“In Tarrant County, it’s time to have raw, honest discussions related to experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental health, and this national 24-hour conversation event, led by Citygate Network, is an opportunity for you to join the conversation.” — President/CEO Charles Wolford
Fort Worth, Texas – From Thursday, October 9th to Friday, October 10th – Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County will facilitate a 24-hour conversation between President/CEO Charles Wolford and city officials, Mission guests and residents, as well as the community at large. Conversations on a Bench, a national event sponsored by Citygate Network and UGM-TC, will take place on a bench at the UGM-TC Community Outreach Center located at 2400 North Kentucky Avenue – Fort Worth, TX 76102 rain or shine. Wolford invites anyone who has questions or wants to talk to him about the critical issues of homelessness, addiction and mental health to stop by the bench during the 24-hour livestream, which starts at 2pm CT. Participants can also submit questions on UGM-TC’s Facebook, allowing the community to engage at their convenience, day or night.
Initially launched as a 24-hour event for one Rescue Mission in Fresno, CA, “Conversations on a Bench” has now expanded to Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County and over 100 other Rescue Missions across the United States and Canada. The goal is a national movement that sparks transformative conversations about homelessness, addiction, food insecurities, and related challenges.
“When it comes to addressing these challenging issues, often people shy away. I encourage the community to come out and chat with me – let’s have real conversations, even if you feel frustrated or hopeless about some of the issues. Communicating within a community is the first step toward finding solutions that we can build together. I look forward to seeing you on the bench!” said Wolford.
Through authentic, live-streamed interactions, Conversations on a Bench sets out to break down barriers, inspire collective responsibility and elevate the role of Rescue Missions and their life-transforming ministries to beacons of hope and change in Tarrant County and other communities across the country.
“Solving issues of homelessness can feel daunting. I want the community to talk about it and learn from each other. I hope that my conversations with people can inspire new ways to work together as a community and gain more support for Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County’s life-changing programs,” said Wolford. “It is only when we have a holistic or all-inclusive understanding – then we can effectively address the challenges and feel empowered to help make a difference.”
Tune in to the livestream:
UGM-TC FB: https://www.facebook.com/uniongospelmissiontc
UGM-TC YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVJGkQEd3mTlskc-CreaJnA
Conversations On A Bench: https://conversationsonabench.org/
Learn more about UGM-TC here.
About Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County
Founded in 1888, Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County is on a mission to provide Hope, Respect and New Beginnings to our unsheltered neighbors through discipleship and the transformational love of Christ.
About Citygate Network
As North America’s largest association of independent, faith-based ministries, Citygate Network represents a unified movement of rescue missions, addiction recovery centers, prison outreach programs, and life transformation initiatives working to address homelessness and its root causes. The network equips ministry leaders and frontline teams with community, resources, advocacy, and best practices—empowering them to respond with excellence and compassion. By connecting shelters, recovery programs, and outreach efforts, the organization fosters shared strategies that guide individuals from crisis to stability and lasting flourishing.
