The LexSeeHer Story

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Early Inspiration:

The LexSeeHer Steering Committee was formed in 2020 and set out to establish a monument to honor the contributions women have made to Lexington across time.

This effort kicked off on March 8, 2020, as part of the celebration of International Women's Day. The global pandemic put the project on pause - briefly - but the Steering Committee persisted through virtual meetings and gathered sufficient signatures for a Citizens' Petition to Special Town Meeting in fall 2020. Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly in support of the initiative by a vote of 165 - 3 on "Article 7." This non-binding resolution helped express the sense from elected community representatives that it is time to make women visible.

Community Input:

LexSeeHer held a 5-month open nomination process for community members to share the women who inspired them.

We also learned about remarkable women from Freedom's Way, and from further research efforts from our Research Team and members of our Advisory Board. In addition to the bold women commemorated in the Lexington Women's Liberty Monument, LexSeeHer organizes annual Visibility Banners to celebrate women across time.

Additional research to uncover unsung women has taken place through our guest Speaker Series, where we have featured historians and researchers who share their work on women's lives, and we have held 12 free sessions open to all members of the community who seek to support this work. In each session we have time for questions and comments from all participants, providing further insight into the way community members wish to support a new monument.

In early fall 2020, the Steering Committee launched a public call for any interested people with a connection to Lexington to submit nominations for women who should be considered as possible sources of inspiration for the new monument. Working through our website, social media, word-of-mouth, and our local newspapers, the Colonial Times and the Lexington Minuteman, we asked people to let us know about women whose contributions deserved further study or recognition. [Due to the ongoing pandemic, we extended the original deadline to January 9, 2021, then to February 26, 2021, and finally to February 28, 2021.]

LexSeeHer Monument Timeline

Milestones in government approval process:

3/8/20: LexSeeHer launched with proposal for a privately funded monument to women in a highly visible and accessible location.
Summer 2020: Gathered signatures for Citizens Petition for Fall 2020 Special Town Meeting
Fall 2020: Brought Article 7 to Town Meeting
Nov. '20 - Jan '21 Pursued Plan A to locate a monument outside Cary Library
Feb. '21 - April '21: Developed Plan B to locate a monument on Visitors Center lawn
Spring -Summer 2021: Call to Artists, Founders Campaign
12/28/21: Commission on Disability voted unanimously in support of proposed monument, plaza and site
1/22: Monuments & Memorials Committee voted in support of budget threshold of 90%.
2/3/22: Center Committee voted unanimously in support of proposed monument.
2/10/22: Historic Districts Commission voted in favor of Certificate of Appropriateness with request for follow-up on specific issue, including axial rotation.
2/14/22: LexSeeHer and HDC liaison held site visit to review axial rotation.
3/1/22: LexSeeHer provided presentation at Council for the Arts.
3/31/22: Tourism Committee votes in support of monument but opposes sitting at "Site 15".
4/7/22: Monuments & Memorials Committee takes two votes (a) in support of monument (b) not in favor of Site 15. Chair suggests LexSeeHer find "less offensive" site.
April - May Site Visits
Gathering input on possible alternate sites.
May / June: Requested opportunity to present to Select Board with monument at Site 15. Feedback from community stakeholders indicated there is widespread support for Site 15, and that alternate site have drawbacks (and less support).
July 25, 2022: Select Board voted unanimously in support of LexSeeHer proposal
February 28, 2024: Town Manager Jim Malloy accepts LexSeeHer's donation of the granite plaza as Phase 1 of the installation concludes. Select Board Chair Joe Pato, and Select Board members Doug Lucente, Jill Hai, and Mark Sandeen sign as witnesses, along with David Pinsonneault, Director of Public Works for the Town of Lexington.
May 15, 2024: LexSeeHer presents the Unveiling Ceremony for the Lexington Women's Monument: "Something Is Being Done."
May 18, 2024: at the Dedication Day ceremony, LexSeeHer donates the completed monument. Select Board Chair Doug Lucente accepts on behalf of the Town, and witnesses include sculptor Meredith Bergmann, Jill Hai and Mark Sandeen from the Select Board, State Senator Mike Barrett, and State Representative Michelle Ciccolo.