifelong commitment and service to the United States and to international human rights, Congress passed legislation three years ago to rename 30th Street Station in Philadelphia as the “William H. Gray III 30th Street Station”, thereby creating only the second Amtrak station in the U.S. The bill, H.R. 4838, was signed into law by President Barack Obama in August 2

014, but to this day Amtrak has resisted renaming the station, failing to comply with the legislation and delaying a befitting honor of Gray’s legacy. After years of patience and good faith efforts, a coalition of national and local political, community and business leaders have come together to insist that Amtrak comply with the law and move quickly to incorporate the name of William H. Gray III into all signage, both physical and digital.

07/18/2025

We’re honored to be featured in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer, which highlights the five finalist artists selected to design the William H. Gray III Memorial at Gray/30th Street Station.

From over 100 submissions nationwide, these five visionaries— , , Paul Ramirez Jonas, Karyn Olivier, and —have proposed bold and meaningful concepts that reflect Congressman Gray’s powerful legacy of faith, justice, leadership, and global impact.

📰 Read the full story in the : Link in our bio!  
🗣️ Share your voice during the public
feedback period—open now on our website: Link in our bio! 
📍Join us Tuesday, July 22 in Philadelphia for the live presentation of each artist’s concept. To attend, email [email protected].
 💻 To register for the livestream please sign up here: Link in our bio!

07/17/2025

🚨Artist Spotlight: Karyn Olivier🚨

This is the fifth of the Final Five.

The William H. Gray III Memorial Foundation is proud to introduce as one of five visionary artists selected to develop full proposals for a major new public memorial honoring Congressman Gray at Philadelphia’s historic William H. Gray III 30th Street Amtrak Station.

Karyn’s concept, titled Platform, reflects on Congressman Gray’s life of service—a life grounded in justice, community, and faith. Drawing inspiration from the pulpit, the monument’s stone structure rises with steps leading to an elevated platform inscribed with powerful symbols from Gray’s career: from the U.S. Congress to the , from to South Africa. At its center, a bronze figure of Gray descends the stairs with an outstretched hand—an invitation for all of us to join him in action.

Topped with an obelisk of four converging columns and a fused-glass American flag, and grounded by a mosaic world map, Platform is both a local tribute and a global reflection. It honors Gray’s reach—from Philadelphia to Haiti, from the pulpit to the Capitol—and reminds us that his legacy is a call to act, engage, and serve.

In Olivier’s words, “What matters most are the moments that follow—the time when the collective work of the people should begin.”
This is the fifth and final spotlight in our series introducing the artists and their bold visions.

🔗Learn more about Karyn and the other finalists and their memorial artistic concepts on the Gray Memorial Foundation’s website: Link in our bio!

🗣️Share your voice! Public feedback on the finalists’ proposals is open now: Click the link in our bio!

📍On Tuesday, July 22nd, all five artists will present their memorial concepts live to invited guests and stakeholders in Philadelphia.

👉If you are interested in attending this event on July 22nd, please email your name and affiliation to [email protected].

This event will also be livestreamed. To register for the livestream please use the link in our bio.

07/17/2025

🚨Artist Spotlight: Karyn Olivier🚨

This is the fifth of the Final Five.

The William H. Gray III Memorial Foundation is proud to introduce as one of five visionary artists selected to develop full proposals for a major new public memorial honoring Congressman Gray at Philadelphia’s historic William H. Gray III 30th Street Station.

Karyn’s concept, titled Platform, reflects on Congressman Gray’s life of service—a life grounded in justice, community, and faith. Drawing inspiration from the pulpit, the monument’s stone structure rises with steps leading to an elevated platform inscribed with powerful symbols from Gray’s career: from the U.S. Congress to the , from Philadelphia to South Africa. At its center, a bronze figure of Gray descends the stairs with an outstretched hand—an invitation for all of us to join him in action.

Topped with an obelisk of four converging columns and a fused-glass American flag, and grounded by a mosaic world map, Platform is both a local tribute and a global reflection. It honors Gray’s reach—from to Haiti, from the pulpit to the Capitol—and reminds us that his legacy is a call to act, engage, and serve.

In Olivier’s words, “What matters most are the moments that follow—the time when the collective work of the people should begin.”
This is the fifth and final spotlight in our series introducing the artists and their bold visions.

🔗Learn more about Karyn and the other finalists and their memorial artistic concepts on the Gray Memorial Foundation’s website: Link in our bio!

🗣️Share your voice! Public feedback on the finalists’ proposals is open now: Click the link in our bio!

