Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AJR5 Compare Versions

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1	1	2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
2	2	LRB-2007/1
3	3	CMH:wlj
4	4	2025 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 5
5	5	February 17, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives TAYLOR, ARNEY, HAYWOOD,
6	6	STUBBS, MOORE OMOKUNDE, MADISON, GOODWIN, RIVERA-WAGNER, ALLEN,
7	7	ANDERSON, ANDRACA, BARE, BILLINGS, BROWN, CLANCY, CRUZ, DESMIDT,
8	8	DESANTO, DOYLE, EMERSON, FITZGERALD, GUNDRUM, HONG, HYSELL, J.
9	9	JACOBSON, JOERS, JOHNSON, KIRSCH, MAYADEV, MCCARVILLE, MCGUIRE,
10	10	MIRESSE, NEUBAUER, ORTIZ-VELEZ, PALMERI, PHELPS, PRADO, ROE, SHEEHAN,
11	11	SINICKI, SNODGRASS, SPAUDE, STROUD, SUBECK, TENORIO, UDELL and VINING,
12	12	cosponsored by Senators DRAKE, L. JOHNSON, CARPENTER, DASSLER-ALFHEIM,
13	13	HABUSH SINYKIN, HESSELBEIN, KEYESKI, LARSON, PFAFF, RATCLIFF, ROYS,
14	14	SMITH, SPREITZER, WALL and WIRCH. Referred to Committee on Rules.
15	15
16	16	*AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
17	17	Relating to: proclaiming February 2025 as Black History Month.
18	18	Whereas, Black History Month provides a deliberate opportunity to reflect on
19	19	the common humanity underlying all people and to raise awareness and foster
20	20	respect for the heritage and contributions of people of African descent; and
21	21	Whereas, this year marks over 400 years since the arrival of enslaved Africans
22	22	in Virginia. The existence of Africans in North America can be traced back to 1525,
23	23	and through 1866 the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade is estimated to have ensnared
24	24	more than 12 million African people, with an estimated 10 million surviving the
25	25	unconscionable Middle Passage, landing in North America, the Caribbean, and
26	26	South America; and
27	27	Whereas, Wisconsin history first references African descendants in a speech
28	28	given in 1725 by a chief of the Illinois Indians, in which he said, Xa negro belonging
29	29	to Monsieur de BoisbriantY at Green Bay; and
30	30	Whereas, on February 12, 1926, noted Harvard scholar and historian Dr.
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46	46	Carter G. Woodson founded XNegro History Week,Y and since then the United
47	47	States has recognized first Negro History Week and then Black History Month and
48	48	celebrated the ethnic and racial diversity that enriches and strengthens our nation;
49	49	and
50	50	Whereas, both enslaved and free people of African descent have participated
51	51	in every aspect of America[s effort to secure, protect, and advance the cause of
52	52	freedom and civil rights, and have stories that are an inspiration to all citizens, that
53	53	reflect the triumph of the human spirit, and that offer the hopes of everyday people
54	54	to rise above both prejudice and circumstance and to build lives of dignity; and
55	55	Whereas, people of African descent or African Americans have made
56	56	measurable differences in their respective industries, such as:
57	57	1. Elisterine Clayton — a 100-year-old Milwaukee resident who, along with
58	58	her husband Powell Clayton, was a part of building the historic Halyard Park
59	59	community. Halyard Park is one of the longest-standing African-American middle
60	60	class residential neighborhoods within Milwaukee. Elisterine owned and operated
61	61	a series of grocery stores in underserved communities and ensured that residents
62	62	had access to healthy food options within their neighborhoods. She was a part of a
63	63	pioneering group that brought Black-owned banks, medical practices, and
64	64	businesses to the Bronzeville area.
65	65	2. Paul Higginbotham — the first African-American judge to serve on the
66	66	Wisconsin Court of Appeals. He was appointed to the court by Governor James
67	67	Doyle in 2003 and was subsequently elected to the court in 2005.
68	68	3. Marcia Anderson — a retired senior officer of the United States Army
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93	93	Reserve from Beloit, Wisconsin. The first African-American woman to become a
94	94	major general in the United States Army Reserve.
95	95	4. Dr. William Rogers — a historian and educator, who was an integral part of
96	96	the formation of the Black Radio Network, was an African studies educator, and
97	97	made significant contributions to the study of Black life, civil rights, and social
98	98	justice.
99	99	5. Anthony McGahee — a celebrated gospel musician, choir director, and
100	100	pillar of Milwaukee[s artistic and musical community. As the leader of XAnthony
101	101	McGahee and Praise Motivated,Y he has spent over 27 years inspiring audiences
102	102	with soul-stirring performances and a commitment to musical excellence.
103	103	McGahee is also a proud member of the renowned gospel group XRicky Dillard and
104	104	New G.Y Through his music ministry, he has not only uplifted congregations but
105	105	also created opportunities for local artists, mentored emerging talent, and brought
106	106	national attention to Milwaukee[s vibrant gospel music scene. His work continues
107	107	to leave a lasting impact on the city[s cultural landscape.
108	108	6. Shakita LaGrant-McClain — the executive director of the Milwaukee
109	109	County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), oversees a $400
110	110	million budget and more than 700 employees. She began her tenure with DHHS in
111	111	2009 and has held various roles, including program coordinator for the Disability
112	112	Resource Center. In May 2020, she was appointed interim director of DHHS and
113	113	the Department on Aging, focusing on improving service accessibility. Her
114	114	leadership emphasizes racial equity and community connection, exemplified by
115	115	initiatives like building 120 homes in the King Park area to promote BIPOC
116	116	homeownership.
