THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 24, 1994 TAG: 9406220145
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY XIAOHONG ZHANG SWAIN, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: 940624 LENGTH: Medium
Not Alicia Alexander.
{REST} In 1992 at the age of 20, Alexander, who grew up in Chesapeake, ventured into the dangerous area in East Palo Alto, Calif., and turned the one-acre crime-ridden site into an oasis of organically grown fruits, vegetables, beans and corn.
With the help of her boyfriend, David Carson, a student at the Law School of Stanford University, and Leroy Musgrazes, a creative writer, also from the university, Alexander distributed the harvest from the garden to the needy elderly.
At the farm center, Alexander counseled troubled black and Latino youth and taught them African dance.
``The farm gave people something positive to look for,'' said Alexander. ``It creates something that kids can hang around. It shows people that there is not just crime and urban decay, that there is hope, that things can be done if people get together.''
In April 1994, Alexander told the story of the Green Street Organic Farm in an essay submitted for the Revlon/Essence ``Women Who Go Above and Beyond'' Contest. She was selected as one of the three grand prize winners. She received a $1,000 cash award and a three-day trip for two to New York City to attend the seventh annual Essence Awards, sponsored by Essence magazine.
Alexander was thrilled to meet some of her favorite celebrities, including writer Maya Angelou and comedian Bill Cosby.
``I told her (Angelou) how much I loved her books,'' Alexander said. ``I told him (Cosby) that I am a grand prize winner. He kissed my hand! It was a great experience.''
Alexander's parents, Barbara and Curtis Alexander, both former college professors, live in Chesapeake and operate their own distribution and publishing company, called ECA Associates.
Curtis Alexander isn't surprised that his daughter won the contest. While she was a Great Bridge High School student, she had demonstrated genuine concerns for people, African-Americans in particular, he said.
``When she was 16, she traveled to Europe and studied museum artifacts in African countries,'' Curtis Alexander said. ``She started an association at Great Bridge High School to encourage African-American students to take advanced college courses. The association set up a tutorial program, pairing those who were doing well with those who were not doing so well.''
He is proud of his daughter's ability to achieve things.
``She can move in different circles,'' he said, ``the grassroots and higher social levels. She can engage people of any age group.''
The contest winners were also judged on their fashion images. A promising model working for Stars Agency in San Francisco and Click Agency in New York, Alexander has a good grasp of how to project her individuality.
For the contest, she submitted one of her favorite modeling shots. In the picture, Alexander wore a bright flowing summer dress complemented with a short, natural hairdo.
``It has the image of my own unique style,'' Alexander said. ``It projects confidence and grace. It's just me.''
Alexander said the projection of a good fashion image has to do with more than physical attributes. It has a lot to do with confidence, she said. That's what she tries to get through to her students at Barbizon Modeling Agency and School in San Francisco.
Alexander believes she has the potential to get to the highest level in modeling, to become a super model.
With a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Howard University, Alexander has been working as a counselor and therapist for children.
Meanwhile, she is struggling to raise money to keep the Green Street Organic Farm operating.
``It's hard to maintain the farm,'' she said. ``We can't afford water. Seeds and other materials for growing organic crops are expensive. The farm is still growing, but not as prolific as before.''
To make the situation worse, the owner of the leased land wants to sell it.
``We need to raise $250,000 to save the farm,'' Alexander said. ``So far, we only have about $50,000.''
During her trip to New York to accept her prize, Alexander distributed fliers soliciting donations to help save the farm.
by CNB