Remember sitting in high school, unsure about your future? Tyler Grant was there too. Today, she helps connect generous people with causes that change lives at Xavier University in Louisiana. Her role as a major gifts officer means she works with people who want to support education and make the world better through financial giving.
And like most of us, her story isn't a straight line from high school to where she is now. It's a journey full of unexpected turns that taught her what really matters - helping others and building stronger communities.
When people ask what she does for a living, she explains that she connects people who want to help with the students and programs that need it most. Her work bridges the gap between those who want to make a difference and the opportunities to create real change through education.
She sees education as one of the most powerful tools for creating positive change. As she puts it, "Education is the closest thing to an equalizer that we have in this world."
This post shares Tyler's story of finding her path, from an unsure high school student to someone who helps others create positive change. Along the way, she's learning valuable lessons about community, purpose, and what it means to make a lasting impact.
The Spark of Psychology
She can trace her current path back to high school. Like most teenagers, she found herself unsure of her future direction. However, a routine decision about what class to take changed everything, when she decided to take an AP Psychology class. As she recalls,
"My teacher at the time changed my life! Learning about psychology and how people think, why they do things, their motivation, and how the brain works. I started asking myself if this was something I could do in life."
This revelation set her on the path of studying psychology and business in college. She explains, "I got my Bachelor of Arts in psychology and tacked the business side on because I found business interesting and liked marketing." Initially, she thought she was destined to become a psychologist, drawn by her love of talking to people. However, life had other plans.
A Pivot to Social Work
After a challenging experience with a freshman biology class (we've all been there), she soon realized she needed to adjust her course. This led her to pursue a master's degree in social work, a field that resonated with her expanded view of human behavior and motivation.
She further explains the appeal of social work over psychology:
"I saw psychology as pathologizing while social work looks at the whole person... Psychology is reductive like, 'What did you do? What have you done?’ And social work is more like 'What has happened to you to make you do the things you do'. So, seeing that holistic piece, I like that framework."
This shift in perspective would prove invaluable in her future career, providing her with a nuanced understanding of human behavior and motivation that would serve her well in future community engagement and fundraising roles.
The Roots of Community Engagement
Her passion for community work did not emerge in a vacuum. She credits her early exposure to community service to two primary influences: her church and her father's work with the Boy Scouts organization. She reflects,
"It was seeing the community that was built through young men, learning how to camp, do all of the outdoorsy things, become young leaders and serve their communities, practically seeing my dad walk alongside these young men and their families."
This early exposure to community service and leadership development left an impression on her. She admits,
"I don't know that I knew what community was before I started tagging along with my dad and seeing that practical impact."
This formative experience shaped her understanding of community and service, setting the stage for her future career.
Understanding Community Engagement
Through her experiences and education, Tyler has developed a comprehensive view of what effective community engagement entails. She emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and diverse representation:
"Community engagement brings in all members of the community and input from everybody, not just the loudest voices and the squeaky wheel. Effective engagement quite literally involves making sure that every person who is represented in the community is being engaged."
This approach reflects her social work background, considering the whole community and ensuring that all voices are heard, regardless of their volume or prominence.
Her professional journey has included roles in community outreach, notably with Trinity Metro in Fort Worth, Texas. Working for a large public transportation agency provided valuable lessons in resilience, adaptability, and the realities of public service. She candidly admits one specific insight,
"You're not going to please everybody. I am a reformed people pleaser, and it was hard for me to represent an agency that was not always the most popular or in many people's eyes could do 'XYZ' better, faster, more effectively."
This realization was humbling but empowering for her. She learned to focus on doing her best within the constraints of the situation, rather than trying to meet impossible standards of perfection.
So far, her work with Trinity Metro stands out as a highlight of her career. She describes the tangible impact of her work:
"Trinity Metro is the best job that I've had as far as literally getting people to work, to school, soccer appointments, seeing friends and family, connecting to their community."
