SRQ Strong names first executive director

SRQ Strong, a regional nonprofit working to raise awareness of the impacts of trauma and fostering healing and resilience across the Suncoast region, has named Sarasota County School Board member Tom Edwards as its first executive director.

Occupying its first full-time position, Edwards will guide the SRQ Strong’s transformation from a largely grassroots, volunteer effort into a sustainable, independent organization. 

SRQ Strong began as a program within the Center for Religious Tolerance, created to educate the public about the impacts of trauma, help them heal from their own traumatic experiences and build stronger, healthier neighborhoods. As that work grew over more than five years, volunteer leaders recognized the need to better organize the operation to meet the community’s increasing needs.

“Our vision is to create a community that cares for itself, where neighbors support each other, regardless of differences,” said Andrea Blanch, founder and board chair of SRQ Strong. “We’ve built a groundswell of engaged citizens and organizations that want to bring healing from trauma to all corners of our community. Tom Edwards is the right leader to elevate our impact.”

Edwards brings extensive business, policy and advocacy experience to SRQ Strong with more than 40 years of entrepreneurial experience as co-founder and owner of two businesses. His background includes 11 years of small business advocacy at the state legislative level in the New York State General Assembly. 

“Unfortunately, I have seen many students arrive at school not ready to learn because they have been affected by trauma,” said Edwards. “We must address this issue through a two-generation approach that seeks to help children and the adults in their lives simultaneously.”

To learn more about SRQ Strong visit srqstrong.org.