Meet Arbre’ya Lewis | Pursuant of Equity in Health & Education / Risk Taker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Arbre’ya Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arbre’ya, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
Born and raised in the small town of Marion, South Carolina, my roots are firmly planted in the heart of a rural community of roughly 6,000 people. Both of my parents still live in the same county, a testament to our family’s deep connection to this area, which is just a stone’s throw from Myrtle Beach.

The turning point in my young life was my parents’ separation and subsequent divorce. I witnessed my mom’s strength, as she became a single mother to 3 young girls at 28, my current age. As the eldest, I pitched in, nurturing a deep-seated sense of responsibility. Our grandparents, Grandma Pauline (my dad’s mom) and Meme (my mom’s mom), along with my mom’s best friend, Auntie, stepped in to support us. When I was growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money, but we did have a lot of love.

Religion was an essential part of our upbringing. The church was our second home, a place where you could find me at least three times a week for bible study, conventions, and praise dancing. Away from church, I would try to get away from those outdoor activities that came with a farming family. I naturally migrated indoors and would be instructed to shell peas with grandma or flip pancakes with meme. My sisters and I had a bustling schedule outside school, courtesy of my mom who enrolled us in various activities, from dance and academic enrichment programs to 4-H and Duke TIP. These experiences broadened my horizons beyond the confines of Marion and bred ideas about the endless possibilities for my life. I understood that I could really do and be anything I set my mind to, with God’s grace and my family’s support.

Grandma Pauline was a strict yet nurturing figure in our lives. As the eldest daughter, I naturally gravitated towards leadership, fueled by a desire to make my family proud. Grandma Pauline’s words still echo in my ears: “Stand up STRAIGHT. Talk LOUD.” She belted those empowering words to instill confidence as I went up to the church podium to share my Easter speech. I was a soft-spoken young girl, and in my mind, grandma’s advice was juxtaposed with the old-fashioned adage by others: “Little girls are supposed to be seen and not heard.” This paradox shaped me into a woman who desired to be heard but also understood the importance of maintaining a likable demeanor. My high school senior superlative was “Most Lady Like”. Lol

My racial identity as an African American is an integral part of who I am. I draw inspiration from my grandmother, the first black nurse in Marion, and her brother, the county’s first black superintendent. Another of grandma’s infamous sayings was “This the house the Lord gave ME!” Grandma built a life for herself and her kids off her power. I took that with me and want to build something for myself. Meme’s journey from being a farmer’s daughter to a college graduate in the 60s, underpinned by her parents’ sacrifices, set high standards for me. Meme instilled in us the values of independence, adventure, and curiosity, taking us on numerous family trips. This ignited my wanderlust, leading me to explore new places. Since leaving Atlanta in September 2023, I’ve visited multiple states and am currently residing in Puerto Rico for two months.

My upbringing and inherent traits have instilled in me a deep desire to not just meet, but exceed expectations, and to make my family and myself proud. This drive also fuels my passion to give back to my community and continue the legacy of family and love for future generations. It’s this blend of rural simplicity, familial support, church-guided principles, and a potent awareness of my racial identity that has shaped who I am today.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a pursuant of equity in health and education. That’s not my job title, but it’s the mission that guides my professional path, check my LinkedIn 😉. This mission resonates deeply with me, as it is born out of my personal experiences and relationships, and my commitment to empowering marginalized and historically underrepresented communities.

As a child, career options were presented as a limited menu: doctor, teacher, lawyer, firefighter, police officer, politician, veterinarian, etc. I was always taught I could be whatever I wanted to be, but the options were limited. No one tried to make me fit into a box, but folks can only teach what they know. My initial aspiration was to become a doctor, drawn by the allure of ‘helping people’ and, admittedly, the promise of a good income. By the time I was in my first year at Duke, however, I found myself disillusioned with the hard sciences and more interested in Grey’s Anatomy than chemistry.

Despite this, I continued to prepare for a career in medicine, doing everything ‘right’ from summer camps to pre-med advising. Admittedly, I also binge-watched all 11 seasons (at the time) of Grey’s Anatomy, in some way hoping I would gain a deep understanding of the diagnosis and treatment processes of rare diseases. It was during a summer camp – now known as the SHPEP Summer Health Professions Education Program – where I had a pivotal experience. Shadowing doctors in a real teaching hospital, I met a patient in the Cardiac ICU who had been in there for about a week. She couldn’t explain her diagnosis to me. This struck me as a problem. How could viewers of medical dramas understand complex medical concepts, yet real-life patients struggle to grasp their own conditions?