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142	142	7. Victor and Dawn Barnett — the co-executive directors of the Running
143	143	Rebels Community Organization in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1980, at the age of
144	144	19, Victor founded Running Rebels to provide local youth with positive alternatives
145	145	to gang involvement, crime, and violence. He began by organizing basketball games
146	146	to engage and mentor young people, steering them toward constructive activities.
147	147	Dawn Barnett joined the organization in 1996 after learning about Victor[s work
148	148	and feeling compelled to contribute. She left her job in restaurant management to
149	149	become a community organizer with Running Rebels. Dawn and Victor later
150	150	married and have since worked together to expand the organization[s reach and
151	151	impact. Under their leadership, Running Rebels has grown to serve over 2,500
152	152	youth annually, offering programs that include mentoring, education, and
153	153	community service.
154	154	8. Dr. Samuel Coleman — a dedicated educator and advocate for equity,
155	155	currently serving as the assistant superintendent of instruction for the Oshkosh
156	156	Area School District in Wisconsin. Born and raised on Milwaukee[s North Side, Dr.
157	157	Coleman has devoted over 14 years to better public education and the roles of
158	158	government, focusing on advancing equity through advocacy, policy analysis,
159	159	strategic planning, and leadership development.
160	160	9. Gloria Rogers — a dedicated community leader and advocate in Milwaukee,
161	161	Wisconsin. She has been actively involved in various initiatives aimed at improving
162	162	the lives of residents in her community. Gloria[s work focuses on promoting social
163	163	justice, education, and economic development. She has collaborated with local
164	164	organizations to address issues such as affordable housing, access to quality
165	165	education, and workforce development. Her commitment to service has made a
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191	191	significant impact on the Milwaukee community, fostering positive change and
192	192	empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
193	193	10. Minnie L. Sims — a cherished elder in the Milwaukee community, known
194	194	for her steadfast dedication to service, mentorship, and faith. Throughout her life,
195	195	Ms. Sims has been a beacon of wisdom, guiding and inspiring those around her with
196	196	her kindheartedness and resilience. She has contributed greatly to her community
197	197	through decades of active involvement in church ministries, local initiatives, and
198	198	mentorship programs, particularly those supporting youth and families.
199	199	11. Dr. Jeanette Mitchell — a passionate developer of leaders in the Greater
200	200	Milwaukee Community. She founded the African American Leadership Alliance ]
201	201	Milwaukee (AALAM), the African American Leadership Program (AALP), and the
202	202	Neighborhood Leadership Institute (NLI). She worked for decades in the corporate
203	203	sector for AT&T, the nonprofit sector for the Helen Bader Foundation (currently
204	204	Bader Philanthropies), and as an elected official on the Milwaukee School Board,
205	205	where she served for eight years, including three terms as president.
206	206	12. Fred Reed — a key member of the NAACP Youth Council Commandos,
207	207	Reed was instrumental in the first Black Voter Registration Campaign in
208	208	Milwaukee. Throughout his distinguished career, he worked with five Wisconsin
209	209	governors and countless federal, state, and local leaders to advance civil rights,
210	210	workforce development education, and financial literacy. Notably he has made
211	211	national history and played several roles such as in shaping the framework for
212	212	Wisconsin[s Americans with Disabilities Act, and he worked for 25 years in the
213	213	Department of Financial Institutions. Reed has been honored with numerous
214	214	awards, including the ACLU[s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Milwaukee
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240	240	Times Black Excellence Award, for his unwavering dedication to justice, equality,
241	241	and community empowerment.
242	242	13. Anna Mae Robertson, — a pioneering World War II veteran, served in the
243	243	6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-female African-American
244	244	unit deployed overseas during the war. Born in Osceola, Arkansas, she enlisted in
245	245	the Women[s Army Corps in 1943 and was stationed in Europe, where her battalion
246	246	cleared a crucial backlog of mail for soldiers, processing over 17 million pieces in
247	247	record time. Robertson also worked as a hospital aide while overseas. After
248	248	returning to the United States in 1946, she lived in Milwaukee, working as a
249	249	nurse[s aide and later as a homemaker for her eight children. For decades, the
250	250	contributions of the 6888th were overlooked, but in 2022, Robertson was awarded
251	251	the Congressional Gold Medal alongside her fellow battalion members. Her legacy
252	252	continues to inspire, especially through her granddaughters, who have followed her
253	253	nursing path.
254	254	14. Dr. Dora L. Clayton-Jones — a pioneering pediatric nurse practitioner
255	255	and esteemed academic leader who has dedicated over 25 years to improving health
256	256	care for youth, particularly those with sickle cell disease. She made history as the
257	257	first African-American pediatric nurse practitioner in Wisconsin to be inducted into
258	258	the Academy of Nursing and the first to achieve tenure at Marquette University. A
259	259	passionate advocate for health equity, Dr. Clayton-Jones actively contributes to
260	260	research through the Delta Research and Educational Foundation[s 22 Researchers
261	261	workgroup and works to eliminate health disparities in underserved communities.
262	262	Initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., in 2017, she mentors others and
263	263	leads by example, creating opportunities for future generations of leaders. Her
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289	289	commitment to service and scholarship, combined with her dedication to patient
290	290	care, has earned her numerous accolades and continues to inspire her colleagues
291	291	and the broader community; now, therefore, be it
292	292	Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the Wisconsin
293	293	Legislature recognizes February 2025 as Black History Month and extends
294	294	appreciation to the above-named persons for their contributions to the state of
295	295	Wisconsin, the country, and their fellow citizens.
296	296	(END)
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