We The Italians

Lawmaker calls for Hartford to rename Columbus Boulevard after local civil rights lea...

A state lawmaker and other members of a historically Black fraternity are calling on city officials to rename Hartford’s Columbus Boulevard after Frank T. Simpson, a local civil rights leader. “As nationwide calls for the removal of statues glorifying colonialism and white supremacy have now reached our city, which is evidenced in the recent removal of the Columbus statue downtown, we believ...

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Foundation in for Italian American Museum + condos at 155 Mulberry Street

Long before the first case of COVID-19 was reported, Little Italy was iconic for the sidewalk cafes and restaurants dotting Mulberry Street, the destination's central thoroughfare. But now that indoor dining in New York City has been indefinitely suspended, its outdoor dining scene has been taken to a whole new level, with in-street dining taking space on newly-designated car-free streets. The arr...

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Enough is enough on Columbus statute removals - IAOVC is going to court to preserve o...

I was overcome with joy and a great sense of pride for the support our IAOVC Board Members displayed at our last Video Board Meeting. IAOVC Board Member, Frank Lorenzo, charged with researching legal means, introduced the concept of a network of Italian American attorneys, working in various states and municipalities, to institute litigation to correct the terrible injustices. This aggressive ac...

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2020 Festival Rescheduled

Dear Festival Friends, we scratched our heads and reviewed all the options. Like so many other festivals and events where gathering together is a big part of the experience, the NM Italian Film & Culture Festival would lose its energy if we did it in any other way. So, we’ve decided to go live in 2021 with the 2020 program as planned at the Hiland Theater in Albuquerque for the benefit of the chil...

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10 Things People Get Wrong About Columbus

Every Columbus Day is the same: Christopher Columbus is attacked. His statues are desecrated. Public monuments in his honor are threatened or removed. Every year, more states and cities change Columbus Day to “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” or “Native Americans’ Day.” And left-wing professors smear the once-revered hero who discovered America in 1492. Should Columbus be vilified instead of honored?...

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IAP 150: Italian Americans in Baseball with Special Guest Lawrence Baldassaro

For millions of Americans, hope springs eternal every April when baseball returns! In this craziest of years, fans of the national pastime are gearing up for the first-ever July opening in baseball history. We’re so excited to have baseball back that in this week’s episode our entire team is taking YOU “out to the ballgame” with our special guest, Lawrence Baldassaro, author of “Beyond DiMaggio:...

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Who replaces Columbus? Da Vinci? Calabresi?

My column last week about replacing the statue of Christopher Columbus in Wooster Square Park with one of Frank Pepe and his wife Filomena drew passionate rejections, hearty endorsements and some imaginative other proposals. “I am deeply disturbed by your suggestion of a statue of Frank Pepe to replace Christopher Columbus,” wrote a man with family ties to Wooster Street; he asked that his name no...

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OSDIA Interviews LIVE with Consul General Silvia Chiave

Tune in this Wednesday for the next episode of OSDIA Interviews LIVE! Wednesday (7/15) at 1:30pm EST/10:30am PST on Facebook Live, our hosts Clarissa Burt and Mark DeNunzio will be joined by Italy’s Consul General in Los Angeles, Silvia Chiave! Don't forget to leave your questions for Silvia to be asked during the live show! Watch the interview

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Columbus statue donors sue Penn’s Landing agency to keep monument

Supporters of the 106-foot, 28-year-old, $1 million Christopher Columbus monument in the park at Penn’s Landing have sued the park’s nonprofit manager, which they say broke an agreement to maintain the monument. . America 500 Anniversary Corp., which raised funds to donate the statue in 1992, is seeking a Common Pleas Court preliminary injunction “enjoining the Delaware River Waterfront Corp...

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"Courage and sacrifice: the Italian immigrants of Hartford 1860-1960" is now availabl...

This very timely book chronicles the plight of Italian immigrants who braved long journeys, prejudice, and enormous sacrifice for the hope of a better future for their families. All of us can relate to its universal message of heroism in facing seemingly insurmountable odds. The families referenced, and the Hartford location are but a microcosm of a broader world. The motivation to learn new ways,...

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From USA

New England

"Courage and sacrifice: the Italian immigrants of Hartford 1860-1960" is now available on Amazon

This very timely book chronicles the plight of Italian immigrants who braved long journeys, prejudice, and enormous sacrifice for the hope of a better future for their families. All of us can relate to its universal message of heroism in facing seemi... Read More

New York

Foundation in for Italian American Museum + condos at 155 Mulberry Street

Long before the first case of COVID-19 was reported, Little Italy was iconic for the sidewalk cafes and restaurants dotting Mulberry Street, the destination's central thoroughfare. But now that indoor dining in New York City has been indefinitely sus... Read More

East

Columbus statue donors sue Penn’s Landing agency to keep monument

Supporters of the 106-foot, 28-year-old, $1 million Christopher Columbus monument in the park at Penn’s Landing have sued the park’s nonprofit manager, which they say broke an agreement to maintain the monument. . America 500 Anniversary Corp.,... Read More

South East

Diversity in Racing: Anthony Manganaro

Since the beginning of time, humans have pigeonholed each other by race, religion, gender and wealth, which has resulted in discrimination. There are many pathways that can and must be taken to reduce systemic racism and prejudice. But I see no pathw... Read More

Great Lakes

Italian Inspiration Fills Milwaukee Caffe in Detroit

Though its name and location both recall a heavy industrial past, Milwaukee Caffe in a former automotive manufacturing neighborhood in Detroit is all about executing the finer details of coffee from within a small but welcoming space. From co-owners... Read More

Midwest

Pueblo to keep Columbus statue, at least for now

Memorials to Christopher Columbus are coming down across the United States, but the one in Pueblo will stay up for now. Mayor Nick Gradisar had a Community Connections Event Friday, with the memorial in Mesa Junction a big topic. Demonstrations have... Read More

South

2020 Festival Rescheduled

Dear Festival Friends, we scratched our heads and reviewed all the options. Like so many other festivals and events where gathering together is a big part of the experience, the NM Italian Film & Culture Festival would lose its energy if we did it in... Read More

West

Pope Francis recognizes 'Padre Kino,' Arizona's missionary priest

Pope Francis on Saturday recognized the heroic virtue of the life of a 17th century Italian Jesuit missionary who evangelized – and mapped – much of what is now northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. On July 11, the pope formally recogni... Read More

California

OSDIA Interviews LIVE with Consul General Silvia Chiave

Tune in this Wednesday for the next episode of OSDIA Interviews LIVE! Wednesday (7/15) at 1:30pm EST/10:30am PST on Facebook Live, our hosts Clarissa Burt and Mark DeNunzio will be joined by Italy’s Consul General in Los Angeles, Silvia Chiave! Don't... Read More

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