A Loving Innovative Community Environment (A.L.I.C.E.)

Childersburg, Alabama

Bringing a hub of economic and educational opportunity to Childersburg, Alabama

Over 80% of Childersburg youth face economic hardship, including unstable housing & food insecurity. The town square, community meeting spaces, and restaurants have turned into boarded-up buildings.

ALICE creates educational and economic opportunity through a community center campus with a series of spaces to serve as “A Loving, Innovative Community Environment” (ALICE) to meet the needs of Childersburg and the surrounding Talladega county.

By providing access to essential services, recreation, and educational and workforce development opportunities, ALICE ensures that community members have the resources and places to learn, grow, and thrive.

Our Story

ALICE was founded by former NBA star and fifth-generation Childersburg resident, Gerald Wallace. After playing in the NBA for 15 years, Gerald returned to his hometown and witnessed the barriers to opportunity in Childersburg. With persistent poverty, low educational performance, and limited community spaces or after-school programs, Childersburg residents face entrenched barriers to educational and economic success.

To address these pressing challenges, Gerald & community partners are building a community center campus to improve academic outcomes for all Childersburg youth, expand career readiness & workforce mobility, and increase access to community resources.

Our Vision

Our vision is to turn Childersburg into a community of possibility, with facilities providing places for residents to access much-needed services and programs to learn, build skills, and strengthen community ties. The inspiration for the namesake was Gerald’s mother, Alice Castleberry, a long-time Childersburg resident who was a model for love in action. 

Help us Build two sites for the ALICE Community Center Campus:

Years ago, Gerald purchased 9 acres of land in downtown Childersburg. One of ALICE’s builds is a 30,000 square foot community center on this 9 acres. The first phase of this build is a Head Start, Tech Center, and an outdoor pavilion. This site houses:

  • Classrooms, multipurpose spaces, and a business center.

  • Head Start Early Childhood Education

  • Tech Center

  • Tutoring & College Access Programs

  • Financial Literacy Programs

  • Workforce Development & Small Business Support

  • NCAA Basketball Courts

  • Health & Wellness Hub

Additionally, across the highway, until 1969, the Phyllis Wheatley School served as the local all-Black school. After integration, it eventually became a community center that fell into severe disrepair.

For years, Gerald was hopeful to acquire and restore the Phyllis Wheatley property. As of September 2025, the courts have officially awarded ALICE the property with proper title. Renovations will begin immediately, which will allow us to quickly provide classrooms for educational programming, office space, an industrial kitchen, and a food distribution center to the community.

DONATE TODAY. Every dollar moves us closer to offering these critical services in Childersburg.

While awaiting the build, ALICE has been actively leading after-school and summer programs, providing high school students with targeted tutoring and comprehensive college and career preparation.

Contact

Fill out the form or email info@alicecc.org and we’ll be in touch soon!

Email
info@alicecc.org