Chicago’s Italian American community, represented by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA), came together this week to address opportunities and challenges that are elevating and impacting our shared heritage. JCCIA President Ron Onesti convened the meeting and invited COPOMIAO President Basil Russo to speak on the transformative success the Italian American community has achieved in recent years.

Russo began by congratulating Onesti and the JCCIA for their highly effective efforts in uniting Chicago’s Italian American organizations, and he commended their tenacity as they fight both legal and PR battles over the fate of Chicago’s Columbus statues (which were uprooted during the 2020 riots by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot).