On what would have been her 101st birthday, we honor Vel Phillips- a fearless trailblazer whose profound impact on Wisconsin’s fight for justice and equality continues to resonate today. As the first Black woman on the Milwaukee Common Council, Wisconsin’s first Black judge, and the first Black woman to hold statewide office when she became secretary of state, Vel Phillips made history at every turn. Her relentless advocacy for civil rights and fair housing left an indelible mark on both our sta