We were lucky to catch up with SHARON HERRERA recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi SHARON, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My ‘Ama’, the lady that raised me since I was 3-days old. My biological mother couldn’t and my 55-year-old grandmother took over, a true blessing in for my life.
I have survived child molestation, suicide attempt, and the loss of my ‘Ama’, all before the age of 21.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Saving lives!
I was living in Austin, working for HEB Grocer and I had a nearly fatal car accident. I always tell people that a force stronger than myself brought me to Fort Worth, because I would have never moved to a town referred to as “Cowtown.”
I am a Veteran of the United States Air Force, Founder and Executive Director of LGBTQ S.A.V.E.S., Consultant and Owner of SHARE Link LLC, Member and Community Engagement Advocate of DEI Consultants, LLC, and serve as a leader in the LGBTQ community of Tarrant County. I work closely with many organizations, universities, and school districts to help further education on LGBTQ issues.
I am also a Founding Board Member of the Transform 1012 N. Main Street (a community coalition of organizations transforming the former Ku Klux Klan auditorium in Fort Worth, Texas, into The Fred Rouse Center for Arts and Community Healing.)
I currently work for the Fort Worth ISD, where in collaboration with Tom Anable, David Henderson and Jon Nelson, gay activists and leaders of Fairness Fort Worth, challenged the Fort Worth Independent School District to add a Non-Discrimination Policy. We prevailed and championed equity for staff and students.
I live in Fort Worth with my wife Marcel.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Excellent time management skills, ability to collaborate with people, and resilience.
I have always said time management is a gift from higher up preparing me for my life journey.
One must also understand that building strong authentic relationships is critical, everyone wants to feel like they belong. Humans depend on one another to thrive.
I want to make this world a better place, and we have to be able to bounce back and keep moving forward with our mission. Mine is saving the lives of LGBTQ youth. I know what I am up against. I always speak of my mentors, Ghandi, MLK, Harvey Milk, even the man that wrote my favorite song, John Lennon, Imagine, were all assassinated. AND, all they were trying to do is make this world a better place.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Collaboration- I want people with a servant-heart willing to help me on my journey to provide safe and brave spaces for social and personal development of LGBTQ youth.
My ultimate goal is to save lives!
In September 2010, several highly-publicized suicides of LGBTQ youth reminded me of a pain I was all too familiar with. Having contemplated my own suicide, I knew things had to change and that we needed a community where all children are safe.
I knew that with peer and community support I could save lives and build a network of passionate and caring individuals to help LGBTQ youth and their allies in Tarrant County. LGBTQ SAVES (Students, Allies, Volunteers, Educators, Support) was born in 2010, and 90% of the youth we serve have contemplated or attempted suicide.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lgbtqsaves.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lgbtqsaves/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/LGBTQSAVES
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMqQ7G-iYp2dLAixFPJLIw
