Sarasota County School Board member to work with leadership to expand focus of LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit
The Project Pride SRQ board has named Tom Edwards the organization’s new executive director; he officially took the helm on Aug. 4, Project Pride SRQ has announced.
“In his new role, Edwards will build upon the strong foundation of the LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit by leaning heavily on his reputation as a moderate” to create coalitions “that foster inclusivity and stand against the elimination of human rights for any element of the population,” a news release says.
“Edwards brings decades of proven entrepreneurial business experience to his new post, as well as his experience as a Sarasota County School Board member since November of 2020,” the release adds.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Tom as our new executive director,” said Justyn Hunter-Ceruti, president of the board of Project Pride SRQ, in the release. “His leadership, experience, and deep ties to the community will be invaluable as we step into this next chapter. I look forward to working with Tom to advance our mission and ensure that Project Pride continues to be a powerful force for inclusion, connection, and resilience in Sarasota and beyond,” Hunter-Ceruti added in the release.
“Tom brings a passion for our mission, a wealth of experience, and a dedication to advancing equity, justice and inclusion not only for LGBTQ+ people, but for all who face barriers, which our organization is committed to addressing at this pivotal time in our culture,” added Harry Cicchetti, vice president of the board, in the release.
Among the initiatives Edwards is planning is the creation of “a peer-to-peer Support Squad of students to identify bullying and mobilize around the target,” the release notes. “While not assigning blame or punishment,” the release continues, the leaders of Project Pride SRQ (PPSRQ) understand “that bullying is a reaction based in trauma and wants healing and resiliency for all involved parties,” the release says.
Although PPSRQ “has become well-known for its programs for adults and seniors,” the release points out, “Edwards hopes to add new programs for young families with LGBTQ+ members and allies. He also hopes to develop after-school programs that address critical thinking topics, particularly those that are no longer allowed to be fully explored — or are even prohibited — in area classrooms.”
“Project Pride envisions a silo-free community that is proud, resilient, and unified by shared values, not tribal policies,” Edwards said in the release. “I am so excited that Project Pride has given me this platform to do this important work.”
“PPSRQ has scheduled a pop-up town hall from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 27 at the Voco Sarasota hotel” (1223 Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota) for community residents to meet Edwards and hear more details regarding the organization’s next chapter, the release adds. “Visit PPSRQ’s website (ppsrq.org) for more details.”
The release also notes that the organization’s “popular community events” — including the Grand Carnival and Silver Pride in June and the Gulfcoast Pride Festival, which will take place on Oct. 25 — “will continue to bring allies together to celebrate success and work with joyful purpose. Edwards encourages anyone who wishes to see a more inclusive and resilient community to visit the PPSRQ booth during the Gulfcoast Pride Festival” and share their thoughts with him, the release says.
Visit ppsrq.org to learn more about Project Pride SRQ.