The Casa Italia Library/ Italian Cultural Center (Chicago) announces the release of Italian Women in Chicago, Volume II, Siamo arrivate (We have arrived). This anthology is a collection of stories, spotlights, poetry, and much more. You can order Italian Women in Chicago vol ii from Casa Italia here.

Focusing on “Saving Our Stories,” “Pop Culture,” “Entrepreneurial Spirit,” “Shattering Glass Ceilings,” “Assimilation,” “Activism,” “Spiritual Life,” and “Cultural Influences,” the reader will dive into the experience of being a flying angel at the feast of Maria SS Lauretana, learn about the life of a Reality TV Star and become acquainted with a very talented actress who was a childhood friend of Marlon Brando.

The immigrant experience is explored thoroughly from the early 1900s to the more recent arrivals from the 1990s and 2000s. Be there every step of the way as these women experience life in a new country, offering their real feelings, sometimes delightful and sometimes painful.

Accomplishments in various fields are touched upon, from law, medicine, and dentistry to entertainment, cosmetology, and military. Become familiar with a pioneering organization formed in 1886 by a dedicated group of Italian women committed to providing support and charitable assistance to impoverished Italian immigrants in America.

The editors aim to ensure that the stories of Italian women in Chicago are told with authenticity and respect. They have produced a book that not Saves Our Stories and has the potential to inspire future generations to appreciate and continue the legacy of Italian American women in Chicago.

Our Presentation of Italian Women in Chicago vol. 2 Siamo arrivate was a big success. Full house. All 45 books sold! We took orders for a dozen more books and we still haven't yet distributed comp copies to the 30-some writers and others who contributed to the creation of the book. Thanks to Italian Consul General Mario Bartoli, the dozen writers who made short presentations, to the Casa Italia Library Volunteers, Our co-editors, Anna Angiuli Weiss and Frank Di Piero. And our own Vivian Della Chiesa (Linda). One of the most magical and rewarding events at the Italian Cultural Center/Casa Italia that I have experienced in the past 47 years. Grazie di cuore a tutti!