I Sud del Mondo held a High-level Press Conference at the Iconic Plaza Hotel on Columbus Day, October 14, 2024  in New York City. The initiative presented by. On. Avv. Giuseppe Galati, Responsible Scientific Director of I Sud del Mondo is entitled "Community Links and Networks for local development; Territorial resilience in Southern Italy. ”

This special project is dedicated to 2024 being named the year of Italian “Roots Tourism” in the world & honors the 18th Anniversary of the I Sud del Mondo Association. I Sud del Mondo, according to their mission statement “operates on a not-for- profit basis through the promotion of the associations work to study, analyze, and publish data that researches the development of social, economic and ethics in  areas that are at an economic disadvantage.

Through the periodic implementation of research and cultural activities, the goal of the association is aimed at disseminating knowledge of scientific and cultural value related to their research and activity findings. The topics covered include that of socio economic importance and are presented through the curation of conferences, exhibitions, and niche specific events.” Some of the past initiatives of I Sud del Mondo include; Mentalfood, the Importance of Sport and a Positive Alignment in the Psychophysical (which refers to the relationship between your physical and mental world) and Energy Community for a Sustainable Future.

During the event, speakers discussed the importance of I Sud del Mondo’s initiatives with a focus on the Italian lifestyle from family traditions to Italian ethnic communities around the world. The a dais of speakers included: On. Avv. Giuseppe Galati, Scientific Director I Sud del Mondo; Senator Mario Borghese, Republic of Italy; Senator Riccardo Merlo, Republic of Italy; Comm. Enzo Odoguardi; Dott. Paolo Giuntarelli, Director Italian Tourism for the Region of Lazio - Italea Project & moderated La Media New York.

Honorable Dignitaries & organizations that attended this event on Monday afternoon included; On. Antonello Colosimo, President of the Italian Court of Audit; On. Nino Foti, President Magna Grecia Foundation; Dott. Marcelo Rodio: Secretary of Transport, Province of Córdoba, Spain; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, & Italea Directors from Italy’s Capital of Rome in the Region of Lazio.

At this exclusive event, Senator Mario Alejandro Borghese spoke about the significance of family expressing, “I feel like a true citizen, not just an Argentinean one, but an Italian citizen who was born abroad. Thanks to the Italian system as well as our fellow countrymen who live in the world, it allowed me to meet my wife, an Australian Citizen. Her parents are of Sicilian origin like me and we share the same culture, the same love for family, sacrifice, work, and everything our parents and even our grandparents taught us. Columbus Day is a beautiful event. Here I was able to see with my own eyes how Italianità is lived in every corner of this city.”

Senator Borghese is one of the youngest senators to be elected to the Italian parliament. He represents Italians abroad in South America & Italy and is part of I Sud Del Mondo. This is the first time he has visited New York accompanied by his wife Isabella and son Alessandro. Having taken part in Italian community events in the Big Apple during the years of “Roots Tourism” was a vey special moment for him and his beloved family. It was a precious time to be introduced to Italianità in New York as the first of many visits he hopes to make in the future.