Dear Neighbors,
Thank you for electing me to serve as your Milwaukee County Supervisor for a fourth term. Since I was first elected in April 2016, I have made it my mission to amplify the voices and concerns of my constituents. As your representative, I value and enjoy meeting personally with neighbors, community groups, local organizations, and businesses who are working to build a better community. You are the reason I'm here.
I am honored that my County Board colleagues unanimously re-elected me as their Chairwoman for the 2022-24 term. Milwaukee County continues to face many challenges. We're managing a revenue crisis that has forced us to cut about $30 million from the County Budget each year. We've declared racism a public health crisis and launched a strategic plan to achieve racial equity and become the healthiest county in Wisconsin. We're still confronting a second health care crisis with the COVID-19. These challenges call for intentional leadership and ongoing public engagement. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your thoughts or concerns about these and other issues.
In addition to my responsibilities as Chairwoman, I continue to serve on the boards of the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Public Museum, Wisconsin Counties Association, Clean Wisconsin, and the UW-Extension Board of Visitors. I also serve on the Board of Directors for Local Progress, a national network that supports, connects, and unites progressive local elected officials and allied organizations.
As Chairwoman, I will continue to advocate for progressive legislation and work with you to make our community a better place to live, work, and play. If you have ideas for new policies or how to collaborate with the community to advance our shared values, please let me know!
Staying connected with you is important to me. Please share any news of noteworthy events in your neighborhood or community, or events and projects that involve an organization to which you belong.
I look forward to hearing from you!
How to Contact Me
Email me
Call my office at (414) 278-4261
About Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson
Marcelia Nicholson is an award-winning activist, and the first Black woman and Latina elected as Chairwoman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. Prior to her election as Board Chair, she served as 1st Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Economic & Community Development and Intergovernmental Relations committees. She sits on the board of directors of several community and national organizations, including Local Progress, the Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin Counties Association, Clean Wisconsin, Southeastern Wisconsin Planning Commission, and the UW-Extension Board of Visitors.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Chairwoman Nicholson works to make opportunities that were given to her as a young woman growing up in 53206—one of the nation’s poorest and most incarcerated ZIP codes—available to others. Chairwoman Nicholson is a champion for working people, public education, economic development, and community empowerment. Her past work as a union activist, community organizer, and educator informs her policy and community work. She has authored and sponsored several significant pieces of legislation, including a $15 living wage ordinance, an eviction reduction program, a resolution establishing Juneteenth Day as a major holiday, and a declaration of racism as a public health crisis (Milwaukee County was the first county or municipality in the United States to do so). She has also secured funding for County parks, advocated on behalf of women of color seeking entrepreneurship, and fought for criminal justice reform.
Chairwoman Nicholson is a proud product of Milwaukee Public Schools and is an honors graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to her first election to the Board of Supervisors in 2016, she taught 4th grade at Milwaukee Public Schools. As a member of the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA), she worked to organize MTEA members and community groups for better teaching and classroom conditions. She earned recognition for her activism and dedication to Social Justice Unionism with a feature profile and cover story in the Fall 2016 edition of the National Education Association magazine.
Chairwoman Nicholson is also the Director of Civic Engagement and Independent Political Power at the Center for Popular Democracy. In her spare time, Marcelia serves as a national trainer for the Progressive Governance Academy, where she trains progressive elected officials across the country on various skills, including transitioning to public leadership and setting an agenda. She also has a passion for baking and owns her own business baking cookies, cakes, and sweets.
Notable accomplishments and recognitions:
- Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40 (2022
- Milwaukee Business Journal “Power Broker” (2020 and 2021)
- Milwaukee Democratic Party Rising Star Award (2020)
- Panelist, Democratic National Convention, Milwaukee (2020)
- Young Elected Officials Inaugural 35 under 35 (2020)
- Downtown Milwaukee Downtown Playmaker Award (2019)
- Young Elected Officials Inaugural Trailblazer Award (2018)
- Panelist, Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference (2018)
- Local Progress National Board Member (2017)
- National Working Families Party Academy Delegate to Madrid, Spain (2017)
- Center for Popular Democracy Elected Representative to World Transformed Festival in Brighton, England (2019)
- Panelist, Democratic National Convention, Philadelphia (2016)
- National Education Association (NEA) 30 Under 30 (2016)
- NEA Magazine Cover Story (Fall 2016)
All press release, newsletter and in the news content dated prior to April 18, 2022, reflects Chairwoman Nicholson representing County Supervisory District 5 prior to decennial Milwaukee County redistricting.
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Press Releases
May-12-2023
Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson is thrilled to announce the triumph of Roll Train and the Milwaukee County Parks department in making roller skating a reality at Red Arrow Park. Chairwoman Nicholson, a key advocate for establishing a roller rink in Red Arrow Park made the following statement.
Mar-30-2023
Today the Wisconsin Policy Forum released a report titled “Detour Ahead,” which outlined Milwaukee County Transit System’s (MCTS) fiscal cliff and options to avert it. The report forecasts a potential $25.7 million funding gap for MCTS as early as 2025.
Apr-21-2023
Today the County Board of Supervisors adopted a proposal from Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson asking the Office of Sustainability to develop an evaluation for capital projects’ contribution to the county's goal of carbon neutrality.
Apr-20-2023
Today the County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a plan to add multilingual captioning, notices, and agendas for County Board and standing committee meetings. The plan was set in motion by an amendment to the 2023 Milwaukee County Budget authored by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson.
Mar-16-2023
Today the Office of the Comptroller presented a five-year fiscal forecast for Milwaukee County to the Finance Committee. Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson released the following statement on the report.
Apr-20-2023
Today the County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a proposal to invest $962,303 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to improve the safety, vibrancy, and vitality of Sherman Park.
Mar-08-2023
Today, the Health Equity, Human Needs and Strategic Planning committee approved a resolution, authored by Milwaukee County Supervisor Peter Burgelis, which declares Milwaukee County’s official position of opposition to conversion “therapy”.
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In The News
May-15-2023
The ice skating rink at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee will soon be hosting roller skaters during its off-season as part of a pilot program.
Mar-24-2023
Roughly 67,000 eligible Milwaukee County residents will now benefit from a countywide push to erase crippling medical debt as a part of a new initiative sweeping the cities and counties across the United States.
Apr-21-2023
Milwaukee County now has a whopping $101 million in opioid litigation settlement recovery, after entering into a second settlement agreement with companies providing opioids.
Mar-23-2023
Dozens of local female powerhouses were honored Thursday morning at the county courthouse by the Milwaukee County Board.
Apr-19-2023
The Milwaukee County Board is poised to contribute nearly $1 million to an overhaul of Sherman Park. The board’s powerful Committee on Finance has approved approximately $962,000 for a project led by The Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club and called “Reimagining Sherman Park.”
Mar-21-2023
Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson and other local leaders discuss their priorities, the array of possibilities and challenges the county and city face, and, most generally, the prospects for the region’s future.
Mar-30-2023
The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is facing a significant financial situation in the millions. A recent study from the Wisconsin Policy Forum finds that in two years, MCTS will be looking at a nearly $26 million budget deficit that could impact riders.
Mar-01-2023
The Milwaukee County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is considering installing solar panels at its large fleet management site in Wauwatosa.