Mariana Nakashima is a Peruvian-born engineer, artist, and community advocate based in Michigan’s Copper Country. Educated in a third language and often the only Latina in the room, including in her University of Toledo engineering class, she has long championed representation and the importance of seeing one’s own culture reflected and valued. Her work across engineering, architecture, art, and community organizing is grounded in a belief that language and cultural heritage are central to belonging. She brings to this conversation a personal understanding of navigating new cultures while holding on to one’s own.