TEAM | LGBTQ SAVES

STAFF

SHARON HERRERA

Founder and Executive Director

Sharon is a United States Air Force Veteran and leader in the Tarrant County LGBTQ community. She works closely with organizations to help educate on LGBTQ issues. Her reason for starting LGBTQ SAVES was and remains to save lives.

EVELYN KINCAID

Marketing and Communications Specialist

Evvy has been striding for progressive causes by utilizing safe protests, media coverage, and more ever since she graduated high school. She now hopes to help youth in her community feel safe and heard through her professional life, too.

REBECCA SEYMORE

Accountant

Rebecca has been an accountant for almost 20 years and believes in helping to make our community better any way she can.

LISA ESTRADA

Fundraising Consultant

Lisa believes that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.

Throughout her life, She has been continually inspired by the strength, resilience, and authenticity of the LGBTQ+ community because of their courage in the face of adversity.

BERTINAND GARDNER

Program Director

Bertie is an LGBTQ+ advocate who seeks to empower youth through community development. Knowing the importance of community and representation, he seeks to provide programming that allows LGBTQ+ youth the ability to truly be themselves.

KARLA LOTT

Volunteer Coordinator

Karla is currently a graduate student working towards a collaborate degree with Brite Divinity School and TCU's Master's of Social Work Program. In her free time she enjoys reading, writing, baking, crafting, snuggling with her pets, and spending time with friends and family. Because she herself struggled to find acceptance as a queer youth, she is passionate about affirming the next generation of queer youth and helping them to see how wonderful they are!

SARA FAIRLEY-LUNA

Consultant

Sara serves to support Tarrant County youth and to challenge her hometown to love all those who call this city home. She is a global citizen and change agent.

WHITNEY WOOD JUAREZ

Fundraising Consultant

Whitney (she/her) has a passion for connecting with others and creating safe, inclusive spaces which drives both her real-estate work and her commitment to nonprofit service.

Whitney is proud to support LGBTQ+ youth and advocate for a more welcoming community. Outside of advocacy, Whitney enjoys yoga, traveling, and spending time with her fur babies.

PROGRAM LEADERS

LISA EARLEY

Lisa is a tireless educator and proud mother of two LGBTQ daughters. She provides a safe space for students and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Social Work.

JULIA HULSE

Julia is a native Texan, but she lived her whole life in Colorado until she moved back to Texas in 2021. She has a bachelors degree in sociology, but these days, she works in the legal support field. Julia has been a fierce mama bear to her own young-adult LGBTQ+ cubs, and now she's extending that care and advocacy to the youth of LGBTQ SAVES. She lives in Weatherford with her doggo, Shiloh, and her kitty, Peeve.

RAINEY MURRELL

Rainey (she/her) has her bachelor’s degree in Food Management from TCU. Rainey is honored to be an involved with SAVES and loves being a safe space for the youth. Building trust and connections with members and volunteers alike has come such an important part of her life. She enjoys yoga, cooking, traveling, crafting, and is often found cuddling with her cat Clementine.

SHAE WATTS

Shae graduated with her Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Utah, and currently works as a Case Manager at a residential substance use recovery center assisting adults of all ages in developing skills and finding resources to succeed in recovery! In her free time, She loves to read about people of various backgrounds rising to challenges they never anticipated from any genre; it's empowering to see people succeed against all odds. She also crochets and spends time with her dog. She loves making new friends who share her values and can add to the vibrance in her life.

DETAVIOUS HILL

Detavious (he/they) has been with LGBTQ SAVES since August 2023, and is an alum of the University of North Texas (2021) and Texas Christian University (2024). For his third year public relations project, he randomly chose LGBTQ SAVES to be his client and the rest is history. He is so grateful to have the time now to be more present and be that person he needs to be in our community for LGBTQ youth.

REBECCA MCDONELL

Rebecca is a mother of three and the grandmother of six. Her belief is what we pour in to our children is what they will pour out to the world, why not pour in unconditional love? Rebecca's adage is to have the courage to be your own kind of beautiful.

