Today we’d like to introduce you to Lawson Alaniz-Picasso
Hi Lawson, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was raised in a household that was very politically and civically involved. Growing up, giving back and being there for my community was a fundamental value that I was raised on.
In 2019, I lost my mom. As I continued to pull the curtain back and learned of all the denials for health insurance and affordable services, I realized her death was in part due to a system that did not include her and people like her. That heartbreaking anger is what sparked me to raise awareness to issues tied to furthering the gap in social inequities.
Add on my own lived experiences with housing insecurities as an adult in San Antonio and working at City Council during the COVID-19 pandemic, my expertise became prevalent in conversations discussing how we developed a roadmap to get ourselves into a place that was inclusive to the real needs our most vulnerable neighbors were asking for assistance with.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t. Growing up, I was raised by a single-mom and my grandmother. I saw my mom struggle to make ends meet. She’d have to choose between paying for her heart medication or putting food on the table. And unfortunately, it’s an issue most families still face, today.
Fast forward a few years, shortly after I moved to San Antonio, I found myself in a situation where I no longer had a place to live. I had to disenroll from college and was living in my car for 6-months. During that time, I got a job waitressing. One of the perks of the place that I worked at was having a free gym membership. That allowed me to have access to showers and outlets to charge my phone and maintain a persona of “normalcy.” I saved up until I had enough of a financial cushion to get into an apartment.
My life has always felt like the opening line from “A Tale of Two Cities,” “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” I’ve been fortunate to have been raised by my grandmother who always provided for me and ensure I had access to opportunities. I have experiences of stability. However, I also have experiences of struggle and hardships. Both circumstances I’m equally grateful for.
Those experiences are what shaped my view points and values and have made me who I am. It’s supported how I advocate for access to resources and support for those in our community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Professionally, I am a Strategic Developer. I have led the development of strategic plans and standard operating procedures for major multi-million and multi-billion dollar projects. My specialty is developing plans with a framework that includes how to best work with communities in low-income and historically marginalized areas to ensure that any project or development is established to uplift the community rather than further segregate it.
Now, because my work can involve major changes and impacts, it is critical that I always speak up and consider every aspect of how a project can effect a community. It means that sometimes I am not the most liked in the room because I feel like in order to get ahead of a problem, we should be transparent and over educate and over communicate to those immediately impacted at the beginning of the project, not when a plan is already half-baked and ready to be rolled out.
I’m proud of that. I’m proud that I’ve pushed for folks to step out of their comfort zone and think of things differently. That I’ve pointed out what’s worked on one project in another city or state, may not be the right approach for another project in this city and state. I’m proud that I’ve fought back on complacency in design and development.
In addition to being a Strategic Planner, I’m involved in politics. Due to my lived experiences, I’ve been fortunate to have advocated and worked with policy makers at the local, state, and federal level. I’ve helped change the way we distribute funds and work to bring opportunities for communities in a way that ensures we prioritize those who have an immediate need for support and change.
All this led me to run for office. Earlier this year, I ran for County Commissioner in Precinct 1. Although I was unsuccessful at the polls, I was successful in connecting folks to assistances and services during the campaign. Now, I’m preparing to run for San Antonio City Council in District 6. I assessed my last race, have adjusted my game plan, and am out there listening to folks, working with neighborhoods and community leaders, and introducing myself to folks I didn’t get to meet in my previous race. Local government is our first line of defense and I think it’s vital to have the right people in office who understand the role and expectation and are ready to do the work on Day 1. I’m that person.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Seek to understand before trying to be understood.
It’s easy to go into rooms and talk AT people. Tell them what YOU think that solution is to THEIR problems. But that’s not what folks want. People want to be heard. They want you to understand their points of views and their experiences to the problems and create solutions based on that.
Lead with empathy and humility. You know the saying, “treat the janitors with the same respect as the CEO”? I’ll tell you what– I’ve had more janitors open doors for me than any CEO could and I’ll forever be indebted to the trust and respect that they’ve offered me by doing that.
And never stop learning. The moment you close yourself off to learning something, you stop growing; you become complacent. Complacency is an opportunity killer. It’s important for me to always stay curious.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vote4lawson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/votelawsonpicasso/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vote4lawson
- Twitter: https://x.com/Vote4Lawson
- Other: https://secure.anedot.com/vote4lawson/support-lawson
