Milwaukee City Hall is currently hosting an art exhibit that pays homage to the unprecedented number of women serving on the city's Common Council. The installation titled "Growing in Numbers" celebrates the six female council members and will be on display until March 20 in the first floor rotunda at 200 E. Wells St. According to a news release, this year's Girls' Day @ City Hall, held on March 13, featured the exhibit as part of its festivities and in recognition of Women's History Month.
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, the creator and host of the annual Girls’ Day event, shared the exhibit's significance, explaining that when first elected, she was the sole woman on the Common Council. In a statement made by the City of Milwaukee, Alderwoman Coggs said, "The current Common Council is very special in that it includes the most women to ever sit on the body at one time." Having just the one woman during her initial tenure, Coggs finds it "tremendous progress" that now more than a third of the council is female.
The "Growing in Numbers" exhibit aims to inspire the next generation, showcasing to attendees of Girls' Day that their potential for leadership and decision-making in the city is palpable. The visibility of women in leadership roles, as highlighted by the display, is meant to encourage young girls to envision themselves in similar positions of influence and governance.
The display, curated by Nicole Cummings of HGA Architects & Engineering firm and assisted by Abigail Sagrero from Balloon Decorations Party Decor & Rentals, not only honors the achievements of the current female council members but also acts as a beacon for what the future could hold. "I think highlighting the diversity of the Council and the growth in female representation is important for them to see, and to show that one day they can be in our seats, and even perhaps be a part of the first female majority Council when the time comes," Alderwoman Coggs told the City of Milwaukee, reflecting on the transformative nature of representation.
