If you ask many people in United States “Where do the Italian Americans live?” it is often true that the northeast comes to mind. The Italian immigrant wave in the early 20^th century famously began a great migration from the “old country”. The classic stories of Ellis Island often start with New York City. The entire northeast enjoys a beautiful landscape of Italian American culture. Philadelphia, Providence, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston and Buffalo are just a few of the many other cities where we have flourished.

With that said, there is more to us than just the northeast. As an Area Coordinator for NIAF in the southwest, along with Mike Farrar and Massimo Sommacampagna, we’re overjoyed to highlight that there are more Italian Americans in the west than you may have thought. There are great Italian American communities in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas and Phoenix (to name just a few cities). NIAF has been successfully reinvigorating their activity in the west and its great to be a small part of it.

The 2022 NIAF Gala in Phoenix, AZ is the first in a long while. On March 19, NIAF will honor its Chairman Emeritus Jerry Colangelo with the Inaugural Jerry Colangelo Sports Excellence Award. Jerry Colangelo, a man whose name rings loud and proud in our local community, contributed heavily to supporting our culture for years. There are many great stories of past events in Arizona. A renewed focus is underway and its amazing to have the gala be right here in Phoenix. We’re anxious to meet our friends from other cities in the west that share our goals and visions.

How does this help Italy and Italians, you ask? The bringing together of our people and culture is tremendous. As we’ve spread throughout the USA, many 2^nd through 5^th generation Italian Americans have been re-awakened with a desire. A desire to connect or reconnect with their Italian families, their history, their culture; an understanding of who they are and where they came from. NIAF helps us discover and further those pursuits. Speaking for myself, I’d love to one day go to the small towns where my immigrant family lived. I have many friends that would like to do the same. This resurgence sparks commerce via the interest for Italian goods and services both in the USA and in Italy. It all starts with awareness and relationships.

And while a 5^th generation Italian American is likely a good bit different in culture than an Italian born, raised, and living in in Naples, the connection between the two is felt.