| Allison Tant resides in Tallahassee, Florida, where she is the founder of a nonprofit organization. She is married to Barry Richard of Miami, Florida, and they have six children- Jonathan Richard, Jeremy Richard, Danielle Richard, Todd Richard, Brooke Richard, and Dave Richard. She is also a grandmother to Sophia Richard and Jonah Richard.
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Tant earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida State University in 1993. Her husband, Barry Richard, served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1974 to 1978. Tant identifies as both Baptist and Jewish and enjoys reading, walking, and practicing yoga in her leisure time.
Tant was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2020 and has been subsequently re-elected. In addition to her legislative work, she has been actively involved in numerous organizations and community initiatives. She serves on the Leon County Schools Adult & Community Education Advisory Board, the Tallahassee Community College Eagle Connections Program Business Liaison Committee, and the Anti-Defamation League Regional Board. She is also a member of the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Tallahassee, and the Capitol Women's Network, where she served as president in 2011.
Tant has a long history of nonprofit leadership, founding Keys to Exceptional Youth Success in 2005 and Independence Landing in 2017. She has also been involved with the Children's Home Society, serving on the Central Division Board from 2004 to 2013, including as Board Chair, Treasurer, and Advocacy Committee Chair. Her other roles include coordinating the Opening Doors for Children program at Holland & Knight LLP from 1995 to 1998, and serving as a board member and Big Sister for Big Brothers/Big Sisters from 1995 to 1997.
Her work has been recognized with multiple honors, including the Reclaim the Land Award of Excellence for Community Leadership, the Tallahassee Community College Hall of Fame induction in 2018, and the Innovative Community Engagement Earned Legacy Award in 2018. She was also named the Woman of the Year by the Deerfield Beach Democratic Club in 2013 and received the Girl Scouts of America Leon Woman of Distinction Youth & Social Services Award in 2011.
Earlier in her career, Tant served as a legislative assistant to Representative Brian Rush from 1986 to 1988, Representative Mark Gibbons from 1985 to 1986, and Senator Mattox Hair from 1984. |