Janesville council proclaims February 2025 Black History Month; Boys & Girls Club recognized

The Janesville Common Council on Feb. 10 adopted Resolution 2025-2312 proclaiming February 2025 as Black History Month in the city of Janesville and presented a recognition to the Boys & Girls Club.

The resolution was read aloud during the meeting and cites the historical contributions of Black Americans locally and nationally, including the role of Ezekiel Gillespie and the Wisconsin Supreme Court case Gillespie v. Palmer that the resolution says advanced Black male suffrage following actions in 1849. A motion to adopt the resolution was made by Council member Squire and seconded by Council member Williams; the measure passed unanimously.

Following the vote, representatives from the Boys & Girls Club came forward to accept the recognition. Chesidy McDaniels, identified in the meeting as the club’s elementary program manager, thanked the council and city leadership for the proclamation and said the organization remains focused on reducing opportunity gaps and supporting youth who will become the city’s future workforce and leaders.

The city clerk’s record shows the resolution as Resolution No. 2025-2312. The transcript of the meeting records a short expression of support for the proclamation from the council before the vote; that remark was not tied to a single named speaker in the public record.

The council took the action during its regular meeting and then moved on to additional agenda items and recognitions.