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  • The ribbon cutting
    On June 21, the first Italian-American Cultural Community Center built in New York City was inaugurated in Bensonhurst in the presence of political personalities representing the New York Italian American Community. The new facility will soon represent a reference point for both the promotion of the Italian cultural heritage and a multi-cultural society. Chairman of the Board G. Jack Spatola took the floor reminding the importance of the Italian Dual Language Program which is spreading in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Francesco Genuardi, Consul General of Italy, recognized the importance of Il Centro as an important landmark for the promotion of Italian language too.
  • The First Annual Forum in Italian American Criticism was held in Manhattan in 2008 at which internationally renowned scholars were invited to comment on “The Status of Interpretation in Italian American Studies.” After the lively event, I was given the pleasant task of lightly editing and arranging the contributions into a volume of the same name as the 30th volume in the highly respected Forum Italicum book series in Italian and Italian American Studies published in the spring of 2012. It is well worth a read by anyone who recognizes the value of the Italian experience in America and wishes to know who are the major players in the game.
  • Most Italian-Italians, the ones from Italy, that is, always seem to be curious as to how we Italian-Americans are perceived by others in America. With all the news they’ve heard of Italian stereotypes in America, like the ones put forward in “The Godfather,” “The Sopranos,” “Mafia Wars,” and “The Jersey Shore,” I understand what they expect.