Leadership Institute to host Sarasota office grand opening with Riley Gaines

SARASOTA, Fla. (FLV) – The Leadership Institute is holding a grand opening kick off event for their new Sarasota office Friday.

Based in Arlington, Virginia, the Leadership Institute has been the leading institution in equipping and training conservatives in campaigns, fundraising, grassroots organizing, youth politics, and communications since its founding in 1979.

The Sarasota office is the Institute’s first satellite location and will be the headquarters for School Board Programs.

The Institute will have a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Aug. 11 at 9:30 a.m. with Founder Morton Blackwell, 12-time All-American Swimmer Riley Gaines, and Director of the School Board Programs, Bridget Ziegler.

Last September, Florida’s Voice reported the Leadership Institute announced Ziegler as the National Director of School Board Programs.

In a press release, Ziegler said America’s children “deserve a world class education to set them up for a bright future.”

“Unfortunately, for too long activists have dominated school boards, hijacking K-12 education for political means. Many parents and concerned citizens feel lost or outnumbered when it comes to running for their school boards,” Ziegler said.

Ziegler said the Leadership Institute’s School Board Programs have been “created to provide training, guidance and support to help candidates run winning campaigns and drive change once elected.”

Special guest Gaines made headlines after tying UPenns swimmer Lia Thomas, a biological male swimmer on the women’s team, at the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships. 

After Riley directly experienced competing against a man in women’s sports, she became one of the first female college athletes to speak out on the topic, according to Independent Women’s Voice.

Gaines previously announced in an interview that she would be supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis for president in 2024.

The Leadership Institute’s School Board Programs provides “training and resources for parents and concerned citizens to launch and run successful school board campaigns, as well as post-election support,” according to a press release.

While the Leadership Institute will continue to bring its programming to communities throughout the United States, the Sarasota headquarters will serve as the primary base for in-person and online training and resource development such as the Learn Right podcast.

The Institute teaches conservatives of all ages “how to succeed in politics, government, media, and now with its newest program expansion, public education.”