About OUR 501(c)3:

We provide bountiful online resources for our area.  We do our best to keep these updated and add to these lists on a regular basis. Please let us know if you see any additions or corrections that are needed as they are constantly changing.  

Follow on social media for events and happening.  Facebook is our main page - set as a private group.

Community Outreach - we help to provide guidance, mediation, education in LGBTQIA+ areas. Be it working with a local individual, a family, businesses around town, church or church leaders, or area non-profits.  We are here for the community, and our top priority.

Community Events - We host and attend regular events to allow members of the LGBTQIA+ community as well as allies, a place to meet and gather in a safe, fun, judgment free, and supportive environment.   Join one of our groups as well.

We have access to and can provide harm reduction to include Opioid education and Narcan.  We are HIV education and rapid testing and offer smoking cessation.  We have additional areas of Health and Wellness, along with education, and connections to local resources.  Be it for addiction and recovery, and potential case management for LGBTQIA+ individuals in need, or those who question their identity, who lack basic support.  To short fall and detriments. We also will be there to provide guidance for friends, and allies. 

LGBTQIA+ Community grant writing forum and assistance.  We want our partners to work in collaborative and support one another.  

Public Speaking Engagements

Community drives, donations, and participation in community events.

Main Street / Youth Alley - which are child and youth resources, and services.

Living Out Being Out - support group

TRANSITIONS - transgender / nonbinary group with services, support, and resources.

Equalize Together

HIV support group and resources

The Gathering

LGBTQIA+ Social Gaterings

The Nook - a LGBTQIA+ library of books available for check out.  

Safe Zone training for businesses, organizations, churches. and individuals.

501(c)3

We are a community-based organization focused on helping make the world around us a better, happier place. With the help of our tireless staff, we organize fundraisers, exciting community-building events, offer community training, and provide community resources to those in need.  We are dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community, building relationships within our community, and closing the door to hate.

Relax and enjoy! This is a safe place for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies in the Heber Springs, Arkansas area.  We also strive to serve and extend our services to those in the surrounding counties and townships that could benefit from our services.  

We do our best to provide our full support to neighboring agencies and organizations.  We value our partners - and forming an alliance and working as a collaborative with one another towards a common goal, and to prevent duplication of services.

An "Alliance" is a bond or connection towards a common point. That being said we want to create a safe, welcoming, affirming, and accepting environment for all, not only of age, creed, race, religion - But to include regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. 

This organization vows to provide a supportive environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender. Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and the (+) is to be inclusive of all the other potential identities - Our moto is "All are WELCOME, Come as YOU are", and we mean that whole heartedly. 

We are also here to provide mediation to families, provide resources to the community, help provide support to community leaders, and support those who are perceived by others to be LGBTQIA+, as well as those that are questioning their identity, or may have LGBTQIA+ friends and family and have questions or want to be apart our mission.

We offer safe place training resources to area business, and corporations.

We hope to be a connecting point to resources for those in need.

Nicholas Batchelor - P

Cofounder - President, Safety & Security.

Nicholas "Nick" Batchelor, He/Him, started the Alliance in May of 2021 with his longtime partner Brad.  Nick has worked for the non-profit sector for several years with experience in Behavioral Health, Addiction, Homelessness, Harm Reduction, and Crisis Response.  He currently works in Security within the Health Care system and is a volunteer first responder for the fire department.  Nick has received awards including United Way Partner of the Year, along with A Police Chief Letter of Accommodation Award, and publications in the news for working on Squad One - Greeley, CO multi-disciplinary team.  Nick is a motivated and devoted leader and prior to working in the non-profit sector he was a Managing Director of Customer Service (VP) of a national airline, he was also an Airline Operator Security Coordinator, Manager of Charters, and Assistant Manager of Training.

Bradley Schexnider - P

Cofounder - Treasurer and Administration. 

Bradley "Brad" Schexnider, He/Him, has been an advocate in the community for many years, started with Denver Pride and his wings have grown from there.  Brad has a background in banking and finance with over 10 years in the industry.  Brad has previously held many leadership roles, and has strong skills in logistics, management, and has volunteered in many areas - but his passion is team building, moral, and making others laugh and feel comfortable.  His partner Nick and him have been together for rounding 11 years, and Brad's pride and joy is his family and his daughter Claire - whom will soon be 13.  In his leisure time he enjoys bringing out his inner nerd online gaming.

