She Speaks, She Sings, She Soars - YWCA Linda Cohen Trailblazer Series

Description

At this YWCA Lunch and Learn, we’ll take a heartfelt journey through the lives of the real women who shaped Lafayette’s early days; not the famous figures in history books, but the everyday heroes whose stories are rarely told. Claire Eagle will open by sharing powerful stories of unsung women such as cooks, teachers, and caregivers whose quiet strength laid the foundation of our community. Audrey Johnson will follow with moving song settings of one such woman's poetry, bringing her spirit to life through music. Melissa Fraterrigo will then bridge past and present, reflecting on how these early experiences echo in the lives of girls today and exploring what “girlhood” looks like in a modern Lafayette. It promises to be a powerful tribute to the women who came before and an inspiring look at the generations rising now.

Claire Eagle is the executive director of the Tippecanoe County Historical Association. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in history from the University of North Alabama and a master’s degree in historical administration from Eastern Illinois University. While not a native Hoosier, Eagle has spent the last eight years calling Indiana home.

Audrey Johnson is a mezzo-soprano with degrees from Simpson College and the University of Houston, known for roles such as Cherubino, Hänsel, and Meg. She founded Of Thee I Sing: American Heritage Through Song, a solo performance company with the mission of bringing American history to life through music. Her interactive programs have reached over 10,000 people in 10 states since 2018 and are supported by Caterpillar Inc., The Arts Federation, Arts MidWest, Humanities Iowa, the Indiana Arts Commission, and the NEA.

Melissa Fraterrigo’s memoir, The Perils of Girlhood was published by the University of Nebraska Press in Fall 2025. She is also the author of the novel Glory Days (University of Nebraska Press), and the story collection The Longest Pregnancy (Livingston Press). She teaches creative writing at Purdue University, in the Butler University MFA in Creative Writing program, and is the founder of the Lafayette Writers’ Studio in Lafayette, Indiana. Please visit melissafraterrigo.com and lafayettewritersstudio.com.