February 11, 2026

County Executive Crowley, 2nd Vice Chair Coggs-Jones Celebrate the Legacy of Marcia P. Coggs During Black History Month
New dedication plaque and historical art installation now featured inside the Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center
 

MILWAUKEE – During Black History Month, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley honored the life and legacy of Marcia P. Coggs through the installation of a new dedication plaque and unveiling of a vibrant history wall inside the lobby of the Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center. County Executive Crowley joined members of the Coggs family, including Milwaukee County Board 2nd Vice Chair Priscilla E. Coggs-Jones and Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, as well as leaders from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
 
The building’s namesake, Marcia P. Coggs, was a political trailblazer and strong advocate for human needs. She was the first African American woman elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly and the first Black person to sit on the Wisconsin State Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee. She served on the Health and Human Services Committee the entire time she was in office, and many of the committees she served on were focused on children, families, and employment. Coggs was famously quoted as saying, “You cannot legislate the heart, but you can legislate laws. My mission is to work for social change. Period. When I say social change, that is self-explanatory—human needs.”
 
“Marcia P. Coggs was a trailblazer and strong advocate for healthier families and children. She was a woman of many firsts, and we all owe a debt of gratitude to her various contributions in Milwaukee County and across Wisconsin,” said County Executive Crowley. “My administration named Milwaukee County’s new health and human services center after Marcia because we share her vision for a healthier, stronger, and more prosperous Wisconsin. As our community celebrates Black History Month, I am proud we are telling the story of Marcia P. Coggs and the positive impact she had on Milwaukee County.”

“During Black History Month, we celebrate our history makers. Together, we honor the life and legacy of Marcia P. Coggs, Wisconsin’s first Black woman elected to the State Legislature and a tireless champion for children, seniors, families, veterans, the disabled, and people of color in the pursuit of equality and justice. As I walk in my grandmother’s footsteps, this tribute at the Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center, a true ‘no wrong door’ place where residents can come for help, hope, and healing, is especially meaningful,” said Supervisor Coggs-Jones. “I want to thank County Executive Crowley for his leadership and for helping make this dedication possible. Grandma lived her life guided by love, unity, and peace, and her work continues to shape our community today. This beautiful space affirms dignity for those most in need and reflects the very values she stood for every day." 
 
“At DHHS, we work every day to maintain the passion, standard, and commitment to human services that Marcia Coggs set for us. When we opened the building last summer, we said, it is more than a building, it’s a lifeline,” said Shakita LaGrant-McClain, DHHS Executive Director. “We hope that Marcia would be proud that we’ve created a community-centered space where residents can access the care, resources, and the support they need to thrive. It's an honor to celebrate Marcia P. Coggs and her family's legacy this Black History Month."
 
The Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center was the first new County building constructed in or near downtown since the Criminal Justice Facility in 1992. This is a generational investment in the delivery of high quality human services and community health. For the first time, Milwaukee County has a building designed specifically to deliver health and human services, eliminating physical barriers, creating a warm and welcoming location, and improving access for families and individuals to resources and services. The new facility is home to DHHS, while also housing a new location for NourishMKE, Milwaukee’s largest network of community food centers. 
 
The four-story, 60,000 square foot building features a warm, welcoming, and accessible first-floor entry point for residents needing information or access to services. As it has been for more than 50 years, this facility will continue to be a trusted location to access services in the King Park neighborhood with the inherent benefits of walkability and public transportation. In June 2025, County Executive Crowley joined community leaders to celebrate the grand opening of the Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center.
 
The new Marcia P. Coggs Center advances the County’s vision of becoming the healthiest county in the state through the pursuit of equity in all measurable areas and improved accessibility of health and human services. This building’s location adjacent to the Mental Health Emergency Center represents a significant investment in the King Park neighborhood. Along with the nearby construction of 120 single-family homes to expand homeownership opportunities and recent upgrades to the nearby Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Milwaukee County is pursuing unprecedented economic development in the neighborhood.
 

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