What began as a dream for a creative space where Filipino Americans could find belonging has blossomed into a vibrant reality. Growing up as a young Pinay in Daly City, Stephanie Garma Balon, co-founder and senior director of the Kapwa Kultural Center (KKC), often felt out of place. She envisioned a youth-run café filled with poetry, art and music-a way to build community and honor those who came before her.