Dear friends,

July is also now almost over, and if anyone thought that after our Gala we would rest, they were very wrong. We the Italians is working on at least three very ambitious and exciting projects, and we already have some ideas on how to turn the gala into something even bigger, starting next year.

Between July and August we will be returning to two aspects of our 2024 gala (please check here photos and videos), and the one we are focusing on this month is our IT-AM project, the only metaverse dedicated to Italy and the United States, and the Italian American community. Here you can find the video describing its enormous potential, and some screenshots.

We imagined four major environments. ITALIAN REGIONS: an exhibition dedicated to the Italian regions, with content dedicated to the year of Italian Roots. EXPO: a space displaying virtual booths for companies and organizations. The first pavilion houses the sponsors of the 2024 Gala. PIAZZAS: environments inspired by Italian piazzas, reproduced with 360-degree images, which can be used to host events organized by Italian American associations. MUSEUM: a pavilion hosting temporary 3D exhibitions on Made in Italy. On this occasion, images generated with Artificial Intelligence inspired by Italian American culture are displayed.

I recently had the pleasure of participating in a new program on RAI Italia, hosted by my friend Luca Martera. For those of you who do not know him, Luca is the greatest expert on multimedia concerning the relationship between Italy and the United States: he has incredible knowledge related to music, cinema, and television. RAI has entrusted him with the program “Nel resto del mondo. Come la Rai ha raccontato i 5 continenti” (In the rest of the world. How RAI narrated the 5 continents). Written and conducted by Luca Martera, author and audiovisual documentary filmmaker, the 15 episodes are devoted to an in-depth look at Italy's historical and cultural relations with different countries through Rai archival materials and connections with guests, and I had the honor of being one of them. I will keep you updated on when the episode will be available with English subtitles. For now, I thank Luca for his kind invitation.

One of the things we are working on is a September event that I am very keen on. It's called “Salerno-Verona: Storia della quinta armata americana in Italia” (Salerno-Verona: history of the American Fifth Army in Italy): it's a non-competitive bike ride that starts in Salerno and touches all the most important places of the Fifth Army's advance. Participants will pedal through Campania, Lazio, Umbria, Tuscany, Emilia Romagna and Veneto. We the Italians have made available our network of Ambassadors in the Italian regions touched by the pedaling, who are helping with events for each stage, and I personally will participate in Salerno, at the Sicily-Rome Cemetery and Memorial in Anzio, and here in Rome at the Centro Studi Americani (Center for American Studies).

Also, still on the subject of the 80th anniversary of the day the Americans of the Fifth Army liberated Rome, in this issue of the magazine you will find Sergio Di Veroli's testimony, which he gave us live during the gala. He was there on that June 4, 1944, and listening to him was moving, so much so that I couldn't help but hug him while helping him off the stage, as he took the much-deserved standing ovation from those attending the gala. 

Last but not least, we are pleased to have a new Ambassador in Connecticut, the Constitution State. Constitution State: Anna Bertoldo Carabetta. Anna is a first generation Italian American proud wife and mother of five children. For over thirty years as an assistant to her husband’s construction company, Anna brings attention to detail in new or renovated building projects. She founded STAR Studio, a fitness and wellness center where she teaches classes. She is also the founder of Carabetta Cares INC. a non profit that serves as a purpose for children and families creating smiles in difficult times. Anna’s mission is to cultivate everlasting relationships and continue the legacy and love of her Italian American Heritage. Welcome on board, my dear friend!

It’s all for now. Please stay safe and take care, and enjoy our magazine and our contents on our website. Rest if you can, we will slow down a bit, but never stop.The future’s so bright, we gotta wear tricolor shades. A big Italian hug from Rome!