Lauren Raposa

After his father passed away, Frenchtown resident Jayson Taylor built a wind phone to honor his memory. While the phone cannot make actual calls, Jayson says it’s used as a vessel to speak to loved ones who have passed. The phone stands in Sunbeam Lenape Park in Frenchtown.
Video produced by Lauren Raposa.

Gregory Andrus has listened to more than 2,000 strangers’ stories since launching his "Portraits of the Jersey Shore" project in 2015. It all started with his own story, which nearly ended before the age of 30 when he was shot in the head by a police officer. Since then, Andrus has built an online community of nearly 70,000 followers, where he believes everyone has a story to tell.
Video produced by Lauren Raposa.

When Meredith Gaudreau, widow of star hockey player Johnny Gaudreau, reached out to tattoo artist Taylor Clinch about getting a cremation tattoo, she had never done one before and admittedly had little knowledge of the process. The owner of Taynic Tattoos in Wall Township specializes in fine line work and quickly fell in love with cremation tattoos after learning of the impact it would have for her clients. Since then, Taylor has welcomed a handful of other clients who wished to honor deceased loved ones with this unique art form. Video Video produced by Lauren Raposa.

Ali Mennor, owner of Lost and Found Tattoo Studio in Cranford, N.J., is transforming mastectomy scars into works of art, forging a strong bond with her clients along the way. Video produced by Lauren Raposa.

Roller skating culture has, and continues to, shape the Black identity in N.J. At Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Center in Newark, Jersey skate culture is on full display bringing joy to generations of skaters.
Video produced by Lauren Raposa.

NJ.com video essay on Thunder Road Books manager Kate Czyzewski, who lives with a rare form of cancer.
Video produced by Lauren Raposa.

NJ.com video essay on the dying art of neon signage in New Jersey.
Video produced by Lauren Raposa.