Reimagining Our City's Future

An honest reflection by Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey on his monumental election, the successes and tribulations of his first year in office, and his plans and priorities for ushering the city of La Crosse into an unprecedented era.

As a son of the soil raised in the city of Milwaukee, Shaundel Washington-Spivey made history as the first Black mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin on April 1, 2025. A proud two-time graduate of the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (UWL), he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s in Student Affairs Administration. He also earned a Master's in Mental Health Counseling from Viterbo University.

Washington-Spivey co-founded and served as the Executive Director of Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.), a nonprofit that empowers Black youth, families, and professionals by focusing on skill-building, mental health, academic success, social justice, and economic and social mobility.

He has long been dedicated to the city’s youth, having served as the Cultural Liaison for the La Crosse School District, Director of UWL’s Upward Bound program, College Connections Manager at Western Technical College, and a member of the La Crosse Board of Education. Washington-Spivey currently serves on Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion, along with several regional boards and committees.

Washington-Spivey has earned regional recognition, including the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award, 2021 TRIO Achiever Award, and UWL 2024 Morgan Improving Lives Alumni Award. In 2022, he was also selected as one of the Most Influential Black Leaders in Wisconsin. As mayor, he leads with empathy and a lifelong commitment to inclusive governance, prioritizing equitable access to resources, community safety, civic engagement, and cross-sector collaboration with academic institutions and public and private businesses and organizations.