Rising Stars: Meet Tre’ Giles of Colorado Springs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tre’ Giles.

Hi Tre’ , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Tre’ Giles, and I’m proud to be born and raised in Colorado Springs. I graduated from Widefield High School in 2011 and went on to become a first-generation college student, attending Fort Hays State University in western Kansas, where I also played football. During my time there, I developed as a leader, serving in multiple campus organizations and ultimately earning a degree in Organizational Leadership.

After college, I spent 27 months in West Africa, serving in The Gambia with the Peace Corps. That experience deepened my love for people and for community development. Upon returning to Kansas, I served as both a pastor and a basketball coach—and it was during that season that I married my wife, Carma.

Following that chapter, we moved to the Caribbean for half a year, working with young adults and students, and supporting the local church. Eventually, we settled in Portland, Oregon, where I served as the Pastor of Justice and Mercy at Bridgetown Church. My work there focused on walking alongside marginalized communities—refugees, the unhoused, individuals facing addiction, those who are incarcerated, foster care families, and youth impacted by poverty. My aim was to help move the church beyond transactional service toward true kinship—creating spaces where people who are often labeled by systems are seen, embraced, and welcomed as family around a shared table.

That journey ultimately brought us back home to Colorado Springs to be near family. Today, I serve as the National Director of Campus Engagement at Alpha USA. My role centers on building relationships with universities and campus leaders across the country to foster safe, welcoming spaces where students can have honest conversations about life and faith. In many ways, I see myself as a cheerleader and friend to the people who are shaping the lives of Gen Z with empathy, courage, and conviction.

Being back home in Colorado is a gift, and we’re looking forward to serving our community and this state to the best of our abilities—and to sharing joy and laughter along the way.

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?
Of course, like anyone else, the road hasn’t always been smooth. I’ve faced my fair share of challenges—both personally and professionally. One of the more defining moments came during my college football career when I tore three ligaments in my knee and had to undergo reconstructive surgery. That injury forced me to confront some deep questions about identity and purpose. At the time, I had tied so much of who I was to being an athlete. Losing that led to a lot of confusion—but, in hindsight, it was a blessing. It gave me space to rediscover myself, to find my voice, and to realize that I was so much more than the box I had put myself in.

Beyond that, I’ve faced other hurdles—especially navigating experiences of racism while living in western Kansas. Those moments were painful but also formative, pushing me to become an advocate and a voice for people of color in spaces where equity and inclusion were often lacking.

Like many young adults, I’ve also wrestled with the uncertainty of an evolving economy, trying to figure out how to make a meaningful impact while also providing for my family. Working in the nonprofit space, I’ve often wondered how to sustain a life of service while facing the rising cost of living, particularly in places like Colorado and the West Coast.

But through it all, I’ve grown stronger. These experiences have shaped me and stretched me. I’ve learned to keep moving forward—one foot in front of the other—surrounded by friends and family who support me. And honestly, time and time again, things tend to work out—by the grace and the hand of the Lord.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work for Alpha USA, an organization focused on equipping the Church to better listen to its surrounding community and to create safe, welcoming spaces where people can explore life’s biggest questions. We create environments—whether in schools, churches, prisons, or even businesses—where people are invited into honest dialogue about topics like faith, identity, the problem of suffering, the Bible, and the person of Jesus.

What I love most about my work is that it creates space for healthy, nuanced conversations—something I think is desperately needed in today’s polarized world. With the rise of social media and the pressure to pick a side or fall into extremes, I believe there’s a third way: a more balanced, empathetic, and thoughtful approach to life and faith. Alpha offers that kind of space, where listening is valued and transformation happens through relationship, not argument.

I’m particularly passionate about empowering the next generation—Gen Z and Gen Alpha. I believe deeply in their voice, their leadership, and their potential to shape the world in bold and redemptive ways. I see my role as a mentor, a bridge-builder, and a cheerleader—someone who isn’t focused on promoting my own name, but who is committed to lifting up others, especially young leaders. I believe in sharing power, making space, and ultimately doing it all for the glory of Jesus.

There have been a few career moments I’m proud of, but at the end of the day, what means the most to me is that I get to be a friend to many young people, helping them find their voice, their confidence, and their purpose. If I can lay my head down at night knowing I did that well—even in small ways—that’s enough for me.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’d say I’m pretty comfortable with taking risks—especially when they’re rooted in purpose and aligned with my values. One of the biggest risks I ever took was turning down fully funded graduate school offers and early career opportunities that could have set me up financially, in order to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer. I chose to spend over two years in a remote village in The Gambia, a place where I didn’t speak the language, didn’t share the religion, and was completely unfamiliar with the culture.

That decision wasn’t easy. It was a leap into the unknown. But I took that risk because I believed deeply in the value of cross-cultural friendship and mutual learning. My goal was simple: to build relationships, to allow others to leave their imprint on me, and to become a sponge—soaking up beauty and wisdom from a place that most of my network might never get to experience. And honestly, it was worth it. It changed my life.

Most of the risks I’ve taken haven’t been about chasing thrill or reward—they’ve been people-oriented. I take risks because I want to see the world in all its beauty. I want to taste it, share it with my family, and invite others into a bigger story filled with wonder and hope. In a world that often emphasizes fear, division, and scarcity, I choose to live a life of vibrancy, joy, and connection. That kind of life—the kind that inspires others and draws people together—requires risk. And I’m all in for that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alphausa.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trelgiles
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tre.giles.3
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trelgiles/