This question led me to create my own major, developing a curriculum that combined journalism, drama, communication, medical sociology, and travel programs. I immersed myself in diverse experiences, from studying media in Los Angeles to exploring theatre in London. This year, 2016, ignited a love for travel in me, leading me to commit to visiting a new country and a new US state every year.

My undergrad journey wasn’t without its challenges. I had to defend my unique curriculum to a panel of Duke advisors, and, more dauntingly, my thesis. I experienced failure when my months-long thesis research was rejected due to inadequate data analysis, a blow that led me to defer grad school and enter the workforce. I was burnt out but was fueled by the opportunity to spend a year as a college advisor at a high school in my college town. Mentorship and advocacy has always been important to me, so I was very excited to use that position as a launching pad to help students who reminded me so much of myself.

After a year, I went to graduate school to earn my MPH. Funnily enough, I was studying public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when the field was directly in the spotlight. I was very active during school, becoming a student government representative, developing a mentorship program for students in my department, and working as a grad student for the Office of Health Promotion. I craved experience and exposure and just wanted to leave things better than I found them.

I’ve taken many risks in my career, carving my own path based on my interests and skills. Today, I continue to do work that fuels me, working for the past four years with federal health clients to improve their communication with everyday people. I also advise college students when I can. Who I am is not defined by my job, but I do what I do because it is an embodiment of who I am.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In Atlanta, I would love to give my best friend a tour of the city’s pulsating college campuses, starting with my grad school alma mater, Emory. We’d then visit the Atlanta University Center (AUC) to experience the vibrant energy of the HBCUs that fill this city with an aura of Black excellence. From there, we’d head downtown to the must-see Aquarium and Civil Rights Museum.

For a taste of local life, we’d check out any ongoing music festivals and stop by Chattahoochee Food Works for some great vibes (I love the fancy foodcourt feel). Despite my lackluster bowling skills, a visit to Painted Pin is a must for its fun atmosphere. We’d also take a trip to Stone Mountain; the breathtaking city views and the sense of accomplishment after scaling its steep incline are absolutely worth the effort.

Now that I’m spending time in Puerto Rico, I have a few other recommendations.

– In San Juan, a visit to Old San Juan is a must. Whatever you choose to do there, you can’t go wrong.
– In Luquillo, I’d recommend Montessere Beach where you can enjoy delectable Puerto Rican food from the food trucks and kiosks right on the beach. It’s one of my favorite spots on the island.
– For food, you must try mofongo, a local delicacy. This weekend, I had trifongo, which is like mofongo’s cousin… it’s even better! And for drinks, Barrachata’s in Old San Juan is the birthplace of the Pina Colada. They make delicious versions, with or without alcohol.
– If you crave nature and adventure, a trip to Puerto Rico isn’t complete without a visit to El Yunque Rainforest. Just remember to bring mosquito spray.
– For an interesting landmark, there’s El Caro del Indio. It’s a face carved into a rock right off the highway, and worth a quick stop if you’re heading to the west coast.
– Lastly, Hacienda Campo Rico in Carolina, Puerto Rico is simply amazing. It’s a vast farm that offers a unique and memorable experience.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My journey, my identity, and my achievements are deeply rooted in the unwavering love, support, and prayers extended by the remarkable women in my community. I’m talking about my mother, my sisters, my grandmothers, my aunts, my cousins, my best friends, my mentors, my teachers, my professional sponsors, and my peers. I owe a massive thank you to all of you.

The support you’ve shown me, especially during times when my decisions may have seemed unfamiliar or difficult to relate to, has been invaluable. I’ve never found myself in need of a shoulder to cry on without one of you being there. I remain forever at your service, grateful for the immense support you’ve given me. Your strength and resilience inspire me daily, and I hold an abiding love for you all.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to all creators out there. Your ability to envision and believe in something even when faced with nothing is truly remarkable. Thank you for propelling culture forward and for imparting wisdom through entertainment.

Instagram: @isthat_arbreya

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arbre-ya-lewis-mph-ches-7a2998b5/

Image Credits
Deloitte University, CDx Explore (image of me in gray turtleneck).