Alyce S. Carew; TV Producer Promoted Diversity

Alyce S. Carew, who devoted her life to helping minorities succeed in life and in the entertainment industry through her work with education, children’s television shows and talent management, has died. She was 55.

Carew died June 24 in her Toluca Lake home of breast cancer.

As president and production executive for the nonprofit Rainbow Television Workshop, which she formed in 1974 with her husband, Colin “Topper” Carew, she promoted diversity behind and in front of the camera with the PBS series “Rebop.” She also produced such family-oriented series for PBS and cable networks as “The Righteous Apples,” “The Rainbow Movies of the Week,” “Tales in a Golden Groove” and “Bustin’ Loose.”

Additionally, she guided the PBS prime-time drama “The Children Shall Lead” and developed a video to boost children’s self-esteem, “Be Somebody.”

Carew, president of the Golden Management talent agency, promoted the careers of such notables as comedian Martin Lawrence and artist Varnette P. Honeywood. She also helped about 200 minority writers, directors and other entertainment specialists become members of professional unions, enabling them to win jobs.

Often cited with her husband by national publications, including a 1984 special tribute in Variety, Carew earned two NAACP Image Awards for her work with minorities of all ages.

Born in Fredericksburg, Va., she earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Hampton University in Virginia and began her varied career teaching junior high school math in Washington, D.C. She went on to earn a master’s degree in urban education at Catholic University there and later a doctorate in urban education at the Union Graduate School.

With her husband, Carew began working to raise the self-esteem of African American children at Washington’s New Thing community arts center. She helped them engage in the arts, incidentally developing her own interest in photography.

An exhibit of her photos is open this weekend at SoHo Gallery, 12202 Ventura Blvd., Studio City.

She is survived by her husband; daughters Lena and Cicely; father, Charles Sprow; two sisters; and two brothers.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Agape International Spiritual Center, 5700 Buckingham Parkway, Culver City. Memorial donations may be made to Alyce’s 501, a nonprofit agency she set up to promote diversity, or to Rainbow TV Works.