Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Reece.
Hi Christina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I lived with my mom until I was about five. She was an addict – really, my whole family had addiction issues but she tried. You just can’t always protect your kid when you’re not fully present. I then went to live with my grandma and grandpa until I was about eight; the stability was better but still surrounded by drugs and alcohol. My grandma passed when I was eight from cancer and I then went to live with my aunt and uncle, who would then go on to raise me for the remainder of my childhood.
She and my uncle went to a very different kind of Christian church; it was a culture shock almost. Boys and girls were separated, girls/women wore dresses, no makeup or television and the list goes on. I went to school there as well until about 6th grade. We then moved to a different church but still fairly religious place. My uncle passed when I was 12 and from there on out it was just me and my aunt.
I knew from a pretty young age that there was something different about me. It took me a while to come to terms that I was gay. Our church preached that it was an abomination and you kind of learn to hate yourself. I strived for perfection most of the time growing up because I felt like I was trying to counter this thing I didn’t like about myself. I worked at the church and was involved in many different ministries. Again, always striving to counteract this thing about me.
Well, around 22, after some very intense situations, I was left with no choice but to come out. At that point, I was kicked out and lost my job and about 80% of my support group (the people who I grew up with). My best friend of six years left me on a bench after I came out. It was just a really traumatic time in my life and it felt like it would never end. I couldn’t get a job for about 6-7 months and I couldn’t figure out why. I am a good employee; I am a hard worker and reliable. I finally applied to a place that I knew someone and they called the school for a reference and I finally found out why I wasn’t getting hired. My old boss at the school was saying some pretty damaging things about me to anyone who called for a reference. Needless to say, I didn’t get that job either.
Then it happened; I finally got a job at Starbucks through a new friend and I felt so loved and accepted and they quickly became my new family. It was during that time I fell in love with coffee culture. I went on to work other jobs in the restaurant industry to fully understand all sides of the business but I have always kept that same love for coffee. It got me started on a new life and gave me the hope I so desperately needed for that time in my life.
Fast forward to now – I have my own place and I get to create a space for people who need love and acceptance and maybe even need a little family. Life has a funny way of giving you what you need. It may look different than what others have but it’s always perfect. I still haven’t been home for a holiday since that time and my relationship with my aunt is still rough but I have this place and my partner, Robin and my little Conduit family.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Getting this place open was not easy some days; we definitely had our trials. Robin and I got through them like champs but many tears were shed along the way. We had the winter storm, covid, and in general, doing a construction project pushes you to the brink of sanity but we wouldn’t trade it for anything. We love this place.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Work for us is more about the people than it is about the coffee. We love our neighborhood and we try to truly see each person that comes into our space. Everyone wants to be seen, heard and loved. We think changing the world happens in your neighborhood, one person at a time. Conversation is always happening in this place, and whether we agree or not – there is always love. You can learn so much from hearing someone’s story and it can open your eyes to new ideas and thoughts when you truly listen to hear.
In addition, we have some pretty killer coffee. We serve specialty coffee and we strive to honor the hard work and love that goes into the entire process until it hits your cup. We love what we do and we work to be the best at it everyday. But what really sets us apart is our shop dog – Hendrix 😉 I’m just kidding, but he is big part of our place and he helps this place feel even more like home. We love him and the community loves him.
What were you like growing up?
I was kind of a quiet kid when I was growing up. There was a lot going on around me and I was very observant. I had some neighborhood friends that I like to play with but mostly I loved hanging out with my grandpa – he taught me a lot and we laughed alot and had more whole milk and pan dulce than any person should ever consume. He taught me to fix things and how to be loving and kind. He always put others first and was the first in line to be there if anyone needed help. He was the calm in the storm for me.
I took on a lot of those qualities growing up and it landed me in places of leadership throughout my teenage years. I also developed quite a sense of humor when I was about 15. I really didn’t come out of my shell until then. My life just looked very different than everyone else’s and it makes you insecure.
Contact Info:
- Email: conduitcoffeehtx@gmail.com
- Website: www.conduitcoffeehtx.com
- Instagram: @conduitcoffeehtx
Image Credits
Stefan Heldzinger – the amber cup with cream being poured in and the photo with the black cup on the wooden table with the plant leaves coming through are both his.
