Roots of Our Own



Christy Lâm-Julian, 42, is the first Vietnamese woman to serve on the Pinole Planning Commission. Motivated by the lack of culturally relevant resources for the Vietnamese and broader Southeast Asian community, she entered public service to represent overlooked voices in Contra Costa County.

The youngest of five and one of two U.S.-born children in a family that fled the Vietnam War, Christy grew up caught between the expectations of Whiteness and her own cultural identity. She was taught that survival meant staying silent, conforming, and suppressing her heritage. Today, as a mother and community advocate, she is breaking that cycle. Through both policy and parenting, she is building solidarity among Asian Americans, challenging outdated systems that fail communities of color, and dismantling the silence around war trauma, family dysfunction, and mental health.
As the mother of a mixed-heritage child, Christy is creating a new model of parenting grounded in love, cultural pride, and acceptance of neurodivergence. She teaches her son where he comes from through food, stories, and tradition.
PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Christy Lam-Julian does her makeup to get herself ready for the Pinole Planning Commission meeting in Pinole, California on April 14, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage chil
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Christy Lam-Julian does her makeup to get herself ready for the Pinole Planning Commission meeting in Pinole, California on April 14, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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Christy Lam-Julian does her makeup to get herself ready for the Pinole Planning Commission meeting in Pinole, California on April 14, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: Christy Lam-Julian holds a collage of old family photos in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a commu
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Christy Lam-Julian holds a collage of old family photos in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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Christy Lam-Julian holds a collage of old family photos in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: (L-R) Commissioners Frankie Martinez, Christy Lam-Julian, and Gabriel Sandoval sit in the chamber for the Pinole Planning Commission meeting in City Hall in Pinole, California on April 14, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generat
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(L-R) Commissioners Frankie Martinez, Christy Lam-Julian, and Gabriel Sandoval sit in the chamber for the Pinole Planning Commission meeting in City Hall in Pinole, California on April 14, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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(L-R) Commissioners Frankie Martinez, Christy Lam-Julian, and Gabriel Sandoval sit in the chamber for the Pinole Planning Commission meeting in City Hall in Pinole, California on April 14, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Christy Lam-Julian wipes her son Jaxson James-Tinh Julian’s mouth while talking about plans to make pancakes in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mix
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(L-R) Christy Lam-Julian wipes her son Jaxson James-Tinh Julian’s mouth while talking about plans to make pancakes in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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(L-R) Christy Lam-Julian wipes her son Jaxson James-Tinh Julian’s mouth while talking about plans to make pancakes in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 15: (L-R) Jaxson James-Tinh Julian, Jim Julian, and Christy Lam-Julian, hold hands to recite a Buddhist prayer, ‘Nam mô a di đà phật’ before dinner in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietna
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(L-R) Jaxson James-Tinh Julian, Jim Julian, and Christy Lam-Julian, hold hands to recite a Buddhist prayer, ‘Nam mô a di đà phật’ before dinner in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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(L-R) Jaxson James-Tinh Julian, Jim Julian, and Christy Lam-Julian, hold hands to recite a Buddhist prayer, ‘Nam mô a di đà phật’ before dinner in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: A small version of the South Vietnamese flag before 1975 hangs on a shelf in Christy Lam-Julian’s garage in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-herita
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A small version of the South Vietnamese flag before 1975 hangs on a shelf in Christy Lam-Julian’s garage in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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A small version of the South Vietnamese flag before 1975 hangs on a shelf in Christy Lam-Julian’s garage in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: Jaxson James-Tinh Julian, Christy Lam-Julian’s son, lies on the living room floor after being told he can’t play on his laptop in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American rai
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Jaxson James-Tinh Julian, Christy Lam-Julian’s son, lies on the living room floor after being told he can’t play on his laptop in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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Jaxson James-Tinh Julian, Christy Lam-Julian’s son, lies on the living room floor after being told he can’t play on his laptop in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Old Tết decorations hang above Christy Lam-Julian’s dining table in Pinole, California on April 14, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working a
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Old Tết decorations hang above Christy Lam-Julian’s dining table in Pinole, California on April 14, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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Old Tết decorations hang above Christy Lam-Julian’s dining table in Pinole, California on April 14, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Christy Lam-Julian’s son, Jaxson James-Tinh Julian, marches around the backyard wearing armor and playing with bubbles in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raisi
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(L-R) Christy Lam-Julian’s son, Jaxson James-Tinh Julian, marches around the backyard wearing armor and playing with bubbles in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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(L-R) Christy Lam-Julian’s son, Jaxson James-Tinh Julian, marches around the backyard wearing armor and playing with bubbles in Pinole, California on April 13, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 15: (L-R) Jaxson James-Tinh Julian listens to his mom, Christy Lam-Julian, read him a bedtime story in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child w
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(L-R) Jaxson James-Tinh Julian listens to his mom, Christy Lam-Julian, read him a bedtime story in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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(L-R) Jaxson James-Tinh Julian listens to his mom, Christy Lam-Julian, read him a bedtime story in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 15: (L-R) Jaxson James-Tinh Julian and his mom, Christy Lam-Julian, embrace at bedtime in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism wh
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(L-R) Jaxson James-Tinh Julian and his mom, Christy Lam-Julian, embrace at bedtime in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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(L-R) Jaxson James-Tinh Julian and his mom, Christy Lam-Julian, embrace at bedtime in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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PINOLE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 15: Jaxson James-Tinh Julian plays with a cord as he drinks melatonin tea before bedtime in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism
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Jaxson James-Tinh Julian plays with a cord as he drinks melatonin tea before bedtime in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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Jaxson James-Tinh Julian plays with a cord as he drinks melatonin tea before bedtime in Pinole, California on April 15, 2025. Lam-Julian is a first generation Vietnamese American raising her mixed-heritage child with autism while also working as a community advocate as the first Vietnamese woman on the Pinole Planning Commission. (Photo by Tâm Vũ for The Washington Post)

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