The conversation is also available on our website: www.Kasamahancollective.com From sharing her Filipina-American experience as a queer pinay who advocates her culture through her small business of Perfectly Pinay — we learned that when it comes to her journey a huge chunk of it has to be the many lessons she learned from her grandparents and the values that her parents has taught her. Raised by her grandparents and her parents who showed her the value of hard work and dedication. Mia is a third generation Pinay born and raised on the unceded lands of Ohlone Territory, (known as Union City, California). She later moved to the Kingdom of Hawai’i recently to pursue a degree in social work but later on she learned that you don’t necessarily need to go to college to do what you love. Reflecting on what she learned, a big part of her journey has been a whole lot of self awareness, community and re-starting her small business! Connect with Mia Balingit * www.instagram.com/perfectlypinay