Ashanti Hamilton
In August 2022, Ashanti Hamilton accepted the position of Director of Office of Violence Prevention. Director Hamilton brings a long history of working directly with community to implement successful, neighborhood-level violence interruption programs, such as 414Life. In bringing this experience to his new role, Director Hamilton understands the importance of addressing violence as a public health issue and focusing on prevention by addressing the social determinants of health. with the City of Milwaukee with the focus of partnering with organizations to help curb violence in the community.
Alderman Ashanti Hamilton was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council in 2004 and most recently re-elected by an overwhelming margin in 2020.
On April 19, 2016, Alderman Hamilton was elected by his peers to serve as the 48th known president of the Milwaukee Common Council. At that time, he was the fourth African American in city history to serve in that role.
Throughout his tenure on the council, Alderman Hamilton has written and introduced key legislation including the Milwaukee Opportunities Restoring Employment (MORE) ordinance and the Milwaukee Promise, which was established in 2011 to address poverty, disparities and inequality.
Alderman Hamilton has implemented and supported programs like Be the Change (BTC), a comprehensive program that supports the development, success and achievement of young men of color in Milwaukee. He was also the driving force behind the Milwaukee Promise Zones initiative, which was created to strengthen revitalization efforts in the city’s poorest neighborhoods through the collective input and efforts of community stakeholders, reducing violent crime, improving educational opportunities and creating jobs.
Alderman Hamilton sponsored the Milwaukee Jobs Act, which developed a comprehensive set of policies related to job creation, job opportunity, job quality and job security for Milwaukee residents, establishing a unified strategy to address the crippling joblessness in the City of Milwaukee and the lack of family-sustaining jobs for Milwaukee workers.
Alderman Hamilton co-chairs the Black Male Achievement Advisory Council, the goal of which is to address issues of unemployment and under-employment of African-American men in the City of Milwaukee.
Alderman Hamilton has served on numerous boards and commissions throughout his tenure on the council. He served as president of the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees, fostering growth and financial stability. He is a standing board member of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Northwest Side Community Development Corporation, the Wisconsin Center District and the National League of Cities. He also serves on the Milwaukee Area Technical College Board of Directors.
Alderman Hamilton has been instrumental in the ongoing revitalization of the 30th Street corridor and the development of Villard Library Square.
Alderman Ashanti Hamilton is a proud graduate of Riverside University High School, and earned his bachelor’s degree in English at Marquette University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He participated in the Upward Bound program and worked in Marquette’s Educational Opportunity Program. After graduation, he went on to teach English, and he coached track and football.
He earned his law degree from Thurgood Marshall Law School at Texas Southern University.
Alderman Hamilton is married to Rosha Hamilton, and they are the proud parents of five daughters, two of whom are already in college.
