The state Capitol celebrates a prominent Wisconsin African American trailblazer, Vel Phillips. In November, the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board approved the statute of Phillips. It is expected to be placed on the Capitol grounds at the corner of West Main Street and South Carroll Street in late 2022 or early 2023.

In 1951, Velvalea Phillips became the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School, and in 1956, she became the first woman and first African American on the Milwaukee Common Council.

Phillips went on to become the first African American woman to become a judge in Wisconsin. And later, made history as the first African American woman elected statewide when she was voted in as secretary of state in Wisconsin.

You can read more about the commemoration here.