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, and the Milwaukee Public Museum.
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
Jul-28-2022
On Wednesday afternoon, County Executive David Crowley vetoed legislation authored by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson which would have allocated $175,000 to help establish a summer roller skating program at Red Arrow Park.
Jun-27-2022
County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson and Supervisors Felesia A. Martin, Liz Sumner, Willie Johnson, Jr., Sheldon A. Wasserman, Ryan Clancy, and Shawn Rolland issued the following statement today in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade
Jul-28-2022
Today the County Board of Supervisors adopted (13-4) a proposal by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson to allocate $50,000 to the Office of the County Clerk and Milwaukee County Election Commission to boost voter outreach and education efforts.
Jun-23-2022
Today the County Board adopted (12-6) a proposal by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson to provide funding for a summer roller skating program at Red Arrow Park.
Jul-28-2022
Today the County Board of Supervisors adopted (14-4) a resolution by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson and Supervisor Peter Burgelis to change the name of the parkway in Washington Park to Olmsted Way.
Jun-23-2022
Today the County Board unanimously adopted a proposal by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson to reimagine several standing committees to increase focus on sustainability, parks, transit, and the annual budget.
Jul-15-2022
Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson recently introduced a resolution celebrating the contributions of Frederick Law Olmsted to Milwaukee County and Washington Park by renaming the portion of Washington Boulevard in Washington Park to Olmsted Way.
Jun-22-2022
County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson will host Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and State Senator LaTonya Johnson for a tour of Milwaukee institutions, to discuss how the county, city, and state can better collaborate to meet the needs of residents, and connect on local option funding sources.
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In The News
Jul-27-2022
Voting rights activists, community organizers and elected officials gathered at the Midtown Center in Milwaukee Tuesday to mark the first day of early voting for the Aug. 9 primary election — a call to the polls that focused on the voting power of minority and marginalized communities.
Jul-19-2022
A handful of Milwaukee County supervisors are proposing the creation of a corps of young people working in Milwaukee County Parks.
Jul-27-2022
Milwaukee County Parks are in financial trouble and cutting staffing and spending isn't enough. But, high school students could be part of the solution.
Jun-24-2022
Back to Milwaukee, where city and county leaders visited several local institutions today, on June 24. Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson, Mayor Cavalier Johnson and State Senator La Tonya Johnson were a part of the tour -- starting at a Milwaukee staple -- Miss Kate's Diner.
Jul-25-2022
The Milwaukee County Board is moving to provide funding for voter outreach and education. The board’s Finance Committee approved $50,000 in funding for voter registration and outreach efforts to include a marketing campaign, a National Voter Registration Day event and voter registration kiosks with the goal of increasing turnout for the 2022 election.
Jun-07-2022
The Milwaukee County Youth Commission proposed last month by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson and County Executive David Crowley is now official. The board passed legislation to create the commission in May, and the county executive signed it this week.
Jul-25-2022
Milwaukee County leaders hope to launch an effort to promote voting and voter registration as Wisconsin residents continue to deal with the fallout of lawsuits and rule changes surrounding access to the ballot box.
May-17-2022
Milwaukee County’s top elected officials are trying to re-establish the Milwaukee County Youth Commission. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson introduced their proposal to the county board’s Intergovernmental Relations Committee Tuesday.