Uncrowned Community Builders

At an early age, Allie Howell Freeman learned that serving others brought about the greatest satisfaction in her life. Born in Mocksville, North Carolina, on January 7, 1934, Allie's father, Luther Roy Howell, a minister, and her mother, Gertrude Foote Howell, were models of service in the local community. When Allie began her educational training at Clark-Atlanta University, social work was her chosen profession and she earned a Bachelor's in Social Science and a Master's degree in Social Work.

Mrs. Freeman's work in the field began in rural North Carolina. As a researcher, she studied ways of improving conditions for migrant families. Later she worked with children from New York City who had been placed in a residential treatment center in Bedford Hills, New York. Her work broadened as she counseled families in New Jersey and managed foster care placement for the Department of Child Welfare in Washington, D.C.

Arriving in Buffalo, New York in 1970, Allie began her tenure as an assistant clinical professor at the University at Buffalo. She was the first African American female in her position in the Mental Health Clinic, the Social Service Director at the University Health Service, and a Field Instructor for the School of Social Work. Additionally, Allie volunteered as a lecturer in the African American Studies Department and served as a consultant for women and minorities in the UB Medical School. Her teaching experience includes co-lecturing a course in Human Behavior for freshmen medical students at UB and social work courses at Daemen College and child care courses at Erie Community College City campus. She received recognition as a Field Instructor and as Acting President of the Minority Faculty and Staff.

After relocating to Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1984, Allie worked with the Veterans Administration as a readjustment counseling specialist with Vietnam veterans. She was awarded special recognition for having empowered the nurses to honor their military service in Vietnam. Based on her work with the Vietnam veterans who were nurses, Allie presented a paper at the National Association for Social Workers. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she continued to share her expertise in the classroom as an adjunct professor in social work and an instructor in sociology at Fayetteville State University.

Allie later returned to New York state, as a downstate resident of Long Island where she continued breaking ground as a clinical social worker with families and children. Additionally, she was a field instructor in Social Work at Adelphi University. In 1993, she returned to Buffalo following the death of her husband, James J. Freeman, M.D., Ph.D., the first African American with an earned doctorate to graduate from the University at Buffalo Medical School. Affectionately known as Jim, he was her best friend and supporter.

Continuing her work at Women and Childrenââ?¬â?¢s Hospital in Buffalo, Allie worked with at risk teenage patients who benefited from her expertise as a clinical social worker. She retired in 2005. Unable to remain retired; she provided services at a local day care center adding to the volumes of day to day observations. A local elementary school also has benefited from her expertise.

A member of St. John Baptist Church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and the National Association of Social Workers, Allie also serves on the Advisory Board for Woman Focus and the Gerard Place Board of Directors. Allie's avocations include dancing with the Jazzy Steppers and writing poetry using day to day observations to speak to life issues. Her passion continues to be human relations and engaging in methods that work for the good of all of her clients.

The mother of three successful sons, James Jr., Patrick, and Russell, and grandmother of Keith, Miles, Dyson, August, McQuell and Nashira, Allie continues to model the practice of serving others that her father preached about. She contends that one can be an individual with her own identity and maintain quality connections. Life presents challenges and Allie continues to accept them.