Supervisor Nikiya Q. Harris represents the 2nd District, which includes north side neighborhoods near McGovern Park.  She was elected to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in a special election in May 2010.  Supervisor Harris currently serves on the County Board’s Economic & Community Development Committee, the Health & Human Needs Committee, and the Transportation, Public Works & Transit Committee.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Supervisor Harris is a graduate of Washington High School.  She earned a Master’s Degree in Adult Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Education, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).  She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Helen Bader Institute of Nonprofit Management.  She is a previous Milwaukee Urban League Young Professional, where she was the Community Services Chairwoman.

Other accomplishments include serving as a member of the 2009 class of the Mayor’s MOSAIC Partnership Initiative, was named a Dr. Ronald E. McNair Fellow and studied organizational change and employees acceptance in local and county government, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Kids Matter.

Supervisor Harris was first inspired to run for public office after interning in Washington, D.C.  She returned from D.C. when she found out her mother was ill.  She then took guardianship over three younger siblings after the passing of her mother. Understanding the challenges of raising a family in Milwaukee County made running for office deeply personal for her.  She then decided to get involved at the County level to focus her legislative efforts on mass transit and public health programs. On May 25, 2010, she was elected 2nd District County Supervisor, surpassing a field of ten other candidates vying to serve on the County Board.

Prior to her election, Supervisor Harris worked at the Urban Ecology Center, where she coordinated special events and managed memberships within the fundraising department.  She was also a pre-college coordinator for UWM’s College of Health Sciences, where she helped middle school and high school students prepare for college.

Supervisor Harris appreciates the opportunity to serve the residents of the 2nd District and invites citizens to call or e-mail with their ideas, feedback and constituent requests.