This fall, Dallas Hope Charities invites you to join the 2nd Annual Coalition Book Club! As we approach Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, this year’s book club series will explore LGBTQIA+ homelessness and highlight the resilience of LGBTQIA+ youth. We’ll be reading Making Room by Carl Siciliano, founder of the Ali Forney Center and a passionate advocate for homeless LGBTQIA+ youth.
WHY WE’RE READING MAKING ROOM
Making Room offers a powerful look into the experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth who face homelessness. Siciliano shares real-life stories that shed light on the systemic challenges these young people encounter and the personal victories they achieve. Our Coalition Book Club provides a safe space for discussion, reflection, and community connection, helping participants understand the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ homeless youth and how we can work together to make a difference.
EVENT DETAILS
Our Coalition Book Club will meet three times this year:
Monday, October 21 | 12 PM – 1 PM CST | Virtual
Monday, November 4 | 12 PM – 1 PM CST | Virtual
Monday, November 18 | 12 PM – 1 PM CST | Hybrid (Virtual or in-person at the Dallas Hope Charities Office, 75235)
Each meeting will include guided discussions around themes from the book, exploring questions like:
On November 18, we’re excited to welcome Carl Siciliano for a live Q&A session to kick off Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. This is a special opportunity to discuss the book with the author himself and dive deeper into the realities of LGBTQIA+ homelessness.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Whether you’re a first-time reader or revisiting Making Room, you’re welcome to join one or all sessions. Copies of Making Room are available at the Dallas Public Library and through most major booksellers.
To join the Coalition Book Club, please RSVP here.
Attendance at every session is not required, so feel free to participate whenever you can. Please note that Making Room contains real-life accounts that may be triggering, so we encourage everyone to engage at their comfort level.
WHY THIS MATTERS: LGBTQIA+ Youth Homelessness
The issue of homelessness disproportionately affects LGBTQIA+ youth, who often face rejection, discrimination, and additional barriers in finding secure housing. The Coalition Book Club helps build a more compassionate community by fostering discussions around LGBTQIA+ homelessness, increasing awareness, and inspiring actionable support for this vulnerable population. Through this event, we aim to encourage empathy, understanding, and a commitment to positive change.
GET INVOLVED
The **Coalition Book Club** is more than just reading a book—it’s a chance to join a community working to end LGBTQIA+ homelessness. For questions or additional information, please contact us at chc@dallashopecharities.org.
We look forward to learning and reflecting together as we strive to build a world where all LGBTQIA+ individuals have access to safe, affirming housing. Join us, and help us make room for hope, one story at a time.
© 2026 | Dallas Hope Charities
With over seven years of experience as a civil engineer, Hector Pietro designs roadways, pedestrian and bike facilities, and stormwater systems that support safety, economic development, and sustainability in the community. In 2024, he was selected to join the Communities Foundation of Texas’s Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy Cohort, which inspired him to pursue a deeper impact in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Hector felt compelled to join an organization dedicated to providing food, shelter, and affirming services to LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing homelessness. The mission of Dallas Hope Charities—instilling dignity, stability, and hope—immediately resonated, and he knew he had to be part of it.
Impact and Passion
Hector is excited to serve on the Dallas Hope Charities Board of Directors alongside a group of passionate leaders with deep experience expanding the organization’s reach to LGBTQIA+ youth. He thrives in spaces filled with accomplished, driven individuals and was drawn to the board after reviewing data on DHC’s community impact. He firmly believes that loving those in need while they are learning to love themselves is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen a community.
Fun and Personal Touch
Hector taught himself to decorate sugar cookies using royal icing by watching TikTok videos—and has since become quite skilled, considering each one a miniature, edible work of art.
Favorite Quote: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
He hopes to see the Hope Center’s capacity expand and believes that can happen by increasing community awareness about the urgent need for DHC’s services—ultimately inspiring more donors and volunteers to take action. Grateful for the opportunity to serve, Hector is motivated to help drive that growth.
