BOISE, ID – On October 1st, Conservation Voters for Idaho Education Fund will open the application process for Idaho residents to participate in the 2024 Boards & Commissions Fellowship program.
The Boards & Commissions Fellowship program, which is entering its fourth year of operation, was created to educate and encourage individuals that are part of marginalized communities to enter decision-making spaces through roles with local boards and commissions. It is currently the only program of its kind in the state of Idaho.
“Democracy is only healthy when there is active participation of all members of the community,” said Toni Belknap-Brinegar, CVI’s Boards & Commissions Coordinator and the creator of the program. “Many members of marginalized communities don’t have role models in public decision making spaces and this program gives them the tools to feel confident to lead.”
The Boards & Commissions Fellowship has graduated over 60 individuals over the course of three years, with many participants moving into local leadership positions after their training. Former participants include Shari Baber, the current Vice President of Boise’s Parks and Recreation Commission, and Trish Walker, who founded the Idaho Black Community Alliance shortly after completing the fellowship.
“The Boards and Commissions program changed my life,” said Shari Baber, graduate of the first fellowship in 2021. “Toni told me that I was already a leader and then she told me to show up just how I am and I’ve been doing that ever since, even in my role as the first Black woman to serve as Boise Parks and Recreation Vice President.”
The fellowship program incorporates in-person and online training sessions, one-on-one mentorship, and networking opportunities to educate participants on the requirements of participating in local public offices like school boards, planning & zoning commissions and more. Fellows are educated on the basics of how to serve on a public board, such as Idaho Open Meeting Law, parliamentary procedure and practice, communication and relationship-building skills, and more. The program also includes conservation-focused topics including energy, open space management, environmental justice, and more. The fellowship doesn’t not require any prior experience in public service or leadership to participate.
“The program has been successful because the participants receive a multi-tiered approach: learning from local experts, support from their peers and support from a leader in the community with a similar background and identity,” said Belknap-Brinegar. “These three factors give them the tools necessary to make the hard decision to step into spaces they never thought they would be before.”
This year, the Boards & Commissions Fellowship program will be held in-person within the Treasure Valley from March 2024 to August 2024, welcoming participants within the area as well as from the Wood River Valley and Magic Valley with financial assistance. Individuals who are interested in participating can apply at cvidaho.org/boards-commissions/ between October 1st and October 31st.
Conservation Voters for Idaho Education Fund recruits new participants for Boards & Commissions Fellowship
CVIEF accepting applications for fourth year of leadership training series for Idahoan members of marginalized communities
BOISE, ID – On October 1st, Conservation Voters for Idaho Education Fund will open the application process for Idaho residents to participate in the 2024 Boards & Commissions Fellowship program.
The Boards & Commissions Fellowship program, which is entering its fourth year of operation, was created to educate and encourage individuals that are part of marginalized communities to enter decision-making spaces through roles with local boards and commissions. It is currently the only program of its kind in the state of Idaho.
“Democracy is only healthy when there is active participation of all members of the community,” said Toni Belknap-Brinegar, CVI’s Boards & Commissions Coordinator and the creator of the program. “Many members of marginalized communities don’t have role models in public decision making spaces and this program gives them the tools to feel confident to lead.”
The Boards & Commissions Fellowship has graduated over 60 individuals over the course of three years, with many participants moving into local leadership positions after their training. Former participants include Shari Baber, the current Vice President of Boise’s Parks and Recreation Commission, and Trish Walker, who founded the Idaho Black Community Alliance shortly after completing the fellowship.
“The Boards and Commissions program changed my life,” said Shari Baber, graduate of the first fellowship in 2021. “Toni told me that I was already a leader and then she told me to show up just how I am and I’ve been doing that ever since, even in my role as the first Black woman to serve as Boise Parks and Recreation Vice President.”
The fellowship program incorporates in-person and online training sessions, one-on-one mentorship, and networking opportunities to educate participants on the requirements of participating in local public offices like school boards, planning & zoning commissions and more. Fellows are educated on the basics of how to serve on a public board, such as Idaho Open Meeting Law, parliamentary procedure and practice, communication and relationship-building skills, and more. The program also includes conservation-focused topics including energy, open space management, environmental justice, and more. The fellowship doesn’t not require any prior experience in public service or leadership to participate.
“The program has been successful because the participants receive a multi-tiered approach: learning from local experts, support from their peers and support from a leader in the community with a similar background and identity,” said Belknap-Brinegar. “These three factors give them the tools necessary to make the hard decision to step into spaces they never thought they would be before.”
This year, the Boards & Commissions Fellowship program will be held in-person within the Treasure Valley from March 2024 to August 2024, welcoming participants within the area as well as from the Wood River Valley and Magic Valley with financial assistance. Individuals who are interested in participating can apply at cvidaho.org/boards-commissions/ between October 1st and October 31st.