Sweet Alice Harris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sweet Alice Harris
|
|
|---|---|
Sweet Alice Harris receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Next Dimension University, on August 17, 2019
|
|
| Born |
Alice Harris
January 14, 1934 |
| Alma mater | California State University, Dominguez Hills (B.A.) |
| Occupation | community organizer executive director, Parents of Watts |
Alice Harris, often called "Sweet Alice," was born on January 14, 1934. She is a special kind of leader called a community organizer. She lives in Watts, Los Angeles, California, and started a group called Parents of Watts. This group helps young people and families in her community.
Early Life and Learning
Alice Harris was born in Gadsden, Alabama in 1934. When she was a teenager, she faced many challenges. She experienced being poor, not having a home, and raising a child on her own.
Alice remembers needing help when she was young. A kind family in Alabama gave her a job and supported her. She promised herself that she would always help others who were in similar situations. She once said, "I won't stop. I'll be doing this until the Lord comes and gets me because I love it. I love to see people smile."
Before moving to Los Angeles in the late 1950s, she studied cosmetology. She even ran her own beauty shop in Detroit, Michigan. Later, she took college classes in sociology (the study of how people live in groups) and child development. She earned a college degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in Carson, California.
Parents of Watts, Inc.
In 1965, there were big protests and unrest in Watts, known as the Watts Rebellion. Alice Harris saw how much her community needed help. She decided to act.
She started working from her own house with a group of volunteers. Their goal was to help rebuild the community. She joined forces with other local groups. Together, they formed the Black and Brown Committee. This group later became Parents of Watts (POW) in 1979. It officially became a non-profit organization in 1983.
Today, Parents of Watts runs more than 15 different programs. These programs are held in eight houses that Alice Harris bought. POW offers many helpful services, such as:
- Emergency food and shelter for people who are homeless.
- Tutoring for students.
- Health seminars to teach about staying healthy.
- Parenting classes for moms and dads.
- Literacy courses to help people learn to read and write.
- Preparation for college and different careers.
- Help with finding housing for anyone who needs it.
Awards and Recognition
Alice Harris has received many honors for her amazing work.
- In 1993, Essence magazine gave her an award.
- In 2002, California's lieutenant governor, Cruz Bustamante, named her "Woman of the Year." This was to honor her efforts through Parents of Watts.
- In 2003, her home was damaged by a flood. She was featured on an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, a TV show that rebuilds homes.
- In 2007, she received a Minerva Award from The Women's Conference.
- In 2008, she earned an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Southern California.
- Also in 2008, she was named one of U.S. president George H. W. Bush's "Points of Light." This award is given to citizens who make a big difference in their communities by volunteering.
- On October 8, 2015, she received the Community Leadership Award. This award was given during California State University, Dominguez Hills' Founders' Dinner.
