Aleira Painuʻulasi Keener

(She/Her)

Finance Associate

Born and raised in the village of Tafuna, Lasi Keener is proud to have grown up as a Fa’afafine in American Samoa. As someone who share similar lived experiences of an island girl raised in the heart of the South Pacific and now living in the Pacific Northwest, Lasi has been able to draw from her experiences to navigate the social waters of Washington. Since moving to Washington, they were able to be a supporting member of a young UTOPIA Washington which consisted of mostly Queer and Trans Pacific Islanders that also left the island to find a better future for themselves. She has been a volunteer of UTOPIA for many years before joining the team in full capacity in 2021 as an Executive Assistant, an Office Administrator, and now a Finance Associate. She is passionate in advocating and fighting for Trans inclusivity and LGBTQIA+ rights. Her hobbies include styling and cutting hair, cultural performing, singing karaoke, and cooking. With her position within UTOPIA Washington, she hopes to help build a legacy that will close the gap of inequality towards the LGBTQIA+ community while being a beacon for the future generation alongside her team members.

We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude towards it. Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness. Tear out arrogance and seed humility. Exchange love for hate – thereby, making the present comfortable and the future promising.

Maya Angelou