MICHAEL SANDERS

Michael is a dedicated secondary science teacher with a passion for fostering inclusive and supportive learning environments. They joined SAVES to be a mentor for LGBTQ youth, offering guidance, understanding, and a safe space for their personal and educational growth.

AMBASSADORS

ROSA MARIA BERDEJA

Rosa Maria has been an LGBTQ+ ally her entire life, having grown up with an LGBTQ+ brother. Her home has always been a safe haven for those that needed a place of love and acceptance. She is excited to be part of LGBTQ SAVES and help bring that same love and acceptance to LGBTQ+ youth throughout our community.

GREG HUGHES

Greg Hughes has lived in Fort Worth for over 36 years, recently retiring after an over forty-year career in various engineering roles. He has been an Ambassador for LGBTQ SAVES for over six years. Greg enjoys learning about different cultures, whether through travel or by engaging with organizations that focus on communities within the broader society.

ROSALINDA MARTINEZ

Rosalinda is a proud Latina, mom, educator, historian, blogger, art lover, community champion, author and advocate for equality & inclusion.

Her goal is to build a more inclusive world for our children, and she is so proud and excited to be an ambassador for the LGBTQ+ community!

JENNIFER MURILLO

Jennifer Murillo (she/her) volunteers with the Inter-Tribal Community Council of Texas, raising awareness about Native American history and current Indigenous programs.

She works in film and television and teaches ESL to students and professionals worldwide, helping them succeed in their careers, studies, and travels.

As a pansexual mom of a bisexual son, Jennifer passionately supports LGBTQ SAVES, advocating for LGBTQIA+ youth and promoting donations and volunteering to create a safe, supportive environment.

BRIAN FEHLER

Brian Fehler loves to travel globally and make a difference locally. He’s an active volunteer with a number of community-based organizations, an Equality Fellow of Equality Texas, holds an PhD from TCU, and is a professor of English at Texas Woman’s University. He lives in Fort Worth with his chihuahua-mix, Toby.

JEROME LAREZ

Jerome Morales Larez, a distinguished leader in community advocacy and a proud graduate of Texas Tech University, translates his education into meaningful contributions through pivotal roles such as founder of Arttitude and Managing Director at Dune's LGBT Homeless Solutions Foundation. His leadership fosters inclusivity and support for LGBTQ+ individuals, propelling Arttitude as a beacon of cultural acceptance and innovatively aiding homeless LGBTQ+ individuals with essential resources.

SALEM MOON

Salem Moon/Kiba Walker is a professional actor, drag performer, singer and activist based out of Fort Worth, Texas. As a theatrical educator and artist, he hopes to continue supporting DFW’s youth and community in whatever way he can.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHERYL FARMER

Treasurer

Cheryl has a background in school district purchasing and served in leadership roles, including treasurer, at her church. She loves camping and backyard get-togethers.

SANDY MARTINEZ

Secretary

Sandy Martinez Russell believes that love comes in many different forms and should be expressed in a variety ways. Whether it’s a smile or a random act of kindness, do it with a full heart. No one should go a day without expressing some form of gratitude before the end of the night, because moments in life are precious.

LASHONDA THOMAS

Director

LaShonda is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has experience with LGBTQ youth support groups. She encourages acceptance, authenticity, and honesty.

REV. RHI JONES

Board Chair

Rhi is a retired educator and an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community who wants to help create a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth where they feel accepted and valued for their authentic selves. She is committed to helping LGBTQ+ youth grow and thrive and live their lives to the fullest as their most powerful and complete selves.

CANDICE PUENTE

Director

Candice Puente (she/her) is an enthusiastic and devoted LGBTQ+ advocate who dedicates time to help, educate, and serve the community. She is a Project Coordinator at Quorum Architects, where she works closely with the Multi- Family Housing team to assist housing authorities meet standard codes, address funding issues, and oversee specifics for construction projects. During her free time, she shares her love for broadcast, music, and entertainment across Fort Worth as “DJ CP.”