“It was the very first meeting, but I saw the vision,” remembers Luca Serna (they/he, 18). It was just the sort of program they were looking for—one that provided opportunities to meet LGBTQ+ young adults, network with LGBTQ+ nonprofit leaders, and learn valuable skills as they began to navigate the adult world. It was January 2023, and Saga had just launched. Luca Serna, a recent high school graduate and transplant to Colorado from Ohio, was its first member.
Members of Saga, including Luca Serna (front row, third from left) attending the 2023 Matthew Shepard Gala
Before moving to Colorado, Luca had been a dedicated volunteer for nonprofits focused on environmental justice, LGBTQ+ and racial social justice, and elder services. When they moved to Aurora, they immediately recognized an urgent need in their new community: housing. Working together with friends at his high school, Luca founded his own nonprofit in 2021, Denver Street Stories. This organization amplifies the stories and perspectives of unhoused Denverites through long-form interviews, which are shared online.
After graduating high school, Luca began working at Metro Caring, a food pantry in Denver, and continued to take community college classes, with a plan to transfer to a university after accumulating two years’ worth of credits. As an emerging LGBTQ+ leader, Luca felt that it was critical to find community and network with established queer and trans leaders. Saga provided the perfect way for him to do this.
“Before Saga, I’d never been to a gala or major fundraiser,” says Luca. Through The Center on Colfax’s networks, Saga members have been invited to a number of important LGBTQ+ events in Denver, including the Prism Awards and the Matthew Shepard Foundation Gala.
Luca Serna (fourth from left) and other Saga members also attended the 2023 Prism Awards
“It was so educational to see how these large, established organizations raise money for the community. Without Saga, I would never have had the opportunity to attend events like this or had the chance to learn directly from so many LGBTQ+ leaders.”
Since Saga’s first meeting, the program has grown rapidly. In its first year, Saga served over 300 LGBTQ+ young adults through a variety of programs, including a vibrant online community, weekly drop-in hours, job search workshops, professional networking events, and signature events.
Viet Nguyen (she/they), our Young Adult Program Manager and the visionary behind Saga, sees her job as more than just developing the program.
"We are here to help provide opportunities for connection and skill development, but it’s bigger than that. Saga assists LGBTQ+ young adults in paving pathways that help them to build lives from which they derive immense meaning. It is a space to find chosen family and develop close relationships. It is a launching point for young leaders and activists who are working to make the world a more accepting place for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC people. It is truly incredible work to support these young adults as they do amazing things that bring them joy and prove to the world that our community is accepting and resilient.”
To learn more about Saga’s offerings and how the program can support you or an LGBTQ+ young adult in your life, visit https://lgbtqcolorado.org/programs/saga/