28 Days of Black History
February is Black History Month, and in many ways, that history is still being written today. Again this year, in an effort to honor those notable individuals who have played a role in Black History that has touched Milwaukee, the Common Council has launched an informational campaign to spotlight several key Milwaukee Black History makers who will be profiled on the City of Milwaukee website’s main page and on the City Channel. The prominent online and broadcast spots will give students and Milwaukeeans across the city a chance to learn about – and to honor – some of the city’s notable and unsung heroes
Past honorees can be viewed here.
Influential Figures
Sherwin Hughes
Mr. Hughes is a longtime Milwaukee radio host, facilitating necessary conversations with and for the greater Milwaukee community. Prior to his radio career, he worked in the nonprofit and government sectors at several entities including the YMCA, Milwaukee Public Schools, Mayor Tom Barrett’s administration, and the Wisconsin State Elections Board. He has also worked for political consulting and policy advocacy groups. On the airwaves, he hosted “the Forum” on WNOV from 2012-2018 and since 2021 has led “The Truth With Sherwin Hughes” on 101.7 The Truth.
Tomira White
Ms. White is chef and owner of Delicious Bites bakery and catering, a business that she started by renting commercial kitchen space in the Sherman Park food incubator Upstart Kitchen. From there, Delicious Bites has grown into its own space, and White has been able to give back to the community through hosting fundraisers and running a donation-based program for educators called #FeedTheTeachers. Her creativity, determination, and self-expression are also evident beyond the kitchen through her talent for fashion design.
Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell
Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nicholson-Bovell was first elected in 2016 and quickly rose in leadership, becoming Vice-Chair in 2018 and was chosen by her peers to take the top spot in 2020. She is the first Black Latina and woman of color to lead the body, and during the 2024-2026 term she presided over the Board’s first-ever female majority. A Milwaukee native and former MPS teacher, the Chairwoman has led initiatives on racial equity and expanding revenue sources for the county.
Valerie Woodard
In 1986 Ms. Woodard became Milwaukee’s first female Black firefighter. When she applied, she had recently been laid off, moved with her two children from Indiana, and thought she had nothing to lose by trying. She was accepted and went through the tough training at the fire academy. During her years of service she went from actively battling fires with Station 32, Ladder 9 to becoming a fire education specialist who trained new recruits. She also enjoyed teaching children about fire safety at the Survive Alive House. She retired from the Fire Department in 2002 and passed away in 2023.
Leo Harper
Mr. Harper has lived a life of public service, starting in 1970 at the US Navy’s Great Lakes training base, where he was 1 of only 3 Black men in his cohort. In 1976 he was among the first group of Black recruits at the Milwaukee Police Academy. After 4 years of police service he joined the Milwaukee Fire Department. Over his 34 years with the MFD, he climbed more than one ladder, earning promotions to Lieutenant, Captain, and Battalion Chief. He earned a Meritorious Service award in 2004.
Bobbie Recardo
Mr. Recardo was a coach and mentor to youth living at the Milwaukee Housing Authority’s Westlawn complex. He encouraged his athletes to turn into coaches themselves to help the next generation, or volunteer other ways in their community. He stressed to them, “You don’t need to be famous or a millionaire to give back to your community.”
Velma L. Coggs
Ms. Coggs was a civil rights activist, artist, and teacher. She served as recording secretary of the Milwaukee NAACP Youth Council during the 200 consecutive days of marches for open housing. In her adult life she turned her artistic talents into a career as an art teacher and graphic designer, but also continued active service to the community by working and volunteering with social service agencies, churches, and schools. Ms. Coggs passed away in 2011, at age 64.
Judge Russell W. Stamper, Sr.
Judge Stamper served on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court for 13 years, from 1983 to 1996. Following that tenure, he continued his service as a reserve judge, filling in as needed to support the court system and ensure continuity in the administration of justice. Throughout his career he earned a reputation for evenhanded rulings and for demanding preparation and honesty in his courtroom. Beyond the courthouse, Judge Stamper has influenced Milwaukee’s civic dialogue as chairman of the Community Brainstorming Conference, a monthly public affairs forum that brings together community voices and civic leaders to address the city’s most pressing issues.
