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The question of which experiences and which people we are can be obscure to some, but remarkably clear to others.
If you listen for even a moment to the president of the San Diego Bar Association, Yahairah Aristy, it becomes clear that she is firmly rooted in that camp. Her life bears witness to a game with an old saying: Behind every strong woman there is a group of strong women who have supported, cared for and prepared them for success.
The guiding light of her young life was provided by her grandmother, who came from the Dominican Republic and immigrated to New York when Aristy’s mother was 13 years old. Born and raised in Manhattan with a happy couple of years in the Dominican Republic for middle school, Aristy benefited from her grandmother’s wisdom and warmth as she helped raise Aristy as her mother battled addiction. This foundation helped her get through a short but sad period of foster care before being emotionally lifted by another strong woman.
As a child, Aristy’s elementary school teacher Ms. Lawson was a woman she really saw. Ms. Lawson was not affected by the subtle racism of the low expectations that many children of color have to overcome from their teachers. Ms. Lawson’s belief in and encouragement in Aristy’s talent and intellect helped shape the lawyer and civic leader she became.
And another strong woman did that. Aristy’s mother.
Often times, the stigma society of addiction not only reduces people but also ignores their humanity and the complexities of their existence. Despite her addiction (she eventually recovered), her mother was always doing community service. Aristy, 47, credits her mother’s strength and servant guidance for inspiring her path. In addition to being the current president of one of the most influential legal organizations in the state, she is also the past president of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation and the La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club.
The diversity of her life experiences led her to pursue that Lawyers Club would not only have a one-time committee on diversity and one on LGBTQ issues, but that they would be an integral part of the organization.
As a public defender over the age of 15, she said: “I think everyone deserves the best lawyer and I believe in Gideon v. Wainwright, ”the US Supreme Court case, which established the constitutional right of any defendant in criminal proceedings to public legal defense.
She found her way into the courtroom after serving children in dire cases as a clinical social worker for years. Realizing that the lawyers she frequently encountered did not seem eager to put the family at the forefront of the cases, she used her characteristic tenacity and focus on purpose and enrolled in the Thomas Jefferson School of Law. She passed the bar exam straight away and defended a wide variety of people.
As we talked, Aristy, who lives in La Mesa, thought about how if she won the lottery, she would use the money to change the world.
The reality is that changes in the world are an amalgamation of actions and decisions, big and small, that we cannot always identify. They are individual choices to be kind, to persevere, and to be grateful in the face of all the difficulties that society can bring. These are all qualities that are at the core of Yahairah, and there is no doubt that even without the lottery wins, it is already changing the world for many in our community and beyond.
About this series
Omar Passons is a member of the Community Advisory Board of the San Diego Union-Tribune, an officer of the San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency, and a leader in regional efforts for economic inclusion and growth.
Someone San Diego Should Know is a weekly column written by members of the UT’s Community Advisory Board about local people who are interesting and noteworthy because of their experience, accomplishments, creativity, or references.
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