Lesniak Institute for American Leadership

06/23/2026

Did somebody order a gala fit check? Here's what our team wore at our annual Gala 😍✨

06/22/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our 2026 Gala awardees 🏆

⭐️ Compassion in Action Award: Wendy Neu
⭐️ Trailblazer for Equality Award: Senator Loretta Weinberg
⭐️ Trailblazer for Equality Award: Rabbi Steven Goldstein
⭐️ Second Chance Leadership Award: John Koufos
⭐️ Climate Justice Leadership Award: Ben Dziobek
⭐️ Economic Impact Leadership Award: Princeton Public Affairs Group

Each of these honorees emulates Senator Lesniak's legacy through their advocacy work, and causes they support. We are proud to grant each of them with this recognition as a thank you for all of the amazing work they do 🙌💙

06/19/2026

❤️💙 POV: You're the Lesniak Institute Team looking sharp for your 2026 Gala ❤️💙

Congratulations to the team, our interns, ambassadors, and amazing volunteers for making this event possible! We had an amazing time celebrating not only the Lesniak Institute's accomplishments, but also the 80th birthday of our Founder & President: Senator Raymond J. Lesniak. Thank you to everyone for attending and stay tuned for more pics to come very soon!

06/18/2026

The Gala is HERE!!

Preperations have been made by our team and volunteers to make this night special! We are so excited to welcome everyone attending this year, and cannot wait for the arrival of all of our guests 😊🫶

06/15/2026

06/13/2026

This past week we celebrated the 10th graduating class 🎓 of the Raymond J. Lesniak Experience, Strength, and Hope Recovery High School! 💜

Senator Lesniak gave the opening remarks at the graduation and spoke about what makes this graduation and experience different from a district school. Recovery schools provide a safe, supportive, and sober environment that combines the “common core” aligned education with substance use disorder recovery.

After Senator Lesniak gave the class of 2026 his words of wisdom, some of the graduates shared their personal journey's with recovery and how attending a recovery school set them up for success—with their future pathway's dedicated to higher education at a college, trade school, or apprenticeship program 🙌

Congratulations class of 2026 🎓🎉

06/12/2026

We're a huge FAN 🪭 of this fun video from our Pride Flag Raising!

06/12/2026

🚨NEW INTERN ALERT 🚨 We are so excited to welcome in our Summer 2026 cohort of interns to The Lesniak Institute team!

This amazing group has already started working on some BIG projects, including our 2026 Gala! We are thrilled to have this talented trio with us! Please give our student interns a warm welcome to our organization 🤩🫶

06/11/2026

Our 6th Annual Pride Flag Raising showcased our strength in numbers as we gathered together to celebrate Pride month and the achievements we have made as a community.

Shoutout to our amazing lineup of speakers:
🤍 Marsha Shapiro and Louise Walpin
🤍 Commissioner Stanley Neron
🤍 Llundown Lawson
🤍 Jeremiah La’Porte
🤍 Ezekiah Miles
🤍 5th Ward Councilman William Gallman Jr.
🤍 Councilwoman-at-large Patricia Perkins-Auguste

Our speakers Marsha Shapiro, Louise Walpin, and Ezekiah Miles also received a special Congressional recognition from the office of Robert Menendez for their dedication to LGBTQ+ rights and equality.

Thank you to every amazing LGBTQ+ advocate, ally, and leader who joined us this year. We are always stronger together as we continue to fight for equality 🌈