Kevin Daniel - P

Vice President - Secretary

(Audit and Compliance)

Kevin (he/him) was raised within a strict military household - some of these traits and organization have been applied and instilled into his daily life. Kevin has a strong network have lived and performed in many Arkansas communities.  As a performer is n mainly the LGBTQIA community Kevin has held title of Miss NWA Gay Pride, Miss Gay Hot Springs, Miss Fayetteville Arkansas Gay United States, and Miss Gay Fayetteville America, amongst other various titles.  Many know Kevin as our First Annual Encore Campout Drag Bingo Personality and host to any of our contest.  Kevin has worked in health care and helped to provide multiple Arkansas communities with HIV Rapid Test, HIV Education, and harm reduction.  Kevin is now involved in working the Behavioral Health field, while in pursuit of a degree in the Nursing field thru ASU.  Kevin has volunteered in multiple capacities and said one of the most rewarding has been helping with the Out of the Darkness walks with the American Foundation for Suicide.  Kevin was one of the first individuals to connect and be highly involved following the creation of the Heber Springs Pride Alliance and has since played an integral role in the organizations growth and development.

Madison  Hernandez - H

Director of Development and Marketing

Madison Hernandez, she/her, is a Family and Consumer Science teacher at North Little Rock high school. She strives to make her classroom open and inviting for all students and tries to ensure LGBTQ+ youth know her room is a safe place. Madison has been with her wife for 9 years and enjoys all things pride related. While this is her first time in this type of role, she loves volunteering and cannot wait to do all she can for The Pride Alliance.

Janice Lehmann - H

Director of Youth Services and Inclusivity

Janice Lehmann (she/her/hers) has 35 years of experience in the field of Special Education. Aside from being a Special Education Administrator for the LRSD, she is a licensed minister, volunteer with Trevor Project, creator of Greenbrier Pride, and board member for Conway Pride. She is an ally, advocate, and accomplice with and for the LGBTQ+ community. She testified before the Arkansas Senate Education Committee during its 2021 regular session regarding trans youth bills and has spoken before the Conway School Board regarding LGBTQ+ policies. She is a well-known in the drag community in Arkansas and even called the Fairy Godmother of Drag for Arkansas by several performers.

Stepheny Hernandez - H

Director of Outreach and Volunteers

OPEN - H

Director of Health and Wellness

OPEN - H

Director of Grants

OPEN - H

Director of Community & Outreach

Morgan Erby Taylor - facilitator

Director of Transitions

Morgan  (She/Her) 

Justin Rawls - facilitator

CoDirector of Equalize Together

Justin  (he/him) _________________________________

ADDITIONAL INFO

Board Meetings are held on a quarterly basis. Always published on our calendar.

Heber Springs Pride Alliance was rooted as a Facebook Group in April of 2021.  Originally named Heber Springs, Arkansas LGBT* Alliance.  We began the process of starting a 501c in September of 2022, it was decided we would rename to be more inclusive of all.

We started the board in September of 2022, we are a board of 7 members, 3 (P) primary and 4 (H) honorary.  The board has a strong and diverse background and are unified towards a common goal of helping.  We are now an official 501c status - working together as a team.  In July - we began to expand and created The Pride Alliance - a network of multiple communities in North Central Arkansas. With Expansion to additional cities we are expanding our board to 9 positions.

 Donations are greatly appreciated, we are 100% volunteer operated.  All proceeds will go directly to the organization to help our community. 

WELCOME, and please provide feedback on how we can help!

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Are you passionate about other items like what we are doing? Let us know! We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our vision a reality. We'll help you find a way to volunteer in a way that best suits you. We're excited to have you join the team!

Other Opportunities!

Join us at an event we host! 

DONATE

Fill order request on our

 WISH LIST

Participate in gatherings

Provide Security

Donate books for our LGBTQIA+ Library 

Sponsorships

Follow us on social media

Share our content and service

Provide equipment

Provide space

Educate others, and yourself.

Board openings!

Director Development and Marketing.