María del Mar Patrón Vázquez is the co-founder and-co director of Habla: The Center for Language and Culture in Merida, Mexico. She was born in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico where her family has lived for generations. She studied literature at Universidad de las Américas in Puebla, Mexico and then went on to a graduate degree in Hispanic Studies at Brown University in the United States. Her work is focused on how reading and literature can be part of the daily life of communities. At Brown, she received the prestigious Presidential Teaching Award for her teaching of Spanish language classes to university students. Her unique approach to pedagogy involves the literature and culture of the language. Marimar has presented talks and workshops on culture, language, and literacy globally. Perhaps the greatest lessons she’s learned about teaching are from her children, Luis and Sandra, who are growing up speaking multiple languages.