Baboonie Tatum
Ms. Tatum is co-owner of Rise and Grind Café, a business that has served business education and community connections as well as good food and coffee for 10 years. What began as a small coffee bar to teach math and business skills to MPS students quickly grew into a full-time business on Teutonia Ave., then moved to its current location on King Dr. Ms. Tatum’s leadership is evident in the intentional experiences she curates, from community-centered events to collaborations that spotlight local artists and entrepreneurs.
Geraud Blanks
Mr. Blanks is the co-founder of Culture x Design (Culture By Design), a marketing and event planning company focused on culture and creativity. Prior to this venture he spent 9 years with Milwaukee Film where he helped develop their Black Lens program, playing a pivotal role in elevating Black filmmakers, amplifying underrepresented narratives, and creating access to platforms that celebrate Black excellence in film and media. While there, he was named Chief Marketing Officer of the Year by the Milwaukee Business Journal.
Dr. Eve Hall, PhD
Dr. Hall is president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Urban League, a position she has held since 2017. Previously she held the same titles at the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, where she led the renewal of that organization. Through these roles, she has offered her expertise to programs that give individuals and families a chance to improve their lives and their community.
Rosie Caradine-Lewis
Ms. Caradine-Lewis--“Mama Rose” as she was known—was a tireless volunteer and advocate for Milwaukee’s Black community. She was active with the Milwaukee branch of the NAACP, as well as agencies and causes centered on public health, from fighting the lead paint industry in the 1970s and ‘80s to petitioning for paid sick leave for all workers.
Ralph H. Metcalfe
Many public spaces in Milwaukee have been named for Mr. Metcalfe, a graduate of Marquette University and track star who was considered the world’s fastest human in 1934 and 1935. He competed in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics, winning multiple medals at each, including gold in the 4x100 relay with teammate Jesse Owens. In the 1950s he entered politics as a Chicago alderman and then served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he helped organize the Congressional Black Congress.
Arlisia McHenry
Ms. McHenry began her career with Lockheed Martin as a deputy project director. When the company moved her position out of state, she went to work for her hometown as a legislative assistant for the Milwaukee Common Council. She supported four alderpersons, including two Council Presidents, helping advance constituent services and policy priorities citywide. Her work has consistently focused on strengthening community engagement and connecting residents with local government. More recently she has worked as a liaison officer for Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
Dr. Dr. Ahmed “Baba” Mbalia, PhD
Dr. Mbalia, who passed away in 2017, was a senior lecturer in UWM’s Department of Africology, now called the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies. For 27 years he also brought lessons of history and culture to people of all ages as an organizer of Milwaukee’s Garveyfest, an annual celebration of Marcus Garvey and the Pan–Africanism movement. Like Garvey, he sought unity and connection among all people of African descent worldwide.
Dr. Jaqueline Howell, MD
Dr. Howell was a dedicated and trailblazing physician. As one of the only—perhaps THE only—Black female pediatrician practicing in Milwaukee for many years, she inspired many of her young patients—and her own daughter—to follow in her footsteps. A gifted student who graduated from high school at age 15, she earned bachelor and medical degrees at Howard University in her native Washington, D.C. She retired from medicine in 2012, and passed away in June 2025 at age 94.
Homer Blow
Mr. Blow has been a local radio personality and DJ for more than 30 years, starting on the air in 1991 at WNOV. Besides playing music, he has used his platform to make a significant and positive impact on the community through his generosity, and also by giving residents an opportunity to speak out. For almost as long as his radio career, Mr. Blow has hosted a huge annual birthday party to give kids an experience of stress-free fun, games, food, and prizes. Mr. Blow now streams from his own online radio station, Blowradio.com.
Mikel Holt
Mr. Holt is a journalist, pundit, and co-founder of the Milwaukee Community Journal, a weekly newspaper covering the city’s diverse Black community that has been printing since 1976. In 1979 he co-founded the Wisconsin Black Media Association to support Black journalists in a mostly white profession and also help media more accurately reflect the communities they serve. His regular appearances on Charles Sykes’ radio and TV programs helped him reach an even wider audience. He was inducted into the Milwaukee Press Club Hall of Fame in 2017.