For her, this experience underscored the vital role that community services play in connecting people and fostering a sense of belonging. It also reinforced her commitment to work that has a clear, positive impact on people's daily lives.
Build these Key Qualities to Impact Community
Drawing from her experiences, she identifies several key characteristics she believes are crucial for success in community engagement:
Strategic thinking - Figure out how to connect all the pieces and see the bigger picture of how your work affects the whole community.
Organizational skills - Being organized personally and professionally is key to your success.
Flexibility - Be able to learn quickly and understand that not everything goes according to plan.
Thoughtfulness - Always consider every person who is represented in the community.
Diplomacy - You're not going to please everybody. Do what you can at that moment and stay committed to continual growth.
However, she also notes that beyond these skills, there is an intangible quality that can be even more important:
"It's more of a personality kind of thing. You can be taught some skills but if it's not you’re calling or if you don’t have a personal investment in the work, you won’t be successful."
This insight highlights the importance of genuine passion and commitment in community engagement work. While skills can be taught, the drive to make a difference and connect with others is something that comes from within.
Advice for Aspiring Community Engagement Professionals
For those considering a career in community engagement, Tyler offers several additional pieces of advice:
1. Don't take things personally: "Nothing is personal," Tyler emphasizes. This mindset can help professionals maintain their emotional well-being in challenging situations.
2. Persevere through difficulties: Borrowing from Winston Churchill, she advises, "If you feel like you're going through hell, just keep going. You think you have reached the end, but you are not there yet. Just keep going."
3. Be patient with yourself: "I think everything is fixable, but maybe not on your timetable," she reflects. This perspective allows her to approach challenges with patience and persistence, understanding that solutions may not always come immediately but are often achievable with time and effort.
4. Find your support system: She also stresses the importance of having a personal community where you can be authentic and vulnerable. "When you are in a front-facing role, it can be exhausting having to be ‘on,’ patient, and positive all the time. There's so much value in having a place where you can be your full self, with emotions, negativity, critiques, and awe."
5. Do your research: Before committing to a volunteer role or job in community engagement, she suggests doing thorough research. "Go in eyes wide open, as much as you can before you move forward. It is not always fun, but it can be, and it's so worth it to see the direct impact you're making on the community."
The Future: Empowering Young Women
Looking ahead, she harbors a dream of running a foundation that supports young women, particularly in the realm of education. This aspiration ties back to her early experiences watching her father mentor young men. She shares:
"Growing up, seeing my dad walk alongside young men, I think I feel the same way about coaching and supporting our young women, especially when there are still so many odds stacked against us."
She sees education as a powerful tool for empowerment, stating, "I think education is the closest thing to an equalizer that we have in this world."
This vision for the future demonstrates her commitment to making a lasting impact on her community, particularly by supporting those who face systemic challenges.
A Career Guided by Purpose
Tyler Grant's journey from a passionate student to a major gifts officer reminds us of the power of following your passion and seizing unexpected opportunities. Her work in community engagement and fundraising connects people with causes that matter, driven by her deep understanding of human motivation.
Her story inspires those considering a career in nonprofit work, demonstrating that staying true to your values can lead to a meaningful and impactful career. As she continues her efforts to support higher education, her dedication to community and the power of giving serves as a reminder of the difference we can all make.
Additional Information
Research these resources and organizations mentioned by Tyler:
Center for Transforming Lives: A Fort Worth nonprofit agency that works alongside women and their children to break the cycle of poverty in Tarrant County. It offers a range of services including early childhood education, economic mobility support, housing services, and clinical counseling. The center also organizes events such as financial literacy clinics and tenant empowerment workshops to further support the community
Trinity Metro: A public transit agency serving Fort Worth and Tarrant County, Texas, providing a range of transportation services including buses, TEXRail, and paratransit.
Xavier University of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA)
Discover degrees in social work.
Learn more about former UK Prime Minister, William Churchill.