JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 Camila Ruiz first joined a language exchange group during the days when she called Nashville, Tennessee, home.<\/p>\n
Years later, after moving to Jacksonville, she wanted others from different cultures to experience that same sense of connection through the power of language. Unable to find a group similar to the one that helped her build friendships and community, Camila decided to create it herself \u2015 becoming the founder of Jacksonville Spanish-English<\/a> Conversation Group.<\/p>\n On the season three premiere episode of Voices of the 904, Camila shares how the group grew from just five people in 2019 into a steadily expanding community, why consistency, creativity and collaboration have been key to its growth, and how language has become a tool for bringing people together.<\/p>\n Meet the voices from previous seasons<\/a><\/p>\n For Camila, each meet-up, volunteer event or community collaboration is about more than just practicing Spanish or English.<\/p>\n It\u2019s about building confidence, making connections and creating a space where people feel like they belong.<\/p>\n \u201cJacksonville is growing,\u201d Camila acknowledged. \u201cJacksonville is becoming a very diverse city. So, spaces like these are important because they promote that diversity and people can belong to a community that is more diverse.\u201d<\/p>\n At the heart of it all is her belief that language can be more than a barrier \u2015 it can be a bridge that brings people closer together.<\/p>\n Learn more about Jacksonville Spanish-English on Instagram<\/a> or Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n Catch more episodes of Voices of the 904 below: <\/p>\n Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n