Chairwoman Nicholson-Bovell Resolution to Create Joint City-County Food Access Taskforce Recommended for Adoption
Following groundbreaking legislation declaring Food Apartheid a Public Health Emergency in Milwaukee County
MILWAUKEE — Today, the Milwaukee County Board’s Committee on Intergovernmental Relations unanimously advanced legislation authored by Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell establishing a Milwaukee City-County Joint Taskforce to Address the Food Access Crisis.
The resolution comes as more families across Milwaukee County are losing access to affordable, nutritious food following the closure of multiple full-service grocery stores in predominantly Black and underserved neighborhoods.
“Food apartheid is not an abstract problem. It is happening right now in our communities,” said Chairwoman Nicholson-Bovell. “Families should not have to take multiple bus rides, leave their neighborhood, or rely on convenience stores just to access fresh food. This is a public health issue, an economic issue, and a quality-of-life issue.”
Nicholson-Bovell emphasized that the task force is intended to strengthen and align the work already happening across Milwaukee County, not replace it.
“There are organizations, residents, growers, small businesses, and food justice advocates who have been carrying this work on their backs for years,” Nicholson-Bovell said. “Government’s role is not to replace community leadership, it’s to partner with it, support it, and continue this work long after any one elected leader is gone. This task force is about breaking down government silos, aligning resources, and building a long-term structure for collaboration and accountability.”
The joint City-County task force would bring together local government, community organizations, youth leaders, labor, researchers, small business owners, and food justice advocates to develop actionable recommendations to improve food access across jurisdictions.
The legislation also encourages Milwaukee County departments to prioritize support for community-led and locally owned grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods through the County’s Building Bridges grant program.
Today’s action builds on landmark legislation authored by Chairwoman Nicholson-Bovell with Metcalfe Community Bridges and adopted in November 2025, which declared food apartheid a public health emergency after multiple full-service grocery store closures in the Metcalfe Park Neighborhood.
“Today we are affirming that access to healthy food should not depend on your zip code,” Nicholson-Bovell said. “This task force is about building long-term, community-driven solutions that create healthier neighborhoods and ensure food is on the kitchen table.”
The resolution is expected to be considered by the full Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors at their May 28th meeting. The City of Milwaukee is expected to introduce a companion resolution in the coming weeks, reflecting recognition of the urgency of this crisis across local government.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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