Alice's Story

Alice Allen was born in Mount Vernon, New York in 1941.  Early in Alice's life she was attracted to the arts, particularly illustrative art and fashion.  Her mother's encouragement to sketch and draw at home led to Alice's acceptance to the coveted and exclusive New York City Music and Arts High School in 1955.  One of the few African-American students in the school, Alice was both exhilarated and challenged.  Notable students attending the school in the 1950s were Singer and Actress Diahann Carroll, Actor Billie Dee Williams, Artist Eleanor Antin, and Architect Charles Gwathmey.  Although this was a great opportunity, she left Music and Arts High School to get married and start a family at age sixteen.  

Alice went on to raise five children, one of whom shared her passion for illustrative art and fashion.  She soon found herself raising her five children as a single parent.  Understanding the value of education, based on her own experiences, Alice enrolled all of her children in the New York City Ocean Hill-Brownsville integration program. Her actions afforded her children the opportunity to attend public schools on the upper westside in Manhattan.  Occasionally sketching for her children, Alice found herself exploring her talents for the arts when she worked for Gimbels Department Store and learned how to professionally decorate Christmas trees.  Becoming well-known for her Christmas decorations and trees, Alice would open her living room curtains to display her lit and decorated tree for the neighborhood every year.  It was not unusual to find people intentionally walking by her window with their children stopping, pointing, and looking at her tree.  It was as if Alice magically brought the famous department store holiday window gazing to the heart of Harlem. 

Almost 40 years later, and after a long absence, Alice was reintroduced to the arts in Harlem.  When she accompanied her grandchildren to "Harlem's greatest little secret, Harlem School of the Arts (HSA)," the artist within her was revigorated and she remained a dedicated and passionate volunteer for approximately 25 years.  At HSA, Alice worked tirelessly encouraging and supporting students and teachers, alike.  She was a staple part of the HSA community and the person that many parents quickly began to count on to look after their children.  Alice was en loco parentis for many students when they traveled for performances and the go-to person for teaching artists when costumes and ballet slippers required mending in preparation for culminating shows.  Alice did everything from teaching students to apply make-up for their performances to reminding them to "pull up" when attempting particular dance steps.  Her passion for the students she supported led to her taking custodial responsibility and virtually adopting a 12-year old HSA student who remained with Alice from middle school to graduating from Purchase College of New York.  She often worked to support  students and teaching artists at Alvin Ailey and became a staunch supporter of Professional Performing Arts High School (PPAS), where her Grandson and adopted Granddaughter attended.

Only her bout with cancer pulled her away from her voluntarism.  The Alice Allen Scholarship Fund for the Arts is aimed to continue Alice's high level of support to children interested in experiencing the arts.