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Project Pride SRQ has named Tom Edwards as its new executive director. A longtime advocate and Sarasota County School Board member since 2020, Edwards brings decades of entrepreneurial experience to the role. He aims to build on the nonprofit’s strong foundation by using his reputation as a moderate to unite diverse coalitions, promote inclusivity and defend human rights. His plans include launching student-led anti-bullying initiatives, expanding youth and family programs and creating after-school offerings focused on critical thinking. Edwards recently sat down with SRQ to discuss his new position.

You’ve spoken about creating a “silo-free community unified by shared values.” How do you plan to bridge ideological or political divides while advancing LGBTQ+ advocacy in today’s polarized climate?

Many siloed communities are being bullied and are experiencing the loss of protections and rights. Some of those communities are women, blacks, Hispanics, veterans, seniors, LGTBQ+ and folks with disabilities, just to name a few. The idea is to wake up, unify and build a large moderate coalition that advocates for the protections of rights for ALL through shared common values, not tribal policies. The reason we are living in a polarized environment is because extremists on both sides are the loudest and are dictating policy when we should be governed by the moderate majority voices. Believe me, change is going to come!

Your new initiatives, particularly the student-led Support Squad and after-school programs, focus on healing and critical thinking. What inspired these youth-centered strategies, and how do you see them shaping the future of LGBTQ+ inclusion in Sarasota?

First of all, I am not leading PPSRQ to advocate for LGTBQ+ issues only. My ideas for student initiatives are based on support for ALL students who are being bullied, not just the gay ones. Additionally, critical thinking skills are a shared common value that we want for ALL students so they become well-rounded citizens. I'm not confident the Florida Department of Education's policies and statutes provide environments for optimal critical thinking topics, so PPSRQ will.

As someone with experience on the Sarasota County School Board, how has that perspective informed your approach to leadership at Project Pride SRQ—especially as education becomes a flashpoint in cultural debates?

As a countywide elected official serving the community in the capacity of School Board, I have a wide lens of daily feedback from parents, teachers, seniors and students. I hear about parents' needs and dreams for their children. I hear from teachers regarding issues and opportunities for the advancement of improving educational outcomes. I hear from all community members and seniors who want a return on their property tax investment. Most importantly, listening to our students is the most essential ingredient that defines my leadership - they are our future. Even though my School Board work and leading PPSRQ are two different and separate roles and responsibilities, I do see crossover in my goal for building a kinder community. All of this combined feedback fuels my leadership with optimism. I can't live in a world without hope!

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