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In light of the dire news from Washington, there is no better time to pause and celebrate women’s achievements.
As America prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the Revolution in Lexington, MA, a dynamic group of creative and determined Lexington women came together to establish a monument honoring the women of their own community. Four years in the making, Something Is Being Done was unveiled in May 2024—offering a more inclusive narrative of Lexington’s history. Designed and sculpted by the incomparable Meredith Bergmann, this powerful monument ensures that the vital contributions of Lexington women are recognized and remembered.
The monument features twenty pioneering Lexington women from the 18th to the 21st centuries—trailblazers who, when confronted with injustice and adversity, took courageous action. With resilience and unwavering determination, they shaped the town’s political, economic, intellectual, social, and cultural landscape, leaving a lasting impact on generations to come.
I was honored to be a part of the Unveiling Ceremony team. I wanted to involve a young female singer-songwriter to write and compose a piece for the unveiling. My goal was to bring a youthful perspective and inspire future generations while connecting the monument’s significance to the ongoing journey of progress and empowerment. By showcasing emerging talent, I aimed to highlight the importance of new voices and bridge past achievements with future aspirations. Maya Salafia, a 2024 Lexington High School graduate, fit the bill perfectly. I directed and produced a music video of her song, HerStory. Enjoy!
As we celebrate their remarkable contributions, let this monument inspire us to stand strong, draw strength from each other, and lead the way forward.
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This is amazing Cheryl! I love the concept and the video is very good. Maya Salafia has a lovely voice. Did she write that song? How long did it take to make the video from song creation to publication? Well done to all!
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Thanks, Susan! Yes, Maya wrote the lyrics and composed the music in less than a two weeks—an impressive feat. She’s a remarkably talented young woman now studying at a prestigious music school in Boston.
The video was time-consuming to produce. I collaborated with our local community cable company, but they deviated from my storyboard during filming. As a result, I had to sift through previous footage of the monument and piece together a version that closely matched my original vision (I don’t love love love this version, though I’m grateful it came together, especially for a first time effort). If everything had gone as planned, the entire process would have likely taken just a couple of weeks from start to finish.
I hope you share it widely with your community!!
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Thank you so much for sharing this with us Cheryl. Maya’s song is certainly fitting for the occasion. I hope her music career is successful. I wouldn’t know where to begin in producing something like this video. My hat’s off to you, your vision, and your talent.
Hope your concussion heals quickly!!
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Thank you, Libby! What kind words!!
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Love this Cheryl! Maya has talent and so do you as director and producer!! And I’m with Libby in hoping you’re healing quickly. Thank you for sharing such inspiring posts!!
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Thank you, Katherine Ann! Your supportive words mean a lot to me.
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Inspiring, Cheryl. This is a reminder that art, especially music, is a voice of resistance.
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Yes! Thanks, Jane!
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This is pretty fabulous. What a lovely way to celebrate inspiring women and a fantastic vision to execute by your group. Maya’s song, her performance and your video are great! You’ve got some amazing talent there, my friend.
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Jane, you are my best cheerleader of all!! Thanks, friend.
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Truly inspiring. What a positive force you and your friends are in your community, Cheryl. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you, Tara! We are all in this together!!
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Beautiful song and monument! Thank you for sharing the video.
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Thanks, Nancy! Hope you are well.
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I am doing well. Thank you for asking.
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Excellent! I can only imagine the hard work that you all put into this worthy project. Maya’s voice and her talent are impressive, as is your skill as a producer. I hope it didn’t add any extra headaches, since you’re already dealing with that concussion! 😉 (Seriously, hope you’re feeling better now!)
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Hey Susan,
Gratefully, I finished production prior to the concussion! Was a metaphorical headache, though!! I was so impressed with Maya. Such a lovely, talented young woman. Hope you are well, Susan.
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I’m hanging in there, thanks. You’re doing a lot of great work; love your activism and involvement! Stay safe and well!
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