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Alisia Dieudonne was a sophomore at North Carolina A&T University.  On October 2, 2016, she attended an off campus house party.  Uninvited guests crashed the party.  They refused to leave.  A fight broke out and someone fired a gun.  Alisia and a classmate, Amhad Campbell, a junior, were killed.  Their families would not only have to grieve the loss of their children, but deal with the frustration of no one being held accountable for their deaths.  Then, two years later, in August 2018, Lawrence Baird, was arrested and charged with 2 counts of first-degree murder and other charges.

I was commissioned to paint a portrait of Alisia.   I used this photo as a reference for the portrait.  The painting is acrylic on canvas panel.  The color blue is often associated with the sky, expansiveness, heaven and peace.  These spiritual qualities of the color blue felt appropriate for this painting. The background and touches of blue in her hair and on her skin, implies that she has transitioned to another realm and is at peace.

We send our children away to college, expecting them to get a degree and become independent.  We don't expect that they literally might not survive their college experience.  Two lives were abruptly ended due to senseless gun violence.  Two young people full of promise and potential are gone too soon.

The Alisia Dieudonne Foundation was established in her honor.  It provides educational scholarships, community service, awareness of senseless gun violence and how our youth can make a difference.