Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson

Chats With the Chairwoman

Exploring Topics on Race & Racism

Will be scheduled for March 2021

"Black women discuss racism, colorism and erasure"

With special guests: 

• Stephanie Morales, Commonwealth Attorney, Portsmouth, Virginia (a Commonwealth Attorney is the equivalent of a District Attorney in states like Wisconsin.)
• Shavonda Sisson, Program Director of Ally and Alumni Experience, Public Allies Milwaukee
• Elle Halo, Health Connections, Inc

The Chairwoman will continue to hold monthly chats on issues related to racial equity in 2021.

Previous Chats

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020

"The Unique Challenges of Being a Black Leader" 

• Angela Lang, Black Leaders Organizing Communities
• Wes Bellamy, Author and former Vice Mayor of Charlottesville, NC
• Wanda Montgomery, President, Village of Brown Deer
• David Bowen, WI State Representative (District 10)
• Vaun Mayes, Community Task Force, Milwaukee
• Arnitta Holliman, Office of Violence Prevention, City of Milwaukee Health Department

View the video on Facebook

Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020

2021 Budget Listening Session

View the video on Facebook

Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020

2021 Budget Listening Session

Map of the 5th Supervisory District

(click to view full size)

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, WI, 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 local 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 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. 

As the current Vice President of Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Organization, Marcelia engages political leaders in the Fight for $15 and a Union, while connecting disenfranchised Milwaukeeans to good family-sustaining jobs, union representation, career development, and the halls of government. 

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 Democratic Party Rising Star Award (2020)
• Panelist, Democratic National Convetion, 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)