Mayor Tom Barrett released the following statement regarding the passing of Mildred Harpole
"ll of us here at the City send our thoughts and prayers to husband Reuben and Mildred’s family and friends. Milwaukee will always remember the remarkable woman she was."
“Mildred Harpole was a powerhouse and civil rights champion in our community. Alongside her husband, Reuben, Mildred founded numerous organizations and community centers, impacting countless lives in our city.
“Mildred was no stranger to public service. As a young child in Cleveland, her mother and older sister introduced her to community work through their parish.
“When Mildred moved to Milwaukee in the early 1960s, she began working as one of the nearly 300 black teachers employed by the public school system. It was here that she witnessed, first-hand, what educational opportunities were like for African American children at this time. She voiced that Milwaukee students needed quality education, not just integrated education.
“Through her work at the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mildred promoted fairer housing standards and worked to end homelessness. The nearly four decades of service to the City of Milwaukee by this caring and intelligent woman has left an everlasting impact. The City proudly recognized the work of her and her husband in 2013 when they were awarded the Frank P. Zeidler Public Service Award for social justice and public service.
“All of us here at the City send our thoughts and prayers to husband Reuben and Mildred’s family and friends. Milwaukee will always remember the remarkable woman she was.
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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