We are truly blessed with some talented–and passionate–contributors who love to share unique stories in this magazine each month. One of those contributors, Leonardo Ruiz, a good friend of mine, wrote a monthly “Letter to My Kids” for over 5 years, stemming from a conversation we had over lunch one day.

Well, that serendipity happened again…and again over lunch…when we got to talking about some interesting locals–including many of those from right here in Seven Oaks–who seem to share one thing in common with Leo: passion, along with their drive and commitment that these people have to see things through, to make things happen.  Their passion might be for their community, it could be about something special that their child has achieved, their career, a hobby, or a nonprofit they are involved with. We just seemed to like the idea of sharing people’s passions.

So, at the end of our conversation, we decided to launch a new monthly article called “A Story to be Told.”  And it didn’t take long for Leo to find a willing “subject” to feature: Kelli Limi.  Kelli is one of my own neighbors, but I never knew that she had Italian ancestry in her heritage. I connected Leo and Kelli and let them explore.

Dear friends,

Our county has the rich heritage of several cultures–one being Italian–who have created the unique tapestry of what we call home. So, let me introduce you to one of your neighbors, Kelli Limi, one of our beloved elementary school teachers in Kern County, whose family roots come from Italy.

From an early age, Kelli cherished and celebrated her Italian heritage, growing up immersed in Italian culture, influenced by her grandparents, living right here in our own Kern County. Her grandma Bruna (Nonna), used to cook her traditional Italian raviolis and sauce or “sugo” as it is known in Italian. If Kelli would get sick, her grandma would show up with vegetable soup with pastina, made with produce from her grandparents’ own garden. The relationship between Kelli and her grandmother was a very special one.  And while Kelli would have been happy to address her as Nonna (Italian for grandmother), her grandma had always had Kelli address her as grandma.

Since her childhood, Kelli has felt very connected to her Italian roots. In 2011, she finally decided to take a trip to her family’s home country to experience the culture firsthand, the aromas, the flavors, and the tastes of Italy.  This sense of belonging and heritage has propelled Kelli’s drive to connect with other people across our state that also celebrate and share that same passion for Italian Heritage and culture. Be it in Monterey Bay, Visalia, or right here in Bakersfield, Kelli has gathered with groups to enjoy all aspects of Italian culture, from language classes to wine education and tasting, to food and to other connections to other Italians.

It is her desire to continue doing so, since there is no substitute for experience. People can talk very much about something, but Kelli has lived it…she has lived what is to have Italian culture as part of her roots.

As a matter of fact, Kelli is heavily involved with multiple projects regarding the Italian community in Kern.  Most recently, in her capacity as IHDA (Italian Heritage Dante Association) Board Member, Kelli made a presentation at the Kern County Museum about the Italian impact and influence on Kern County, including with an Italian Heritage Farmhouse, a century old home that has been moved to the museum and will become the new centerpiece of local Italian heritage.

This new fascinating building in our Kern County Museum helps to tell the story of Italian immigrants who came to Kern County and the contributions that they and their descendants made in agriculture and other endeavors in the southern San Joaquin Valley. We believe that this Italian Farmhouse will be completed very soon, with a ribbon cutting planned for June at this time. We will run another story on this farmhouse after its dedication and encourage our readers to go check it out at the Kern County Museum.

If you have that same passion, that same drive as Kelli, and want to explore your own Italian heritage or get involved with the Italian community in Kern, she invites you stay informed about upcoming events with Italian Heritage Dante Association at www.ItaliansofBakersfield.com or reaching out directly to Kelli Limi at KelliLimi@gmail.com.

That wraps our first story! If you have someone whose story we should share, please don’t hesitate to contact me. My email can be found below.

As the Italians might say, "Alla prossima!" (Until next time!)

If you’d like to share your story through Leo Ruiz, or would like to connect with him, you can reach him at leonardo@connectingkern.com. www.ConnectingKern.com