Westown in Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Vel R. Phillips Plaza

Civil Rights/Later Life/Leading Change/Memories

East panel: Civil Rights image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, March 29, 2025

1. East panel: Civil Rights

Inscription.

Vel R. Phillips Plaza. Civil Rights/Later Life/Leading Change/Memories. , Civil Rights. 1960 Delegate Phillips In its July 21, 1960, issue, Jet magazine covered Vel Phillips' fiery participation at the 1960 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Los Angeles. Vel was a Democratic National Committee member from Wisconsin and the first African American elected to the DNC., She pushed for the adoption of a strong civil rights plank and tangled with Florida's Senator Spessard Holland, who sought "moderation and understanding." She asked him how the party would gain the respect of the world or even the country by drafting a weak civil rights platform. Jet reported that her speech "gained tremendous applause" and marked her official entrance in national Democratic Party affairs., Vel told the story of her interaction with President John F. Kennedy. In a quiet moment alone, he admitted to her that he didn't really know any African Americans. It was a bold admission and one that gained a measure of her trust., 1961 Fair Housing Activism In 1961, Alderwoman Vel Phillips joined the sit-in group at the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda to support bills before the Legislature that would ban racial discrimination in housing. Vel remained at the sit-in for four hours., 1966 Vel's Green Book Vel loved lending a hand or a pitch wherever needed. Although she never played in Major League Baseball, in 1954, Vel and Dale hosted Hank Aaron in their home for several months during his rookie year with the Milwaukee Braves. They later helped him find his first residence in the City. It was common in the Black community of the day to help each other connect with resources in a new city., 1967-1968 Fair Housing Marches Vel fought to end housing discrimination in Milwaukee. Vel and Father James Groppi led thousands of supporters to march for 200 straight days, from the fall of 1967 to the spring of 1968. The march ran from the north side's St. Boniface Parish, over the 16th Street viaduct and into Milwaukee's near south side., 1968 Fair Housing Act Between 1962 and 1967, Vel presented her Fair Housing Act to the Milwaukee Common Council four times and, each time, she was the lone supporting vote (1 Aye to 18 Nays). The bill finally passed in 1968, after a federal Fair Housing Act was adopted in the aftermath of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Later Life. 1971 Judge Phillips In 1971, Vel Phillips became a Milwaukee Children's Court judge, the first woman in the City and the first African American in Wisconsin to serve as a judge., 1974 and Beyond Legacy Landmarks To honor Vel's legacy, various buildings have been named in her honor, including the Vel Phillips YWCA in Milwaukee in 1974, followed by the Milwaukee Children's Court and Madison Memorial High School in Madison. In 2018, North 4th Street in Milwaukee was renamed North Vel. R. Phillips Avenue., 1978 Secretary of State Phillips In 1978, Vel became the first Black woman in the country elected to a statewide office, in this case, the Wisconsin Secretary of State., 2016 Civil Rights Trailblazer Throughout her life, Vel was known nationally as a civil rights hero and mentor. She collaborated with U.S. House Representative John Lewis of Georgia, who helped organize the March on Washington in 1963, and Judge Maxine White, the first African American woman to sit on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and to serve as its chief judge., 2022 Mentor Phillips Vel's legacy lives on in the community leaders who continue to shape Milwaukee's future. Mayor Cavalier Johnson became the first African American elected Mayor of the City of Milwaukee in 2022, 66 years after Vel was first elected to the Common Council in 1956. In 2024, eight African American's and six women followed in Vel's path, making the Common Council the most diverse in the City's history., Leading Change. Vel (2nd from left holding sign) and members of a women's brigade protest the Vietnam War and the social crisis at home during a peace parade in Washington, D.C., Ald. Phillips stood alone in support of pioneering open housing proposals., Vel celebrated the passage of fair housing law in Wisconsin., Vel (2nd from left) marched with the Milwaukee NAACP Youth Council near the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King Kr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington., Vel rides her son Michael's bike down Wisconsin Avenue., Vel R. Phillips sworn in as Milwaukee Children's Court Judge., Memories. Ald. Phillips and Angie Brooks, delegate to the United Nations from Liberia. The two were classmates at UW Law School. 1970, Judge Phillips speaks to an inmate at a Wisconsin State Prison. 1971, Ald. Phillips and Father John E. Groppi at an NAACP Youth Council rally. 1967, Vel and Coretta Scott King. King holds the book that she wrote, "My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr." 1969, Vel in the Milwaukee Common Council chambers. circa 1950s, President Jimmy Carter and Vel speak to a crowd in Milwaukee. 1979, Secretary of State-elect Vel Phillips takes the oath of office from Judge Patricia curley. 1975, Vel at her desk as Wisconsin's Secretary of State. circa 1979, Secretary Phillips outside the state Capitol. 1979, Ald. Phillips; Sister Mary Thomasita, O.S.F., head of the art department of Cardinal Stritch College; Helen C. White, professor and chair of the English Department at UW-Madison; Mrs. George Ettenheim, chair of the city plan commission; and Carol Cotter, commentator for WTMJ, being honored for outstanding public service. 1964, Ald. Phillips and Mayor Henry Maier at the dedication of the Northtown Planning and Development Council's remodeled headquarters. circa 1960s, Vel meets Bill Clinton at a rally. circa 1992, Vel at a countdown rally in Milwaukee for the Equal Rights Amendment. 1951, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Washington, the first tenants of the Lapham Park Housing Project, are presented with a ceremonial key. 1964, Vel displayed support for Martin Schreiber in his successful run for governor. 1976

