FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
An Acclaimed Musician, a County Cultural Plan, a Grant Program, and a Shared Vision for More Community Art: How a Plan to Involve 250 Local Residents in a Music Video Was Born

AKRON / SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio, July 14, 2026 - Songwriter Jen Maurer uses an Arts Forward grant to craft a bold, interactive art project to offer Summit County Residents the opportunity to be in-the-scenes and/or behind-the-scenes of a Hollywood-level music video, to be filmed locally over three days in August, 2026.
 

     When Jen Maurer first sat down to write an application for this Summit County grant in 2025, she didn’t begin with wildly ambitious plans. She simply wanted to do something that would help her spotlight one her original songs that helped her win a 2024 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award in Composition. 

     But the more Jen read about the Akron/Summit County Cultural Plan spearheaded by Arts Now,  a local arts organization, the more her original idea morphed into something bigger. How could she spotlight her music AND bring art making to the larger community, especially marginalized groups that can be overlooked in art projects? 

     Jen thought to herself, “Well, most everyone has seen a high production music video, but how many people have actually been in one or worked on one? What if we could make one together?”

     Jen meticulously crafted a plan to safely involve at least 250 residents (aged 18 and over) in a positively-themed music video for her soon-to-be released Americana/Indie Folk song, Lift Me, and was awarded $23,000 to bring the music video and documentary to life. And so was born the Lift Me Community Music Video and Documentary Project, nicknamed the “Lift Me Project.”

     Now Jen is looking for a broad representation of Summit County volunteers to come be in the video or help on set. 

     When asked about who exactly she’s looking to include, Jen says, “I’ve traveled the world as a musical ambassador for the State Department. Nine countries total. But I find that the world is actually right here, in Summit County. We’ve got so many wonderful communities that should be represented in this video, so please come be represented! I really want everyone to feel like they can play a part. No experience in the arts/music is needed. Come solo, with your partner, or with a group. All you need to bring is a smile and some love in your eyes.” 

     Filming for the video takes place over Aug. 22-24, at a secret filming location within Summit County. Anyone interested can participate three ways: by being in the video, helping behind the scenes, or by hosting an activity on site to entertain/educate participants while they wait their turn on camera. A 3-hour time commitment is preferred.

     The follow up documentary of the video making process is meant to be a free educational tool for artists and non-artists alike to learn about the effort that goes into this kind of art. 

     Visit liftmeproject.org to sign up or get more information on the song (the recording, the lyrics, the song history); the crew leading the filming; FAQ; etc.
 

About the Grantee, Jen Maurer: 
     Jen Maurer has been a Northeast Ohio musical standout for over 30 years. She is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter.  Her genre defying sound has elements of Folk, Country, Americana, old-school Blues, and Indie Rock, with an emphasis on lyrical storytelling.

     Jen loves engaging with people of all ages. She served as a U.S. Musical Ambassador to nine countries via the U.S. State Department with the Zydeco-based band, Mo’ Mojo. She was a teaching artist in the Cleveland Public Schools for 11 years, helping students learn curriculum (especially for standardized testing) through song-writing. And she was a Zydeco/Cajun specialty music programmer on the Summit FM, a radio station based out of Akron, OH for 16 years. She is most known in the area for her solo or duo work, or for playing with Mo’ Mojo or The Rhondas.

Follow the Lift Me Community Video Project for updates and more:
www.liftmeproject.org
https://www.facebook.com/LiftMeCommunityMusicVideo/
 

Read about the Akron/Summit Cultural Plan:
https://ourculturalplan.com/public-priorities
 

For media inquires, please contact Jen Maurer at liftmeprj@gmail.com or (330) 388-4530