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52 Faces of Community<\/a> is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting local unsung heroes. It is sponsored by Central Market<\/a>, H-E-B<\/a> and JPS Health Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the end of the year, these rarely recognized heroes will gather for a luncheon where the Report will announce one honoree to represent Tarrant County at the Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n Know an unsung hero in Tarrant County?<\/p>\n Tell us about them by filling out the form below. <\/p>\n There was one problem facing this year\u2019s event: funding. Several of the organization\u2019s traditional funders couldn\u2019t provide support for various reasons, said Bertinand \u201cBertie\u201d Gardner, program director for the organization, a Fort Worth-based nonprofit that creates affirming spaces for LGBTQ youth.\u00a0<\/p>\n A chance email with information about a potential grant from Paramount and MTV changed things. The $10,000 grant is helping the organization prepare for the June 21 event.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis grant really allowed our fifth year to be bigger, better and gayer than ever before,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n ENJOY READING THE NEWS AGAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n Discover refreshing, nonpartisan<\/strong> reporting on stories happening in your backyard.<\/p>\n That was the promise Gardner had made in 2022, after the first Youth Pride Picnic he was involved in attracted more than 200 people. Gardner\u2019s service led to his nomination for 52 Faces of Community<\/a>, the Fort Worth Report\u2019s weekly series spotlighting unsung heroes in Tarrant County.<\/p>\n \u201cI had been told to expect 50 to show up,\u201d he said. \u201cSo when we had 200 attendees, I told them to expect the next year to be \u2018bigger, better and gayer than ever,\u2019 and I\u2019ve tried to do that since.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The event is key to the organization\u2019s overarching mission to provide safe spaces for social and personal development of LGBTQ+ youth through physical and virtual programs in Fort Worth and North Texas, Gardner said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great way for LGBTQ youth to be in a space for everyone to feel affirmed and connected, and that\u2019s not always easy for a lot of LGBTQ people, some of whom are coming from small towns and places where they may not find that support,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t have that growing up, but I want others to have that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n For Sharon Herrera, founder and executive director of LGBTQ Saves, the growth of the organization and the success of the Youth Pride Picnic are the results of Gardner\u2019s talents.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s really blossomed and has been utilizing all his talents to maintain the data portion of our organization, which is something we needed,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have grown this organization since 2010 and the people that I came across were helping as much as they could, but Bertie took it to my dream level is what I like to say.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Gardner, 32, began his work in programming and events in college at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, where he eventually received his bachelor\u2019s degree in communication studies with a focus in public relations and event management.<\/p>\n \u201c\u201cWe have grown this organization since 2010 and the people that I came across were helping as much as they could, but Bertie took it to my dream level is what I like to say.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Sharon Herrera, founder and executive director of LGBTQ Saves<\/p><\/blockquote>\n He came out as transgender in college where he was a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity.<\/p>\n \u201cI was very active in our gay straight alliance,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n When he moved from Stephenville to the Fort Worth campus, he was still looking for a community and a way to be involved.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to be plugged into something where I can volunteer, give back to the community, because that\u2019s really one of my big pillars, service,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n A Google search brought him to LGBTQ Saves where he began as a volunteer.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he moved into a more active role. But the pandemic put a damper on any in-person events which had been key to the organization.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe had no real virtual presence before that. Bertie helped start our Discord events, which we call Lifeline Chat, and with that, we\u2019ve been able now to reach out beyond our geographic borders,\u201d said Herrera.\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s become important, she said, as the current political climate has caused some LGBTQ families to move out of the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBut now because of what Bertie has done, we\u2019re still able to serve them in several different states,\u201d Herrera said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gardner, who still works full time at Texas Wesleyan University as assistant director of student activities and engagement, is continuing to sharpen his leadership skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n He recently completed a Leading Edge program at Leadership Fort Worth and is ready to learn more.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI loved it, getting to know more about Fort Worth,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not usually a note taker, but there I was, I wanted to soak it all in.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Herrera said she has seen Gardner grow his leadership skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe came on as a volunteer, very shy, looking for a place to fit in,\u201d she said. \u201cHe picked up on my focus on the kids and he\u2019s made a lot of strides since then to become the leader he is.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n After the Youth Pride Picnic, Gardner will be tackling the organization\u2019s 15th anniversary event.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to be holding a quincea\u00f1era <\/strong>for ourselves,\u201d he said. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to get started on it, but we\u2019ve got to get through the picnic first.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The problem of LGBTQ mental health remains a key focus of the organization.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe may be in a more accepting generation, but the problem is still there,\u201d Gardner said. \u201cThat may be even more true in smaller towns and places where there isn\u2019t an accepting community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The next step for the organization is to transform the former KKK building at 1012 N. Main St. into a home for several nonprofit organizations, including LGBTQ Saves.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re now the 11th-largest city in the country, but we don\u2019t have any sort of concrete drop-in resource center outside of the HELP Center, but it\u2019s not like Dallas or San Antonio or Houston where they have a big community center to come together,\u201d Gardner said. \u201cSo being able to have a permanent place is a big goal with classrooms and computer labs or job centers. There\u2019s still a lot to do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org. Tired of shouting? Help us bring facts into focus.<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s no shortage of opinions out there, but facts are harder to come by. At the Fort Worth Report, we deliver local reporting grounded in truth so that you can make informed decisions for yourself and your community.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n\n
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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