Cathedral Square Friends Announce Honorary Street Naming of East Wells Street in Downtown Milwaukee for Cecilia “The Queen” Gilbert
Thursday, June 18, 2026 – 5 p.m.
Milwaukee, WI – May 27, 2026 – Cathedral Square Friends are delighted to announce that there will be a celebration for the Honorary Street Naming of East Wells Street located in downtown Milwaukee for Cecilia “The Queen” Gilbert on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The event will be held on the Southwest Corner of Cathedral Square Park starting at 5:00 p.m. and will feature several Milwaukee dignitaries, friends and family.
The effort to recognize Cecilia Gilbert with an honorary street naming has been spearheaded by Cathedral Square Friends, a board that she was an active member of beginning in 2021 until her passing in 2024. When asked why it was important to honor Cecilia in this way, Board President Dave Reid shared this: “Cecilia spent her life making Milwaukee a better place. From her 40 years at the city, to the boards she sat on, which included the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Visit Milwaukee, Black Public Relations Society, Pabst Mansion and Cathedral Square Friends, just to name a few, she moved Milwaukee forward with her passion and joy. But mainly, it’s because she was the Queen of Milwaukee.”
Cathedral Square Board Member Dan Taylor added: “Cecilia was a unique person who had an incredible ability to bring people together. For the past 30 years Cathedral Square and the East Town neighborhood were her “living room” where she lived, met people for dinner or drinks, met friends for Jazz in the Park. Her impact on the neighborhood was profound. . . . Anytime Cecilia walked in the Cathedral Square area, everyone recognized her and knew she was “holding court” somewhere near the corner of Jefferson and Wells.” The Friends have found it only fitting to honor “The Queen” in this way and keep the spirit of Cecilia alive in Cathedral Square Park, a place where she could meet old and new friends and enjoy downtown Milwaukee to the fullest.
The Honorary Street Naming of East Wells Street program will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2026, and will include remarks from:
● Welcome and Emcee – Dave Reid, Cathedral Square Friends Board President/Urban Milwaukee Publisher/Co-Founder
● Remembrance and Tribute – Tracy Stockwell, Ph.D., Professor of Communication & Technology at Alverno College
● Remarks – Alderman Bob Bauman
● Remarks – Tamara Sherie Mays (niece of Cecilia Gilbert)
● Remarks – County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman
● Followed by Ceremonial Unveiling
(Please note: Program schedule is at time of publication. For program updates, please refer to cathedralsquarefriends.org and their Facebook page facebook.com/CathedralSquareFriends)
Following the Honorary Street Naming of East Wells Street, attendees are encouraged to attend Jazz in the Park which will include a Cecilia remembrance and tribute with a live music celebration featuring the band Respect! A Tribute to the Queen of Soul! Music runs 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. in Cathedral Square Park. To learn more about Jazz in the Park and this summer’s line up, please visit: easttown.com/jazz-in-the-park/
Image courtesy of Cathedral Square Friends.
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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