Our nation’s first Italian American First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, spoke at ISDA’s annual banquet in downtown Pittsburgh on July 13, 2024, to share her ancestors’ story. The event was part of ISDA’s ongoing mission to celebrate women in leadership while offering a platform to major figures on both sides of the aisle who seek to promote and honor the Italian American culture.

In 2021, the White House issued a Columbus Day Proclamation that drew criticism from the Italian American community, as it fell short of properly honoring our heritage. The disappointment was palpable, but the misstep wasn’t surprising given the limited dissemination of Italian American history in U.S. schools or in mainstream narratives.