Oasis Trailblazer Loranne Ausley has a long legislative legacy

For the past 16 years, The Oasis Center for Women & Girls has held an annual community-wide celebration of women and girls during Women’s History Month. We think one way to encourage girls to believe they can be and do anything is to make certain that we show them endless possibilities for their lives.

By celebrating the achievements of women before them, we are lighting a path for them to follow into their future.

Oasis is proud to honor Loranne Ausley with a 2023 Trailblazer Award.

25 Women honorees:Who do you know? Meet the 2023 Class of 25 Women, 5 Young Women

Oasis honorees:Oasis Center looks to future with 7 honorees during Women's History Month

High school awards: Best & Brightest names 146 outstanding Tallahassee high school seniors for awards

Loranne Ausley is well known for her long service to Leon County, surrounding counties, and the state. She is the longest-serving woman from Leon County in both the Florida House and Senate and the first woman to serve as both an elected Representative and a Senator.

She was a member of the Florida House of Representatives for 12 years and recently served as a member of the Florida State Senate.

Further, Ausley was only the second woman from Leon County to run for statewide office when she ran for comptroller. She has made great strides and positive impacts through her time in office and within the Tallahassee community.

Ausley was influential in creating Whole Child Leon, an initiative targeting critical issues affecting youth and their families in the community. Her passion for this initiative is driven by her desire that all children should have the ability to thrive in the community.

As she served eight years as Chair of this initiative, Ausley was able to lead with integrity and empathy for children who needed the extra support. Loranne Ausley isn’t a trailblazer because she supported an idea; she’s a trailblazer because she dug in and worked hard to make it come true.

In addition to her efforts in Whole Child Leon, Ausley serves as Chair of the South City Foundation, a board member of the Institute for Child Success and the Claude Pepper Foundation, is a founding member of The Oasis Center, and holds countless other positions serving the Tallahassee community.

Ausley explains that she feels honored to be a part of the celebration, which is one of her favorite events of the year.

“I love the intergenerational aspect of participation and how we honor all ages and experiences of women. I am honored to be recognized and counted among these successful women,” Ausley said.

Written collaboratively by Grace Reed, Moore Agency, and Mary Deschler, The Oasis Center for Women & Girls. You can reach them at mary.deschler@theoasiscenter.net

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Oasis Trailblazer Loranne Ausley has a long legislative legacy