Contact: Jeff Fleming, 414-286-8580

For release: Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Statement from Mayor Cavalier Johnson on the

Appointment of Luke Olson as LGBTQ+ Liaison

I am pleased to share that I have selected Luke Olson to take on a role as my liaison to the LGBTQ+ community in Milwaukee.  This is an important assignment, providing a vital link with city government for LGBTQ+ residents.  It also empowers Luke Olson to bring issues to the attention of city leaders that might otherwise have been overlooked.

Luke’s experience and advocacy make him an ideal appointee.  He currently serves in an administrative role in Milwaukee’s Department of City Development, where he coordinates legislative matters, the Milwaukee Arts Board, and the city’s Fourth of July Commission. He continues to hold leadership positions at PrideFest Milwaukee and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Milwaukee World Festival. Prior to joining city government, Luke held positions at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee where he was co-chair of the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee for LGBTQ+ Advocacy and received a 2022 Dr. P.B. Poorman Award for Outstanding Achievement on Behalf of LGBTQ+ People from the UW-System.

“I anticipate Luke will be an important voice in City Hall on issues like opportunity, discrimination, and safety for LGBTQ+ community members.”