Leading Mentors: Sue Minter Shares her Journey to Building and Strengthening Communities

Building and strengthening communities is a key theme that resonates throughout Sue Minter’s journey in public service.  Ms. Minter got started early, crediting her roots in public service and community in the values taught to her through her high school, which embodied Quaker values.  She was encouraged to take an active role in advocacy and policy, participating in rallies against nuclear weapon use. Her passion for public service continued during her undergraduate career at Harvard University, where she protested apartheid and worked on a recycling initiative in Boston.

Wanting to hone in on the issues facing her own community, Ms. Minter went on to study planning in graduate school, and went on to work for a variety of non profit organizations and then for the state of Vermont department of Community Planning and Revitalization.  She was also a member of the Planning Commission of the town of Waterbury.

Ms. Minter encourages young women to listen to the voice inside them if it guides them to run for office.  This very sentiment led Ms. Minter to run for public office, and serve in the Vermont House of Representatives for six years.  While in this role, she served on the Transportation Committee. Following her term as a representative, she was appointed to the role of Secretary of Transportation, a role that built on her experience in building communities.  A particularly compelling experience was the part she played in rebuilding communities after Hurricane Irene. The 2011 storm cut off power to over 13 communities, and 500 roads were wiped out. Despite this devastation, Ms. Minter found that finding strength in neighbors and the resilience of communities was especially gratifying.  She felt that the community came out with a deeper understanding, focused on smart growth and moving away from dependency.

My conversation with Ms. Minter was particularly uplifting because she has such hope for the future generation of young people, and especially women.  She encourages young women looking for careers in public service to “claim [their] voice and role.” As evidenced by her own career, there are so many vital roles in public service, and it is possible to hold many over the course of your career.  “We need people and we need women. Be bold, stand up, listen to the voice inside you, and reach far. If there was ever a time to serve the public good – it’s now!”