📍On Tuesday, July 22nd, all five artists will present their memorial concepts live to invited guests and stakeholders in Philadelphia.

👉If you are interested in attending this event on July 22nd, please email your name and affiliation to [email protected].

This event will also be livestreamed. To register for the livestream please use the link in our bio.

07/16/2025

🚨Artist Spotlight: Paul Ramirez Jonas🚨

One of the Final Five.

The William H. Gray III Memorial Foundation is proud to introduce Paul Ramirez Jonas as one of five visionary artists selected to develop full proposals for a major new public memorial honoring Congressman Gray at Philadelphia’s historic William H. Gray III 30th Street Amtrak Station.

Paul’s concept, titled Our Ancestors Knew We Were Coming, imagines a participatory monument that invites visitors to sit at the nexus between past and future. Anchored by a life-sized genealogical tree rising nearly 40 feet, the work explores the many lineages—familial, spiritual, cultural, civic—that shaped Congressman Gray’s life and legacy.

From his father and predecessor at Bright Hope Baptist Church, to his leadership as Chair of the House Budget Committee and President of the UNCF, Gray stood at the intersection of multiple roles: child, parent, pastor, public servant. The bench at the base of the tree offers a place for reflection—on ancestry, legacy, and civic responsibility—reminding us that we, too, are shaping the ground for those who come next.

In Jonas’s words, “Civic engagement means an awareness that we must prepare the ground for our descendants—just as our ancestors prepared the ground for us.”

This is the fourth in a series introducing the finalists and their bold visions.

🔗Learn more about Paul and the other finalists and their memorial artistic concepts on the Gray Memorial Foundation’s website: Link in our bio!

🗣️Share your voice! Public feedback on the finalists’ proposals is open now: Click the link in our bio!

📍On Tuesday, July 22nd, all five artists will present their memorial concepts live to invited guests and stakeholders in Philadelphia.

👉If you are interested in attending this event on July 22nd, please email your name and affiliation to [email protected].

This event will also be livestreamed. To register for the livestream please use the link in our bio.

07/15/2025

🚨 Artist Spotlight: Hank Willis Thomas 🚨

One of the Final Five.

The William H. Gray III Memorial Foundation is proud to introduce as one of five visionary artists selected to develop full proposals for a major new public memorial honoring Congressman Gray at Philadelphia’s historic William H. Gray III 30th Street Amtrak Station.

Hank’s concept, titled “Reverence,” is a powerful 13-foot bronze monument that pays tribute to the life, leadership, and enduring legacy of Congressman and Reverend William H. Gray III. Formed by two hands poised in a gesture of prayer or deep contemplation, the sculpture serves as both a salutation and a sacred gateway—inviting travelers to pause, reflect, and remember.

In Thomas’s words, “Reverence” seeks to embody the values and spirit Congressman Gray brought to every role—as a pastor, a congressman, and a voice for justice. With universal symbolism and emotional depth, the sculpture stands as a landmark of purpose, faith, and community in one of America’s most historic transit hubs.

This is the third in a series introducing the finalists and their bold visions.

🔗 Learn more about Hank and the other finalists and their memorial artistic concepts on the Gray Memorial Foundation’s website: Link in our bio!

🗣️ Share your voice! Public feedback on the finalists’ proposals is open now: Click the link in our bio!

📍 On Tuesday, July 22nd, all five artists will present their memorial concepts live to invited guests and stakeholders in Philadelphia. If you are interested in attending this event on July 22nd, please email your name and affiliation to [email protected]. This event will also be livestreamed. To register for the livestream please use the link in our bio.

07/10/2025

🚨 Artist Spotlight: Nina Cooke John 🚨 
One of the Final Five.

The William H. Gray III Memorial Foundation is proud to introduce Nina Cooke John, one of five outstanding artists selected to develop full proposals for a major new public memorial honoring Congressman Gray at Philadelphia’s historic 30th Street Station.

Nina’s “Justice Interlaced” is an immersive installation that uses the station’s architecture and rail lines to symbolize Congressman Gray’s broad legacy—from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. and globally.

The memorial portrays Gray’s story as a pastor, congressman, and international leader through bronze and steel ribbons weaving through stone piers, symbolizing resilience and movement. Visitors see engraved milestones, hidden inscriptions, and audio recordings of Gray’s sermons and inspiring voices. Gray’s likeness appears as a network of lines, highlighting a living legacy.

This is the second in a series introducing the finalists and their bold visions.

🔗 Learn more about Nina and the other finalists on the Gray Memorial Foundation’s website: Link in Our Bio!

