Today, I’m honored to bring you an insightful conversation with someone who truly lives and breathes this transformative power of language—Oraia Jaramillo. Serving dual roles as a High School Spanish teacher and the Director of the Bilingual Program in Momence Schools, she is a living testament to the power of words to connect worlds. A Kankakee native and a Loyola University alum, Oraia has had a global journey that took her teaching English in Santiago, Chile, before she returned home to Momence in 2017. As a mother of three, she believes that language is not just about communication but is also a profound bridge between cultures and generations. I had the privilege of meeting Oraia recently and was immediately struck by her passion for connecting people through language. The twinkle in her eyes told me that she wasn’t just teaching Spanish or managing a program; she was facilitating meaningful dialogues that change lives.