In 1979, James Baldwin wrote that language can either connect us or divorce us from our communal identities.  That statement still holds true today.  In this session, we will discuss the importance of language diversity and how it roots each of us in our communities.  We will also explore how to use language diversity as a way to facilitate student engagement and how to build a better classroom community.  Educators will learn how to lean into supporting students as they develop language, while celebrating community diversity.