BUFFALO, N.Y. — Many are still buzzing over a history-making Democratic National Convention, as the first Black and South Asian woman formally accepted the Democratic party's nomination.
Here in Western New York there are many trailblazing women who now have monuments dedicated to them.
Outside of Old Erie County Hall on Franklin Street, a trio stands.
Louise Blanchard Bethune
Bethune was the first professional woman architect in the United States and she designed the Lafayette Hotel, located in Buffalo. In addition, she was a founding member of the Buffalo Women's Wheel and Athletic Club.
Geraldine "Gawö:sid-tah" Green
Green was a member of the Seneca Nation who is known for advocating for leadership roles for women in native cultures. She met with First Lady Hillary Clinton, and she was a leader in the Newtown Longhouse.
Mary Burnett Talbert
Talbert was a human rights and civil rights advocate. She was president of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, and also vice president and board member of the NAACP. She worked toward legislation regarding anti-lynching.
Karen King, Commissioner of Public Advocacy for Erie County and the Executive Director for the Commission on the Status of Women, shared her understanding of the monuments.
"Representation matters. If we don't see ourselves reflected back in positions of power, whether it be a candidate for president or making important legislation or doing something elemental to a community what does that say? What does that say about what we value as as a community?" King said.
This is a $700,000 public art project. What is unique about these monuments is that they do not stand on a pedestal.
"We wanted the women to be approachable. We wanted you to be able to walk up. I mean, I know old George up there, He's on a platform and that's kind of an old school way, you know, to honor our people we wanted the women to be at ground level so everyone could interact with them," King said.
King stated, "Girls don't have a confidence problem. Girls have an access to resources problem."
Now, girls have the opportunity to be exposed to trailblazing women through public art project.
Karen says that more monuments are coming, but interviews are also being archived of living trailblazing women that will be launched at the Buffalo History Museum.