ITALIAN LANGUAGE

ITALIAN LANGUAGE

After a 20 year battle we can all boast about advanced placement in Italian which began in September of this year. Funding to get this program underway was provided by the Sons of Italy, N.I.A.F., Unico, and the Italian government.

Finally and as a result of the combined efforts of our largest Italian Organizations we have achieved a major success in the pursuit of our Italian language program.

History was also made in 1995 when a unified effort of these organizations an effort which I was pleased to organize and chair along with other community leaders. Much thanks is also due to the late philanthropists, Henry Salvatori and the late George Graziadio, as a result the George Graziadio chair in Italian Studies was established at Cal State University Long Beach.

Much of the success of our Italian Language programs in the US which is the fastest growing now in Percentages but not in numbers is due to the interest and growing support of the Italian government.

In 1982 a congress was held in Rome attended by 188 leaders and their spouses from all parts and organizations in the United States. The purpose which, in addition to returning many Italian Americans to their roots, was the promotion of the Italian language and culture throughout the US. The growing Italian government recognized the importance of this effort “La Lingua e Cultura Italiana”

I was pleased to be a member of the United States committee which helped organize this event along with Matilda Como and others. I also made a presentation on the Italian Cultural movement in Orange County where we founded a non-profit cultural foundation in 1983 for the purpose of preserving and promoting our Italian heritage and culture and to develop a community cultural center for Italians and others. At that time promoting our culture and heritage was not a priority with many Italian organizations The southern California Italian language committee was formed subsequently with the assistance of Gerlando Butti then Director of the Istitute Italiano di Cultura.

It is interesting to note that most of the funds allocated to date for Italian language programs by the Italian government had been to major marketing areas for Italian goods, New York and Chicago. The strategy of the Italian government appearing to be to promote trade, travel to Italy, education etc. Funds had also been provided to other areas as well, however it has only been recently that in the Los Angeles area an increase in funds have been made available under the direction Vittoria Cifone, a full time director of Education located in the office of the Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles. The task is a tough one because Northern and Southern California Italians are scattered which makes the focus of programs difficult except in selected Universities and organizations. Nevertheless support is being provided and liaison has between established with community organizations; schools with the assistance of a non-profit organization called The Fondazione, which was formed for the exclusive purpose of promoting the study of Italian in schools. The Fondazione serves as a conduit for funds to approved programs and maintains an office in the Italian Chamber of Commerce facilities in west LA. A program of cooperation currently being supported by the Office of Education is at the Orange County Performing Arts High School where funding has been provided for several years for a language instructor and a grant from the Orange County American Italian Renaissance Foundation helped seed this program in addition to annual student scholarship awards.

The Order Sons of Italy has a long history of promoting Italian language studies in their respective communities by our filial lodge members. We currently have 70 active lodges and a Grand Lodge which is headquartered in San Francisco in a building we own which also house our archives, historical displays, offices, social activities and fund raising activities such as raffles and bingo.

A program entitled “Dopa Sculoa” has been funded for many years in this area with funds raised from our bingo programs.

A program called “Adopt A Class” was initiated in the early 1990s and until recently matching funds were provided by the Grand Lodges Foundation (Western Foundation). This program was for high schools. A similar program is now being promoted by Coplias, a national organization headquartered in Washington, DC.

A grant from the National Sons of Italy Foundation, NIAF and the Italian Ambassador have disseminated printed materials to all Italian organizations in the United States to assist in this endeavor. Our lodges continue to promote Italian studies. Through our scholarship program we are able to send students to Italy with travel scholarships in most cases. The classes and housing are paid by the Italian government via Istitute Italiano di Cultura. Other scholarships support advanced college studies.

I just returned from a meeting held in New York this past August where the Sons of Italy celebrated its 100 year anniversary. One of the primary agenda items was the preservation and promotion of our heritage through cultural programs, education and Italian Studies. The appointment in each of our 765 lodges of an individual and committee was recommended.

CSJ PROGRAM AND ACTIVITIES

What is the Commission for Social Justice?

The Commission for Social Justice (CSJ) is the anti-defamation arm of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA). In the battle of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice “we have just begun to fight.”

The Commission was founded in 1979 to fight the stereotyping of Italian Americans by the entertainment, advertising and news industries. It also collaborates with other groups to ensure that people of all races, religions and cultures are treated with dignity and respect.
The Commission monitors the entertainment, advertising and news industries, contacts offending parties by letter and/or telephone and alerts other Italian American organizations, e-mail networks and concerned individuals to the problem so that they too can take action.
Through its Positive Image Program, the Commission regularly informs the media and general public about Italian American achievements, contributions, history and culture.
As part of its Positive Image Program, the Commission conducts research, produces studies, teaching tools, pamphlets, exhibits and other materials on the achievements and contributions of Italian Americans.

The Commission for Social Justice conducts campaigns at both the community and the national level that support cultural and social issues of importance to Italian Americans. (Legislation, commemorative stamps, Columbus Day/Heritage Month, etc.) To achieve its objectives, the CSJ engages in community and government relations as well as in grassroots campaigns and fund-raising efforts. However, given its non-profit status, the CSJ cannot offer legal advice or assistance in lawsuits.

At the National Office in Washington D.C. one full time position, Dona DeSanctis, devotes her time to CSJ programs and related projects. Examples of activities conducted during 2005 are in your handout.

The Commission for Social Justice is headed by a totally volunteer staff including a president, officers and trustees. Periodic meetings are held and a communication network has been established with local and Grand Lodges throughout the Order Sons of Italy.

This site was last updated 07/01/07