Dear friends, Spring has finally arrived. Rome is starting to fill up with tourists, even more this year due to the Jubilee.
A few days ago, an event was held in New York that I should have attended in person, at what is "my home" in the United States, the Italian American Museum in Little Italy, New York. Unfortunately, I couldn't be there in person and sent a short video instead, but the event went very well. Promoted by We the Italians together with Fondazione Migrantes (a pastoral organization of the Italian Episcopal Conference which since 2006, has been publishing the annual Rapporto Italiani nel Mondo) and ACLI (the most important social promotion association in Italy, which also has an office in New York City) the event gave a timely and very informative overview of Italian emigration numbers and what is happening and why it is happening, from the Italian perspective, on the issue of dual citizenship.
I particularly cared about this event, for at least three reasons. The first is that the Fondazione Migrantes and ACLI are two outstanding Italian institutions leaders on the topic of Italian emigration for years, and for the first time they are together in New York. The second is that I have the honor of representing here in Italy the Italian American Museum. The third is that, at this particular moment, I believe that the issue of dual citizenship of Italian Americans is even more important, indeed crucial: that is why the title of my speech is “The importance of the Italian American community, today more than ever.”
Three great persons spoke at the event, very dear friend of mine: Joseph V. Scelsa, Founder and President of the Italian American Museum; Delfina Licata for Fondazione Migrantes; and Matteo Bracciali for ACLI. We hope that this will become an annual event: if so, rest assure that next year I will be there.
Lete me remember you about “We the ItaliaNews: Italy in english,” and “We the ItaliaNews: L'Italia in America". The former talks about what is happening in Italy, and is in English language, with a new episode out every Monday; the latter talks about what is happening in the Italian Italian American communities in the United States, and it is in Italian language, with a new episode out every Thursday. You can find them both here. Two podcasts, Two languages, Two flags, One heart.
If you like what we do, let me remember you to please subscribe to We the Italians, here. Every month we give you 50 news excusive for our subscribers, at the cost of one single espresso, one for month. You can subscribe on our Facebook page, which this month reached and surpassed 70,000 followers! The next goal is 80,000. Isn’t this great?
The We the Italians family continues to grow wonderfully, and today I am particularly delighted to welcome two new Ambassadors, both from the New York State: Danielle Savasalage and Silvia Davi.
Danielle Savasalage is our new Ambassador in Buffalo, NY. Danielle is the National Vice President of the Italian Sons & Daughters of America (ISDA) for the Western New York District. She is also a member of the ISDA Fraternal Association's Board of Directors and serves as the President of Volare Lodge#269 ISDA. Additionally, Danielle is the treasurer of the Buffalo Italian Heritage Festival, which was co-founded by her grandfather 50 years ago. She also is assistant treasurer for the Federation of Italian American Societies of Western New York, Chairman of the Italian Heritage Day Parade, and Secretary for the Centro Culturale Italiano di Buffalo's Board of Directors. Danielle is incredibly proud of her Italian heritage.
Silvia Rosselli Davi is our new Ambassador in Queens, NY. Silvia is the author of an educational blog and podcast focused on celebrating Italian and Italian American culture, in partnership with the NIAF and the Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island. With a focus on the arts, history, food, wine, sports and pop-culture, Silvia explores interesting topics and features individuals in both Italy and the US highlighting the origin, significance and impact of Italian culture globally. Silvia created the Renaissance Minds brand as an extension of her professional and personal identity. Silvia is fluent in several languages including Italian and the Sicilian dialect.
Last but not least, I am pleased to announce that, starting this month, thanks to our Editorial staff, our magazine has two new columns, very different from each other because Italy’s excellences are diverse. The first column is Italian Street Food, where every month we will feature one of the exceptional delicacies from this other form of Italian cuisine, which is popular in every region of Italy. The second segment is Italian Innovation, where we will tell each month how Italy is innovative, ingenious, brilliant, and at the forefront of improving the future for our children. With these two new additions, our magazine now features 20 monthly columns, all about Italian excellence in 20 different fields. And it doesn’t stop there! That’s why we ask you to subscribe to We the Italians.
As already announced, the eleventh book, the ninth annual yearbook, is available for you: twelve interviews from 2024 on twelve different topics that have in common Italy and the United States. On this page, you will find a preview and the link to purchase it.
It’s all for now. Please stay safe and take care, and enjoy our magazine and our contents on our website. Stay safe and take care: the future’s so bright, we gotta wear tricolor shades! A big Italian hug from Rome.
