Today we’d like to introduce you to Trey Grant.
Hi Trey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I was born in Milwaukee, WI, and raised 20 miles south in a small town called Racine. I graduated from Hampton University in Hampton, VA in 2005, with a bachelors in Business Management and an emphasis on Leadership Studies. After graduation, I spent 4 years working for a Fortune 500 company in DFW. During that time, I married my wife, and resigned from a career in sales, to pursue a Masters of Arts in Religion and work in ministry. After that, my wife and I founded and planted The Well Church in Keller, TX (an intentionally- diverse, socially conscious, Christ centered church) as well as a non-profit organization called The Specs Movement. The purpose of The Specs Movement is to create healthy “engagement” around race in order to deconstruct perspectives that produce racism. Our hope and goal through The Specs Movement is that these “engagements” will produce anti-racism transformation in our community. I also serve on the Keller Police Chief’s advisory board and am the co-founded of a network for multi-racial pastors/ planter and leaders called Tribe Collective. Trey has been married to his wife, Dr. Alice Grant for thirteen years. They have two beautiful children; Mason and Hannah.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not. Founding an intentionally diverse, socially conscious, Christ centered church as well as a non-profit organization that combats anti-racism has had its fair share of challenges and lessons especially in light of our current country. Because we choose (as a church and as an organization) not to be silent during a time when many others are silent; and we choose to address, rather than ignore the injustices of our world, we have been met with opposition at times. In those moments, we try to remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that say, “The ultimate measure of a (human) is not where (he/she) stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where (he/she) stands in moments of challenge and controversy.” I love what I get a chance to do, and believe all of my experiences in life from Wisconsin to Virginia to Texas, have helped prepare me for this very important moment in my life of leadership.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
You can learn more about The Well on our website, but The Specs Movement was born, in light of some of the racial injustices that were happening in Dallas. We were beginning to see how social media had become a place for people to share their thoughts, concerns, heart aches, etc. and we felt led to create a space where people could, as we like to say, “listen and lament.” In fact, that was the name of our first event. We hosted this “Listen and Lament” event 5 years ago where we talked and heard different perspectives on the injustices happening in Dallas, our country and around the World. We worked hard to create a safe space where people could share opposing views, ask questions and really mourn, lament, express anger, hurt, impartiality, whatever those in attendance were feeling. One of the questions we posed at the end of that event was, where do we go from here? As a group, we decided there needed to be more conversations like these, and as a result The Specs Movement was formed. From there we began hosting an MLK celebration in Keller, at the Keller Town Hall called speech on the steps, which takes place on MLK Day every year at 7pm. We also host events throughout the year where people can begin to “see life from someone else’s specs.” The word “specs” is short for perspective. Often times the reason our perspectives don’t change, is because we do not have opportunities to engage with people who believe, look, dress, vote, worship, think different than us. The Specs Movement exists to help combat this very thing. Our very talented team of facilitators have been asked to speak at schools, churches, organizations on all types of subjects including diversity and inclusion. We host classes movie events, book clubs and book readings at our new headquarters/ training facility located in the heart of Keller, TX called “the diversity lounge.” I believe what sets us apart from other organizations is the wealth of experience and knowledge we have on our team. Our Operational Director, Anna is a cultural anthropologist and has worked for a Fortune 500 company in diversity and inclusion for much of her professional career. I am so proud of her, and her leadership.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Yes! The importance of pressing forward even in the midst of crisis. Our church and The Specs Movement experienced a few setbacks during the pandemic. However, we are continuing to offer opportunities for people to “see life from someone else’s specs” both virtually and in- person. We hope that you will join us for one of our events in 2022.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.thespecsmovement.org/ and www.thewellchurchkeller.org
- Instagram: @the_specs_movement
- Facebook: The Specs Movement
- Youtube: The Specs Movement
Image Credits
Christina Childress