Travis Landry
Mr. Landry is regional vice president for WestCare Wisconsin, the state branch of a worldwide group of nonprofit organizations that provide a variety of social services, particularly to at-risk youth. Mr. Landry started working for WestCare as a building contractor in 2010 with the late Dr. James White. His current work focuses on helping young people learn practical trades and soft skills through programs and service projects. He and his cousin Marcus have also run a Saturday basketball camp, teaching young Black men interpersonal skills along with the game’s fundamentals.
Chief Judge Carl Ashley
Judge Ashley has spent over 24 years on the bench, first elected to Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 1999. In 2023 the Wisconsin Supreme Court appointed him Chief Judge of the First Judicial Circuit. In his long career he has worked as a public defender, in a solo private practice, and in every court division, winning several awards along the way. While he adheres to the law, he is committed to seeing those who come before him as people whose lives he will greatly affect, and takes that responsibility seriously.
Mark Sain
For 28 years Mr. Sain served the city in the Milwaukee Fire Department, rising in the ranks from firefighter to Assistant Chief. After his MFD career he was elected to the Milwaukee School Board in 2011 and served as board president from 2016-2019. For many years he also held a seat on the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees, and was instrumental in building the new King Drive branch. He passed away in November at age 66.
Verlin Walker
Mr. Walker serves as an Outreach Worker with 414LIFE, bringing a strong commitment to community safety, relationship building, and violence interruption throughout Milwaukee. In his work he engages directly with community members, responds to crisis situations, and helps mediate conflicts before they escalate. He is recognized for his deep understanding of neighborhood dynamics and his ability to build trust quickly, skills that help lead to community-based ideas to reduce violence.
Adrian Spencer
Ms. Spencer is Deputy Director of Rooted & Rising-Washington Park, a community resource center and gathering place for the Washington Park neighborhood. There she has led planning efforts for quality housing, food security, youth development, and public safety. Earlier in her career she launched and managed programs for the neighborhood empowerment organization Safe & Sound.
Viola Rembert
Ms. Rembert is an experienced nonprofit executive focused on the causes of literacy, health, and meeting the needs of families. While at the YMCA of Metro Milwaukee, she worked as the Director of Black Achievers, helping prepare hundreds of students for college and life after high school. For the past 15 years she has served as the Executive Director of HeartLove Place, and she is also a member of the Zonta Club of Milwaukee, a service and scholarship organization whose goal is to make the world a better place for women and girls.
Michael McGee Sr.
Mr. McGee was elected to two terms as an alderman on the Milwaukee Common Council from 1984-1992. Believing that disparities within the city were not being sufficiently addressed and needed dramatic attention, he used a confrontational style and blunt words that drew national notice. In 1990 he organized the Black Panther Militia, an activist group that continued to push for reforms through the decade. After politics, Mr. McGee took to the airwaves as a successful talk radio host.
Officer Isaac King
After an early life marked by challenges, Officer King committed to a career of public service and youth advocacy out of gratitude for help he had received. After roles with social service organizations, he now serves in the Milwaukee Police Department, where he is currently assigned to the Community Partnership Unit in District 3. There, he continues to mentor youth and also fellow officers.
Tracy Dent
For nearly 20 years, Mr. Dent has been a steadfast advocate for violence prevention, youth safety, and mental health awareness. He has served as a "boots on the ground" leader at crime scenes and community crises, but also as a policy advocate in the halls of government. Recognizing that economic opportunity is a key factor in crime prevention, he has organized large-scale community job fairs and expungement clinics, helping hundreds of residents clear prior records to secure employment and housing.
Melissa Buford
Ms. Buford is the Director of the Office of African American Affairs for the City of Milwaukee, an appointed position she has held since February 2025. The office champions initiatives centered on education, mental wellness, public health, and economic empowerment, with a goal of strengthening and uplifting Milwaukee’s African American community. Outside of work she serves on multiple boards and committees that promote economic growth, advocacy, and cultural enrichment