As CVI’s Boards & Commissions Coordinator, Toni works to advance CVI’s new leadership development program, the Boards & Commissions Fellowship Program. Toni recruits participants, speakers and trainers, tailors the curriculum, and facilitates the placement and ongoing support of fellows to serve on key boards and commissions.

My Story
I’m a conservation voter because our world depends on it.

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 with a father who was a beef farmer outside of Marsing, Idaho, and mother and grandmother who were teachers. 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.

Background

• BA, Psychology from University of Puget Sound
• Vallivue School District (#139) School Trustee Board Chair (2022 – present)
• Vallivue School District (#139) School Trustee Vice Chair (2016 – 2022)
• 2010 Graduate of Partners in Policymaking 
• Governor appointed member of Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities (2006-2013)
• President of DisAbility Rights Idaho (2013)
• 2020/2021 Western States Center Fellow

Interests

There is nothing more important to Toni than building relationships.  As a self proclaimed “uber-extrovert,” she seeks to find commonality in all people and feels at her core that all humans want to feel welcome.  

In her free time, Toni likes to travel, quilt, crochet, read and spend time with family. She lives in Nampa with her husband of 24 years, David, her four children (Antahn, Imani, Dante and Summer), cat (Uncle Rico) and dog (Inferno).T