Leadership | Safe Space Strategies

Alexis J. Smith,
Operations & Impact Strategist

Founder, Safe Space Strategies

If you’re carrying something with purpose, I’m listening.

And if you’re ready to build something sustainable with the kind of strategic partnership that brings clarity, structure, and relief - I’m here to help make it real.

I’m Alexis J. Smith - a strategist, coach, and partner to founders, family-led teams, and nonprofit leaders who are holding big visions and doing heavy lifting. I’ve been helping people structure their work, message their mission, and move with more clarity (and way less chaos) for over 20 years.

I build systems that help you lead well, serve wisely, and rest without guilt - because your calling isn’t meant to drain you.

Whether you’re leading a nonprofit, managing a family business, or carrying a calling that’s bigger than your current capacity, I help you move from scattered to strategic, from overwhelmed to organized—with tools and processes you can actually use.

I’m an early riser, a systems thinker, a woman of faith, and a mother of three incredible young women who inspire how I lead and how I live. Since 2006, I’ve worked remotely and in consulting partnership -managing complex deliverables with growing responsibility and a deep commitment to the success of the people I support.

Most of all, I lead with gratitude and discernment. Because I know the work you're doing is not light—
and you shouldn’t have to carry it alone.

What I Do:

Business Operations & Program Infrastructure
Strategic Communications & Messaging
Event Planning, Vendor Management & On-Site Logistics
Marketing Systems, Coaching & Team Training

Clients reach out when:

The vision is clear but the steps are fuzzy
The passion is strong but the systems are strained
The growth is real—but unorganized and unsustainable
Or they’re just tired of talking and ready to build
Or...they actually do just need to talk (ahem... SAFE SPACE Strategies came from somewhere...and we're honored!)

What I build is tangible:

Timelines, workflows, planning tools, communication frameworks, decision systems—solutions that create progress without compromising purpose.

Many of my clients begin with the S.O.W. Method™—a grounded approach I created to help leaders Structure their vision, Organize their systems, and Work their plan with clarity, care, and capacity in mind.
It’s more than a framework—it’s a rhythm that honors both your goals and your well-being.

What Working With Me Feels Like:

You will feel heard - but also held to your vision.
You will have space - but also structure.
You will be reminded that rest is part of the work.
And if you "leave" - you’ll leave with a blueprint for system that works.

I offer the voice of an Encourager, the safe hand of an Accomplice, and the warm accountability of a Coach.

I build from lived experience—as a former (and soon-to-be) family nonprofit and foundation founder, a realization of my Ancestors’ dreams of entrepreneurship, a licensed marketing coach, an operations and logistics strategist, a startup team member, and a Black woman who is unapologetically unlearning the grind and returning to purpose—following my own S.O.W. Method™ as I go.

I reject systems that reward burnout and believe your best work should not cost you your health or your joy. I successfully partner with leaders who are ready to build what they see—clearly, completely, and with legacy in mind.

"For me, faith and learning go hand in hand...

and the best way to learn has always been through trial, error, and trust."

Hi, I’m Rayven Smith—a young Black woman who loves to cook, bake, and walk out the calling God has placed on my life.

(Chef) Rayven Smith,

Food Entrepreneur

Youth Facilitator | Co-Strategist |

Culinary Creative

I knew by my sophomore year of high school that I wanted to follow my heart and become a chef. So I made a bold choice: I transferred from a traditional public school to an online high school for the arts to pursue that dream more intentionally.

I’m following God through every part of this journey, and I know He’s asking me to be brave. That includes showing up, trying again, and sharing what I’ve learned—through food, through conversation, and through service.

I’m proud to work with my family as part of Safe Space Strategies, where we believe in building solutions that are rooted in faith, family, and purpose. SSS is more than a business—it’s where intergenerational strategies are born and where I’ve been able to grow into leadership. As a Co-Strategist and Youth Facilitator, I contribute ideas, create space for young voices, and support initiatives that serve families and communities across generations.

My work also supports the evolution of Good Trouble Collaborators, where we uplift creative and community-centered leadership. I help shape programming that centers wellness, food equity, youth voice, and legacy-building. Whether I’m helping plan a strategy session or cooking for an event, I bring my whole self to the table—faith, creativity, and all.

I’m still growing. Still learning. Still saying yes to the process. And I’m grateful to be doing it with my family, for my community, and through God’s guidance.

I look forward to working with you.

We are passionate about helping non-profit organizations and family businesses succeed, and we are committed to providing the highest level of service to our clients. When you work with us, you can trust that you are in good hands.