Civil Rights 1960
Delegate Phillips
In its July 21, 1960, issue, Jet magazine covered Vel Phillips' fiery participation at the 1960 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Los Angeles. Vel was a Democratic National Committee member from Wisconsin and the first African American elected to the DNC.

She pushed for the adoption of a strong civil rights plank and tangled with Florida's Senator Spessard Holland, who sought "moderation and understanding." She asked him how the party would gain the respect of the world or even the country by drafting a weak civil rights platform. Jet reported that her speech "gained tremendous applause" and marked her official entrance in national Democratic Party affairs.

Vel told the story of her interaction with President John F. Kennedy. In a quiet moment alone, he admitted to her that he didn't really know any African Americans. It was a bold admission and one that gained a measure of her trust.

1961
Fair Housing Activism
In 1961, Alderwoman Vel Phillips joined the sit-in group at the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda to support bills before the Legislature that would ban racial discrimination in housing. Vel remained at the sit-in for four hours.

1966
Vel's Green Book
Vel loved lending a hand or a pitch wherever needed. Although she never played in Major League Baseball, in 1954, Vel and Dale hosted Hank Aaron in their home for several months during his rookie year with the Milwaukee Braves. They later helped him find his first residence in the City. It was common in the Black community of the day to help each other connect with resources in a new city.

1967-1968
Fair Housing Marches
Vel fought to end housing discrimination in Milwaukee. Vel and Father James Groppi led thousands of supporters to march for 200 straight days, from the fall of 1967 to the

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spring of 1968. The march ran from the north side's St. Boniface Parish, over the 16th Street viaduct and into Milwaukee's near south side.

1968
Fair Housing Act
Between 1962 and 1967, Vel presented her Fair Housing Act to the Milwaukee Common Council four times and, each time, she was the lone supporting vote (1 Aye to 18 Nays). The bill finally passed in 1968, after a federal Fair Housing Act was adopted in the aftermath of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Later Life 1971
Judge Phillips
In 1971, Vel Phillips became a Milwaukee Children's Court judge, the first woman in the City and the first African American in Wisconsin to serve as a judge.

1974 & Beyond
Legacy Landmarks
To honor Vel's legacy, various buildings have been named in her honor, including the Vel Phillips YWCA in Milwaukee in 1974, followed by the Milwaukee Children's Court and Madison Memorial High School in Madison. In 2018, North 4th Street in Milwaukee was renamed North Vel. R. Phillips Avenue.

