Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter ’75 to deliver Feb. 4 Convocation

Toni Carter ’75, a member of the Board of Commissioners for Ramsey County, will deliver Carleton College’s convocation address on Friday, Feb. 4, from 10:50-11:50 a.m. in Skinner Chapel. In her presentation, “Creating Healthy Communities,” she will discuss her work as a public servant and her commitment to work for communities that are typically excluded from the democratic process.

Commissioner Carter serves on the Board of Commissioners for Ramsey County, the second-most populous county in Minnesota with its seat at St. Paul, the state capitol. The first African American to ever serve on a county board in Minnesota, Carter’s interest in public service was sparked during her first year at Carleton, in 1971. She joined a busload of Carls on a trip to Mississippi, where they participated in a voter registration drive. That trip had a profound impact on her and was the foundation for her career in public service.

Committed to the delivery of efficient and effective county services, eliminating disparities in county services and systems, and raising grassroots awareness of county decision-making processes, Carter has led several Ramsey County system change efforts. These include the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, which has reduced the number of youths held at Ramsey County’s Juvenile Detention Center, and her advocacy of the proposed Central Corridor light-rail transit.

Prior to her election to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, Carter served as a member and chair of the Saint Paul Board of Education. Active in community building for over 30 years, Carter has served on numerous community boards, including the Saint Paul Planning Commission, the Metropolitan Area Library Service Agency (MELSA), the Walker West Music Academy, the West Side Community Health Center, the Saint Paul YWCA and the Jeremiah Program.

Carleton convocations are free and open to the public. Masks are required, and visitors are expected to be fully vaccinated and boosted (if eligible) or to have received a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 24 hours before attending an event. Find upcoming events and archived recordings on the Convocations website. For more information, including disability accommodations, call (507) 222-5461.