“One of the superpowers of the Hispanic Alliance is that very early on, this organization understood that to get work done, you had to work together. You had to collaborate.”
Tamela Spann has understood the value of the Hispanic Alliance longer than almost anyone outside the founding circle. Long before HA became a statewide convener, before SDA became a proven leadership pipeline, and before our community teams took root. Tamela was there, championing the idea that Greenville needed this organization.
Her introduction to HA began during her time at United Way of Greenville County, serving as a Community Investment Manager when HA was still incubating under United Way’s umbrella. She remembers the moment United Way committed to supporting HA’s formation, not as a short-term project, but as a long-term investment.
“I was really gratified to see that United Way believed the Hispanic Alliance was important enough to invest long-term. And that it was important to the lifeblood of this community.”
That early belief mattered. It helped HA move from a grassroots circle into a structured network built on collaboration, trust, and shared responsibility.
Today, as the Vice President of Community Investments at Hollingsworth Funds, Tamela continues to be a strategic thought partner and advocate for HA’s mission. She’s a leader who brings clarity and compassion, who speaks directly and works intentionally, and who deeply understands what strong community infrastructure requires.
“Collaboration is the superpower.”
When Tamela talks about the Hispanic Alliance, she immediately names what makes it distinct:
“Very early, the organization understood that in order to get work done, you had to collaborate — and HA has been super intentional about leading with that spirit.”
For Tamela, collaboration isn’t a buzzword — it’s a structural necessity.
She’s watched other organizations struggle because they try to operate in silos. But HA took a different path from the start: convening partners, aligning efforts, and building coalitions strong enough to meet real community needs.
In philanthropy, Tamela evaluates organizations not by their promises, but by their posture. And HA’s posture — open, coordinated, relationship-driven — is what continues to earn her trust.
Investing in Future Leaders
There’s a particular program that Tamela highlights repeatedly: The Student DREAMers Alliance.
“SDA is an innovative approach to leadership development,” she says.
“Our next leaders are still developing. And if we’re not intentional about engaging them — giving them skills, resources, and exposure — then we’re missing out on incredible talent, innovation, and energy around how a community grows.”
For Tamela, SDA is not just a youth program — it’s strategy. It’s how communities build long-term stability. It’s how equity becomes leadership, not just access.
Her insight echoes what national research on community development confirms: when you invest in first-generation young people, you’re strengthening opportunity for entire generations to come.
Why the Hispanic Alliance Matters
When someone with Tamela’s experience (20+ years across philanthropy, education, and government) affirms an organization’s mission, methods, and community impact, it signals something meaningful:
Hispanic Alliance isn’t just a good organization. It’s a necessary one.
It strengthens systems. It develops leaders. It amplifies community voice. And it does it through collaboration — not competition.
Tamela’s story is a reminder that the Hispanic Alliance has grown not only because of strong internal leadership, but because thoughtful partners believed in the work and continued investing in it.
Your gift helps sustain and expand that work — strengthening the next generation of leaders and ensuring our community continues to grow with equity at the center.