1978
Secretary of State Phillips
In 1978, Vel became the first Black woman in the country elected to a statewide office, in this case, the

North panel: Later Life image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, March 29, 2025

2. North panel: Later Life

Wisconsin Secretary of State.

2016
Civil Rights Trailblazer
Throughout her life, Vel was known nationally as a civil rights hero and mentor. She collaborated with U.S. House Representative John Lewis of Georgia, who helped organize the March on Washington in 1963, and Judge Maxine White, the first African American woman to sit on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and to serve as its chief judge.

2022
Mentor Phillips
Vel's legacy lives on in the community leaders who continue to shape Milwaukee's future. Mayor Cavalier Johnson became the first African American elected Mayor of the City of Milwaukee in 2022, 66 years after Vel was first elected to the Common Council in 1956. In 2024, eight African American's and six women followed in Vel's path, making the Common Council the most diverse in the City's history.

Leading Change Vel (2nd from left holding sign) and members of a women's brigade protest the Vietnam War and the social crisis at home during a peace parade in Washington, D.C.

Ald. Phillips stood alone in support of pioneering open housing proposals.

Vel celebrated the passage of fair housing law in Wisconsin.

Vel (2nd from left) marched with the Milwaukee NAACP Youth Council near the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King Kr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington.

Vel rides her son Michael's bike down Wisconsin Avenue.

Vel R. Phillips sworn in as Milwaukee Children's Court Judge.

Memories Ald. Phillips and Angie Brooks, delegate to the United Nations from Liberia. The two were classmates at UW Law School. 1970

Judge Phillips speaks to an inmate at a Wisconsin State Prison. 1971

Ald. Phillips and Father John E. Groppi at an NAACP Youth Council rally. 1967

Vel and Coretta Scott King. King holds the book that she wrote, "My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr." 1969

Vel in the Milwaukee Common Council chambers. circa 1950s

President Jimmy Carter and Vel speak to a crowd in Milwaukee. 1979

Secretary of State-elect Vel Phillips takes the oath of office from Judge Patricia curley. 1975

Vel at her desk as Wisconsin's Secretary of State. circa 1979

Secretary Phillips outside the state Capitol. 1979

Ald. Phillips; Sister Mary Thomasita, O.S.F., head of the art department of Cardinal Stritch College; Helen C. White, professor and chair of the English Department at UW-Madison; Mrs. George Ettenheim, chair of the city plan commission; and Carol Cotter, commentator for WTMJ, being honored for outstanding public service. 1964

Ald. Phillips and Mayor Henry Maier at the dedication of the Northtown Planning and Development Council's remodeled headquarters. circa 1960s

Vel meets Bill Clinton at a rally. circa 1992

Vel at a countdown rally in Milwaukee for the Equal Rights Amendment. 1951

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Washington, the first tenants of the Lapham Park Housing Project, are presented with a ceremonial key. 1964

Vel displayed support for Martin Schreiber in his successful run for governor. 1976

Topics.

West panel: Leading Change image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, March 29, 2025

3. West panel: Leading Change

This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Government & Politics • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1960.

Location. 43° 2.321′ N, 87° 54.98′ W. Marker is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in Westown. It is at the intersection of W. Wisconsin Avenue and N. Vel R. Phillips Avenue, on the right when traveling east on W. Wisconsin Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 W Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee WI 53203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Vel R. Phillips Plaza (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Vel R. Phillips Plaza

South panel: Memories image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, March 29, 2025

4. South panel: Memories

(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Indian Village Site (about 400 feet away); Historic Milwaukee (about 400 feet away); Carl Frederick Zeidler (about 500 feet away); Straus Building (about 500 feet away); Birthplace of China-Burma-India Veterans Ass'n. (about 600 feet away); Milwaukee Interurban Terminal (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.

Civil Rights/Later Life/Leading Change/Memories marker (left) at Vel R. Phillips Plaza image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, March 29, 2025

5. Civil Rights/Later Life/Leading Change/Memories marker (left) at Vel R. Phillips Plaza

Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 57 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 28, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.