Impactful mentoring doesn’t just happen.

Alabama Power Charitable Giving Program Manager Tanganyika Grayson has all the core skills: She listens actively, builds trust, encourages, inspires and cares.

As a mentor, Grayson helps youths and young adults develop their leadership abilities, define and achieve their personal goals, explore and acquire career and college skills, and more.

“Tan is a role model of quiet dignity and grace,” said Charitable Giving Manager Margaret White. “She continues to inspire and impress our team with the results she produces.”

Unsung Hero Tanganyika Grayson from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

Grayson is an inspiration to young people in her community. She is committed to helping women, children and families discover their purpose and reach their highest potential.

Her prior service to youths in her church, Faith Apostolic, helped prepare Grayson for other mentoring opportunities, with the mission of strengthening and developing lives.

At Alabama Power, Grayson manages programs for low-income customers, builds relationships with new external partners and maintains rapport with existing ones.

“As employees, it’s important to know we have daily opportunities to positively affect the lives of people – family, friends, co-workers and customers,” Grayson said. “There will always be variations of opinions, and sometimes conflicts. However, if we focus on the main thing, which is the care/concern of others, we’ll be a step ahead every time, bringing harmony in our relationships, whether work or otherwise.”

Grayson says she feels fortunate to work for a company that supports community service. (contributed)

Grayson says serving others was instilled in her by her parents at a young age. (contributed)

Grayson says she is committed to helping women, children and families discover their purpose and reach their highest potential. (contributed)

Grayson says she feels fortunate to work for a company that supports community service. (contributed)

Grayson says serving others was instilled in her by her parents at a young age. (contributed)

As a mentor, Grayson helps youths and young adults develop their leadership abilities, define and achieve their personal goals, explore and acquire career and college skills, and more. (contributed)

Serving others was instilled in Grayson at a young age. Her parents relied upon the church as a foundation in their children’s lives. She feels fortunate to work for a company that supports community service.

As a program manager, Grayson oversees the Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund (ABC Trust), Project SHARE and Alabama Power Foundation grant programs.

The ABC Trust and Project SHARE help people in need pay their energy bills. In the social welfare space, Grayson said there is a network of Alabama nonprofits that most customers never tap into because they don’t know they exist. The Alabama Power Foundation supports many of those nonprofits.

Grayson remembers as a child when her father lost his job. Thankfully, their extended family helped support them temporarily while her mother applied for assistance programs.

“At some point in life, we all face difficult challenges, whether financial, the loss of a loved one or other complications,” Grayson said. “It’s a blessing to know there are systems in place to help provide support.”