Chairwoman Nicholson Resolution to Combat Food Insecurity and Declare Food Apartheid as a Public Health Emergency Advanced by Full Board

MILWAUKEE – Under the leadership of Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors adopted two measures aimed at tackling food insecurity and declaring food apartheid as a public health emergency.

One of the resolutions, unanimously adopted by the board, authorizes a $150,000 appropriation transfer from the County’s contingency fund to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to provide emergency supplemental food assistance for residents affected by reductions in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as FoodShare in Wisconsin. The measure directs DHHS to partner with local organizations best equipped to distribute nutritious, perishable foods to households most impacted by the food security emergency. The department will be required to track measurable outcomes and report back to the County Board by March 2026. If community needs exceed available resources, DHHS may request additional funds during the December 2025 meeting cycle to maintain stable food access throughout the winter months.

“Food security isn’t political—it’s essential,” said Chairwoman Nicholson. “After Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency, we knew we had to act fast. This $150,000 emergency fund will go directly toward getting fresh, healthy food on tables through trusted community partners. The purpose is to bridge the gap as families head into the holiday season and take care of our neighbors who need it the most. No family should face hunger because of federal gridlock.” (this is language from her)

The other resolution, adopted (17 to 1), declares food apartheid a public health emergency in Milwaukee County, citing the ongoing crisis in neighborhoods such as Metcalfe Park, where the closure of the community’s only full-service grocery store has deepened inequities in food access. This measure builds on the County’s 2019 declaration of racism as a public health crisis, and setting a vision that by achieving racial equity, Milwaukee is the healthiest county in Wisconsin, both authored by then Supervisor Nicholson. It directs DHHS and the Office of Equity to collaborate with state, municipal, and community partners to identify interventions that address long-term barriers to food access. The legislation also directs the County to incorporate food apartheid measures into its racial equity budget tool and to report back to the Board in March 2026 with strategies for addressing food insecurity across Milwaukee County.

“Declaring food apartheid as a public health emergency acknowledges that hunger in Milwaukee County is about more than a lack of resources; it’s about inequity,” Nicholson, the first Black Latina elected Chairwoman, said. “All communities, including Metcalfe Park, deserve coordinated action to restore access to fresh, healthy, and culturally relevant food.”

Both resolutions were approved by the Board of Supervisors and will now move to the desk of County Executive David Crowley for adoption.

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.