We’re so excited to introduce a new member of the CVI team! Please join us in welcoming Toni Belknap-Brinegar, our new Boards & Commissions Coordinator.
As the Boards & Commissions Coordinator, Toni will be launching our brand new program – the Boards & Commissions Fellowship Program – which aims to increase diversity and representation on boards and commissions across Idaho. Toni will recruit participants, speakers and trainers, tailor the curriculum, and facilitate the placement and ongoing support of fellows to serve on key boards and commissions. We’re so thrilled to have Toni join the team here at CVI!
Toni grew up in the rural wild of Idaho – Homedale, Idaho, which is located in Owyhee County. She enjoyed the freedom that came from growing up on a beef farm outside of Marsing, Idaho. She participated in 4-H activities, sports, and music throughout high school, and graduated with honors as the first Black Student Body President at Homedale High School.
Recently, she worked for five years for the State of Idaho within the Council on Developmental Disabilities working towards systems change, capacity building, and advocacy for Idahoans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This included coordinating a leadership development program called Partners in Policymaking. Partners in Policymaking is an eight-month, evidenced-based leadership development program that started in 1987 in Minnesota. It serves to train individuals on how to interact with decision makers and help them gain the confidence they need to become advocates in their home communities. When Toni attended Partners in 2009/2010, she was very inspired by the variety of information she learned and when the opportunity to apply for an appointment on the local school board, she had the skills necessary to serve and be an advocate for students and families in her local area. Toni is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Vallivue School District and a member-at-large for the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. She has served as a Governor appointed member of the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, Women of Color Alliance board, and various other boards and committees throughout her tenure in Idaho.
As a lifelong learner and someone who enjoys a challenge, Toni is excited to join Conservation Voters for Idaho as the new Boards & Commissions Coordinator and learn more about conserving wild lands in Idaho. She is also looking forward to the opportunity to help individuals to gain the skills and confidence necessary to engage in decision making while on boards and commissions in Idaho.
On her off time, Toni likes to read, quilt, crochet and spend time outdoors. She lives with her three children, husband, dog, and cat in Nampa, Idaho.