Alexis Smith: A Conversation
Alexis Smith, Union Capital Member
At Union Capital Boston, we believe healing happens through connection, creativity, and community. This month, we spoke with Alexis, a passionate facilitator and survivor who turned her grief into purpose. After losing her son, Ameen, to gun violence in 2017, Alexis began using art as a tool for healing, both for herself and for others navigating loss. Through her 3D Healing, Art, and Peace Workshops, she creates safe spaces for families to honor their loved ones and find light again. In this interview, Alexis shares what inspired her to lead these workshops, how Union Capital helped her grow as a facilitator, and the powerful impact of art, resilience, and social capital in her journey.
Finding Healing Through Creation
Finn: Why did you decide to do the Healing and Peace Workshop at Union Capital, and what did you learn from facilitating it?
Alexis: The reason I decided to facilitate another 3-D healing, art, and peace workshop for survivors on August 20, 2025, was because I know what it’s like to begin a new season, a training, a fellowship, or a college course without my loved one, Ameen Sarome Anthony Lacy, who lost his life to gun violence on December 8, 2017.
I knew there would be families starting the school year with a missing family member. I wanted to give them a space to re-create a memorable moment they shared with their loved one when they were alive. By choosing a photo and then writing a poem to uplift that photo, participants could hold onto a memory that brought them comfort and pride.
What I learned from facilitating the workshop is that it’s more important to listen to the needs of each person in the room than to stick to a strict plan. People need flexibility when they’re re-creating a moment that’s so personal and emotional. My job was to help them bring that memory to life in their way not just follow the example piece I made to spark their creativity. Healing is personal, and art can open doors that talking alone sometimes can’t.
Connecting with Union Capital
Finn: How did you hear about Union Capital?
Alexis: I first heard about Union Capital Boston through an event hosted by the Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association in Roxbury, Massachusetts. That connection opened a door to a whole new community of support and empowerment.
Growth, Confidence, and Independence
Finn: How has Union Capital affected you?
Alexis: Union Capital Boston has impacted my life in a major way. Through their facilitation workshop, I earned a certificate that allows me to lead my own workshops independently. That meant so much to me because I’ve been asking for opportunities to stand on my own, instead of always having to be under someone else’s umbrella.
I started facilitating workshops after losing my son Ameen to violence in 2017. Art helped me process my grief, it allowed me to re-create memories of my son with joy instead of pain. Traditional talk therapy left me feeling heavy and emotional, but art gave me a different kind of peace. It brought vibrance back into my life, and I wanted others to feel that, too.
Now, with my facilitation certificate, I feel confident that I can reach even more people. I can partner with networks on my own to create spaces for survivors to heal, remember, and rebuild.
Building Social Capital Through Advocacy
Finn: Do you have any examples of social capital in your personal life?
Alexis: Yes, I’ve experienced social capital on a large scale, both in my own life and through my son’s legacy. When Ameen was alive, and even after he was murdered, I went to the city seeking help across different networks. I rarely got callbacks or meaningful support.
Coming from a single-parent home, I understood how isolating it could be to face tragedy alone. That’s why I created a proposal for a law to establish an asylum for families, a safe home and resource hub for single-parent households affected by violence. My goal was to raise funds for families in crisis and to hold systems accountable for failing to protect our youth.
Unfortunately, while some officials met with me and expressed interest, follow-up rarely came. People moved on to new jobs, while I was left with the grief and responsibility of fighting for change. Those who committed harm often went unpunished, and the cycle continued.
Even now, I haven’t received the full support I need to create a dedicated space to host my workshops full-time. Too often, my ideas are used, but my name isn’t attached. Still, I keep going, because I’ve seen the impact. I’ve seen families smile for the first time in years. That’s what keeps me motivated.
Through my art workshops and advocacy, I’ve worked to bridge gaps between networks, inspire policy change, and create healing spaces for survivors. Union Capital has helped me see that my vision, and my voice, matter.
If you would like to hear Alexis speak more on the topic of gun violence and Boston and the loss of her son, I would strongly encourage you to check out her interview with GBH News below.