Meet Alicia
Alicia has lived in Harlem most of her life, “I moved to Harlem [when] I was like 5 or 6, but I am from New York. So I was born in Central Park West, on the Upper West Side, and then I moved to Harlem when I was like 5 or 6.” She went to school in Harlem and was exposed to various activities during her time at Frederick Douglass Academy and worked as a lifeguard after school at the YMCA. She got a Bachelor’s in Business from Penn State, but when she didn’t get a job in corporate she began lifeguarding again which eventually led to her unexpected path to education starting with teaching swimming classes. Now she is a Program Director for another YMCA, runs after school programs at the Ella Baker School, is a troop leader for Girl Scouts, and working on her second Master’s degree, “I do a lot… My mom lives in Japan now. So I just think just staying busy… [makes] my mind [not] wander…”
Her mother has influenced her greatly, in terms of the importance of education and being so ambitious, taking on many roles, “I just do different things to stay active in the community, but then also just being active in my life… And I think that's also part of my mom, too… She's from Japan, born and raised in Japan, she moved to New York when she was like 18-19 and I’ve always seen her be busy as well. And so I think just observing that growing up is kind of like how I move with my life and just being busy…” Her work with Girl Scouts has been extremely fulfilling for her. She was teaching a family how to swim when the mother suggested she become the troop leader for her youngest daughter. “And I was like, ‘Alright, I can do this for like a year, sure.’ And I started with 9 girls, and that was 2015. And now in 2024, I have the biggest troop in Harlem…” She’s grateful to be able to influence the youth and be a part of them growing, learning more about themselves, working on their self-esteem, and gaining “sisters” in one another.
“I [had] to take the 2/3 train up to 148th for high school. So that was my route. Always go down to Lenox Ave., get the stick candy [from Mike’s Candy Stand on 122nd and Lenox], and then go to the train, every morning.”
Walking to middle school, Alicia would often stop by Mike’s Candy Stand that used to be on 122nd and Lenox, “It was just candy… No drinks or nothing. Just candy, and he put it in a brown bag and I would always get me either a Big Red or Winter Fresh and Smoothie Skittles… I [had] to take the 2/3 train up to 148th for high school. So that was my route. Always go down to Lenox Ave., get the stick candy, and then go to the train, every morning.” There was a strong emphasis on academics growing up so she was often busy during the week studying, doing homework, and working but on the weekends as long as her homework was done her mom let her go to parties for high school kids organized at Milbank, P.A.L. on 118th, YMCA, and the Kennedy Center. She also recalls her mom taking her shopping every weekend.
“My Harlem story… I think I could relate to a lot of people, like my mom was an immigrant. I’m an only child, I’m a first gen... I wouldn't change my upbringing, I wouldn't change my experiences in Harlem... I wouldn't have gone into education if I wasn't in Harlem at the Y working… I wouldn't know the people that I know now if I wasn’t in Harlem... I think the people that I know and have formed relationships with, they're definitely like my second family...” She feels connected to the history of Harlem “My family grew up in Douglass Projects and… Central Park West, like that area. And so as they've gotten older they moved to Harlem as well and I think just being an offspring of them has instilled in me to be a product of Harlem, which I love. I love Harlem… I would never deny where I'm from… regardless of how people may think of it, outside looking in, [I’ve known] Harlem since the 90s to now. And you know, at the end of the day you're gonna think what you're gonna think, but I know what I know. And I love where I'm from.”
Alicia aims to continue her work with Girl Scouts and be a part of bringing more community based organizations and programs to children, making them more accessible and providing a positive space for kids to spend their time productively. She loves Harlem and feels it has raised her to be who she is today, “Harlem has definitely given me tough love that I am able to provide to [others]... People say [I walk around] with a resting b***h face, but I think that’s just how Harlem is, right? It looks and appears tough, but it's really… a very soft and loving community…”