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)
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Press Releases
May-10-2021
In a statement reflecting on her first year leading the Board of Supervisors, Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson thanked her colleagues for their support and collaboration, reflected on a year of firsts, and looked toward the future.
Apr-13-2021
The Committee on Parks, Energy, and Environment unanimously recommended for adoption two proposals sponsored by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson aimed at combatting climate change earlier today.
May-03-2021
With Supervisor Priscilla Coggs-Jones recently sworn-in to represent the County’s 10th Supervisory District, Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson has announced updated County Board committee assignments.
Mar-31-2021
Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson released the following statement regarding the contributions of Lilliann Paine to Milwaukee County’s efforts to dismantle institutional racism and work towards racial equity.
Apr-22-2021
The County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted two proposals sponsored by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson aimed at combatting climate change at today’s meeting.
Mar-29-2021
At last Thursday’s County Board meeting Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution introduced by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson celebrating Women’s History Month and seeking data that will aid Milwaukee County in advancing racial and gender equity for Women employees.
Apr-22-2021
The County Board of Supervisors adopted a proposal at today’s meeting to phase out single-use plastics and other non-biodegradable products from Milwaukee County facilities and parks.
Mar-25-2021
Health equity, human needs and strategic planning will be the focus of a reimagined Milwaukee County Board committee, thanks to a newly-adopted (16-1, Weishan) ordinance change proposed by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson and co-sponsored by Supervisors Shawn Rolland, Joseph Czarnezki, Jason Haas, Ryan Clancy, Sequanna Taylor and Willie Johnson, Jr.
Apr-20-2021
County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson congratulated newly elected Supervisor Priscilla Coggs-Jones on her election victory Monday and announced updated committee assignments.
Mar-24-2021
County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson will take to Facebook Live on Wednesday to discuss the success of Milwaukee County’s Small Business Recovery Initiative Grant program and provide helpful tips and insights for business owners that want to work with the County.
Apr-14-2021
The Committee on Parks, Energy, and Environment unanimously recommended for adoption a proposal to phase out single-use plastics and other non-biodegradable products from Milwaukee County facilities and parks.
Mar-23-2021
At the Kosciuszko Community Center at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson will receive a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, together with County Executive David Crowley and Milwaukee Common Council President Cavalier Johnson.
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In The News
May-03-2021
The U.S. has passed a new milestone with more than 200 million citizens vaccinated. But now, the Biden administration and health officials nationwide are refocusing their attention on vaccine hesitancy.
Mar-26-2021
The fact that the vulnerable communities in Milwaukee have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic is nothing new. The inequities in health care and resource distribution made it almost inevitable that people living in some of the poorest neighborhoods would suffer the most.
Apr-30-2021
Milwaukee County Supervisor Sequanna Taylor is sponsoring a resolution that would create a memorial for Dontre Hamilton in Red Arrow Park. Hamilton was shot and killed by a Milwaukee Police officer in the park in 2014.
Mar-23-2021
Three of Milwaukee’s top elected officials received a COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday to encourage more citizens to take advantage of the free vaccine clinics being operated by the city and the county.
Apr-27-2021
Milwaukee County plans to phase out single-use plastics and other non-biodegradable products from county-owned facilities and parks by next year. The county has also set a goal for the county Parks Department to eliminate polystyrene foam, commonly used for to-go containers and cups, in 2022.
Mar-23-2021
Milwaukee County leaders say they're keeping equity at the forefront as they encourage thousands of people across 10 ZIP codes to get the COVID-19 vaccine. To help reinforce that message, three leaders leaders got their shots on Tuesday, March 23.
Apr-24-2021
The envelope looked like any other — slightly wrinkled, a handwritten address scrawled across the front. But Jared Cain said he felt violated after looking inside.
Mar-16-2021
More than 150 small businesses in Milwaukee County's 5th Supervisory District received a total of $1.2 million on Tuesday, March 16. The grant is through the county's Small Business Recovery Initiative Grant Program. The amount is more than any other Supervisory district, according to county officials.
Apr-23-2021
This Sunday, April 25, Milwaukee will join a rapidly spreading movement of car and bike caravans calling for an end to the US economic blockade of Cuba, beginning at the Mitchell Park domes at 1 PM.
Mar-06-2021
On January 6th, we all watched as right-wing extremists, spurred on by one of the most divisive presidents in the history of the United States, attempted to reverse the results of the 2020 presidential election by attacking the U.S. Capitol, and attempting to thwart the certification of the Electoral College vote.
Apr-22-2021
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution Thursday that calls for the elimination of single-use plastic or polystyrene foam products in county facilities and parks.
Feb-16-2021
Ending Wisconsin’s cannabis prohibition is an effort being pushed across multiple fronts. While proposals are hashed out in the halls of government, and not likely to succeed while the GOP controls both Legislative branches, advocates also see the need to shift the narrative around cannabis.
Apr-19-2021
On Thursday April 22nd, also known as Earth Day, the Milwaukee County Board will consider a raft of climate and pollution related legislation.
Feb-06-2021
The Milwaukee County penalty for marijuana possession would drop from up to $500 to $1, under a proposal introduced by a group of county supervisors. “In achieving racial equity, disparities in the criminal justice system, including marijuana and paraphernalia possession laws, must be eradicated,” the resolution said.
Apr-17-2021
The Committee on Parks, Energy, and Environment has recommended adoption of two climate change combat proposals sponsored by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson, a press release announced earlier this week.
Feb-04-2021
The state's biggest county is putting off a decision on whether to continue its membership in a statewide lobbying association, a group Dane County already left over concerns that it did not represent its interests.
Apr-03-2021
Earlier this month, the U.S. House took a democracy-affirming step that is sorely needed as we confront some of the biggest threats to our rights in recent memory. It passed the “For the People Act,” a comprehensive bill that shores up voting rights and goes after corruption and secretive big spending in politics.