🗣️ Share your voice! Public feedback on the finalists’ proposals is open now: Link in Our Bio! 
📍 In late July, all five artists will present their memorial concepts live to invited guests and stakeholders in Philadelphia. The event will be livestreamed—register here for details: Link In Our Bio!

07/09/2025

🚨 Artist Spotlight: Nekisha Durrett 🚨

One of the Final Five.

The William H. Gray III Memorial Foundation is proud to introduce Nekisha Durrett one of five outstanding artists selected to develop full proposals for a major new public memorial honoring Congressman Gray at Philadelphia’s historic William H. Gray III 30th Street Amtrak Station.

Nekisha’s concept, titled “Crystal Stair,” is a powerful, 30-foot sculptural column inspired by Langston Hughes’s poem “Mother to Son”—a poem Congressman Gray recited often and credited as formative in his life. In Durrett’s words, the piece seeks to “make a legacy rooted in faith, equity, and service visible and unmistakable in monumental form.”

Inside and out, “Crystal Stair” is a living, breathing tribute—designed not just to honor the past, but to engage future generations. With raw materials and mosaic imagery, it reflects the labor, resilience, and sacred vision at the heart of Gray’s journey—from pulpit to policy, from community to Congress.

This is the first in a series introducing the finalists and their bold visions.

🔗 Learn more about Nekisha and the other finalists and their memorial artistic concepts on the Gray Memorial Foundation’s website: https://lnkd.in/eGidsnwP

🗣️ Share your voice! Public feedback on the finalists’ proposals is open now: https://lnkd.in/eB753S3j

📍 Later in July, all five artists will present their memorial concepts live to invited guests and stakeholders in Philadelphia. The event will be livestreamed—stay tuned for details!

07/04/2025

On this day of reflection and celebration, we honor the enduring contributions of those who shaped our nation’s path forward.

Congressman William H. Gray III dedicated his life to service, opportunity, and progress—principles that continue to guide the work of the Gray Memorial Foundation.

As we commemorate July 4th, we’re reminded of the power of leadership rooted in purpose and community.

Learn more about our mission and how you can support: graymemorial.org

06/30/2025

Celebrating a Monumental Moment for Philadelphia and the Nation

The William H. Gray III Memorial Foundation is proud to unveil the five extraordinary artist finalists selected to shape a historic new memorial at Philadelphia’s iconic Gray 30th Street Amtrak Station — honoring the enduring legacy of Congressman William H. Gray III.

These visionary artists bring powerful, distinct perspectives to public memory, place, and purpose:

✨ Nina Cooke John — Architect and placemaker, reimagining how people connect to space and history.

🎨 Nekisha Durrett — Mixed-media artist spotlighting untold histories through bold public works.

🌍 Karyn Olivier — Trinidad-born sculptor exploring memory, monuments, and community.

🗝️ Paul Ramirez Jonas — Internationally exhibited artist creating participatory and poetic interventions.

📷 Hank Willis Thomas — Renowned conceptual artist investigating identity, culture, and media.

In July, the public will have a chance to preview each artist’s concept and share feedback online and in neighborhoods across Philadelphia.

This next chapter in the Living Legacy: William H. Gray III Memorial Project marks a powerful step toward honoring a leader who helped shape our city — and our nation.

📣 Read the official press release AND
🎨 Meet the artists and explore their work with the link in our Bio!

Stay tuned for details on how to view the proposals and share your thoughts.

05/28/2025

📣 Transform Purpose into Impact

A GMF corporate partnership offers more than brand exposure—it exemplifies a company’s dedication to the enduring principles of civic engagement, education, and public service. With name recognition at Gray 30th Street Station and involvement in high-profile community events, your support fosters economic empowerment, ignites innovation, and amplifies the impact of community-driven projects to encourage investment and lasting change.
Get involved: [graymemorial.org]

05/21/2025

💡 Advancing Shared Values

William H. Gray III championed education, economic empowerment, and the power of the private sector to drive change. Partnering with GMF reflects a company’s commitment to these enduring principles and fostering an economy grounded in innovation, access, and shared prosperity.

05/14/2025

🚉 Your Company at a Historic Landmark

With over 100,000 commuters passing through Gray 30th Street Station weekly, your support positions your brand at the heart of one of Philadelphia’s most iconic public spaces, while advancing the enduring values of civic engagement, public service, and community empowerment.

Be part of the transformation. Donate or partner at [graymemorial.org]

Address

300 New Jersey Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington D.C., DC
20001

Website

http://graymemorial.org/

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