Alice Nicks

Alice Nicks has a secret. Somehow, she has found a way to be in four places at once and stuff 36 hours of work into a mere 24-hour day. This one woman manages to channel her love of children into a position as co-owner of a six-facility child care center; act as a court-appointed advocate for abused and neglected children; present Lion & Lamb parenting workshops; serve as an elected official; pursue a master’s degree in counseling; and in her spare time, chide the manager of the local Planet Hollywood about exposing children to ultra-violent displays; all the while maintaining her marriage of 35 years and being an attentive mother and grandmother.

Alice’s work with neglected, abused and troubled children throughout the years made her acutely aware of the crucial role the family environment plays in a child’s life. Several years ago, when Alice’s daughter was in the seventh grade, she asked her mom if she could attend her first sleepover at a friend’s house since starting a new school that year. Alice performed her “good parent” duties and thoroughly investigated the family her daughter wanted to stay with by asking friends and members of the community about the nature of the home. Alice was repeatedly reassured that her daughter could not be staying with a better family.

The night of the sleepover, Alice was worried, as any mother would be, but her daughter was just excited to stay with her new friend. However, a mother’s worst fears came true that night. Another child at the sleepover accidentally shot the brother of her daughter’s friend while examining a rabbit pistol.

Thankfully, the brother survived. However, Alice quickly realized the extent to which violence—even unintentional violence—can cause post-traumatic stress disorder in children.  This incident spurred Alice to begin research on the public perception of violence and how it affects children.

This research “was like a window-shade going up,” says Alice. She began to pay attention to all of the circumstances that perpetuate violence. Alice realized that “what people perceive as not violent can really be violent.” As her research continued, Alice began to notice the proliferation of violent toys being marketed to children. At the time, Power Rangers were all the rage and Alice was struck by children’s unnatural obsession with these and other violent toys.

Through her research Alice discovered that: violence is learned; repeated exposure leads to de-sensitization; violence is marketed to younger and younger children; and marketers are capitalizing at the expense of children.

In 1999, Alice was introduced to The Lion & Lamb Project by a friend who is also deeply concerned with child advocacy. Alice attended a Workshop Leader Seminar to learn how to present Lion & Lamb workshops to parents and others. She has since presented Lion & Lamb’s materials in all types of venues to all types of audiences.

Alice’s activism seeps into every corner of her life. One day when she and her oldest granddaughter were walking through a department store, they came upon a Power Rangers display. The child quickly told her “nana” to close her eyes. Alice asked why and the little girl responded, “Because you might go blind.” Her granddaughter was keenly aware of Alice’s strong opposition to violent toys and wanted to protect her “nana” from the sight of them.

On another occasion, while walking through her local shopping mall, Alice was aghast at the sight of the display in the front window of the Planet Hollywood: a full-size replica of Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator with half his leg blown off and a myriad of other grisly battle wounds. Alice immediately located the manager and asked him why they would display such a scene in plain view of hundreds of children. He said he didn’t see a problem. So Alice took him outside and made him watch a father and his two daughters walk by the statue.

After seeing the smallest daughter recoil in fear because she didn’t understand that the statue was not real, the manager changed his tune and agreed that the statue was probably inappropriate for the location. However, he said there was nothing he could do about it at the risk of losing his job. The Planet Hollywood closed less then three months later. Even though Alice knows it wasn’t her actions that brought about the close, she enjoys a quiet sense of satisfaction, that, if nothing else, she helped that one manager see the effects these grisly scenes can have on small children.

As co-owner of Child Care Unlimited, Inc., a child care facility in Ohio, Alice has been exposed to children from all backgrounds over the course of many years. Child Care Unlimited’s contracts with five counties to serve children whose families are in crisis has further heightened her awareness of, and compassion for, children in troubled or abusive homes. Her contact with these children meant that she was often subpoenaed as a child care provider to testify in child abuse and neglect cases. Even though she holds a degree in early childhood development, Alice felt that her testimony rarely carried any real value and that her recommendations were often ignored.

Rather than continuing to feel helpless, Alice took action and became a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Delaware County, Ohio. As a court-appointed advocate, Alice investigates all aspects of a child’s life. She visits the home, talks to the child, speaks for the child in the courtroom, and acts as a “watchdog” throughout the case.

In her position as a court-appointed advocate, Alice feels that her opinions finally carry weight in court.  She says, simply, “I am the child’s voice.” Special advocates are vital because, Alice believes, the legal system is not designed to protect children.

Alice has recently been elected to a low-profile political position that allows her to select which candidates will represent her party in certain elections. She feels she can work even more effectively to advocate for children now that she has the opportunity for one-on-one encounters with politicians.

On top of all her other obligations, Alice is also working toward a master’s degree in counseling. Through her work and her volunteer efforts, Alice has seen many families in desperate need of counseling. She hopes to use her master’s degree to both aid these families and to grant even more validity to the information she gives all parents on how violence affects children.

Through it all, Alice tirelessly and constantly works to bring awareness to the general public of the need to advocate for children. This is a woman who definitely practices what she preaches.

Return to Others' Stories