L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 www.italoamericano.org 18 L'Italo-Americano " The aim of politics is serving the com- munity and serving the community is born and develops within the individual. It's a vocation, just like that of being a doctor, a priest, or a trader:" this is how Angelo Viro, MAIE's vice-president and candidate to the Camera dei Deputati for Canada, USA, Central America and the Caribbean, describes the figure of the politician. Viro, who lives in Santo Domingo, defines himself a "Sicilian of the world," an expression that many Ital- ian-Americans of Sicilian descent likely consider their o w n , t o o . E n t r e p r e n e u r p r o u d o f h i s o w n r o o t s , Viro's passion for politics dates back to his teenage y e a r s w h e n , p e r h a p s , h e couldn't even fathom the idea of having a life on an i s l a n d d i f f e r e n t f r o m h i s beloved Sicily. Thanks to a blend of Italian creativity, S i c i l i a n t e n a c i t y a n d , o f c o u r s e , t h e s h i n i n g s t a r o f M a d e i n I t a l y i n t h e world, Angelo Viro devel- oped a group of businesses at international level, which he r u n s , i n t y p i c a l l y I t a l i a n style, with his children and wife. In name of his pro- found sense of institutions and political flair, Viro has been very active in the Italian community of Central Amer- ica and the Caribbean, with roles in the Comites of Both Santo Domingo and Panama a n d t h e v i c e - p r e s i d e n c y o f C a s a d e I t a l i a , t h e Dominican center for Italian culture. It is not surprising that a man with such a deep-rooted connection with his nation and its culture became part of MAIE, a political move- ment created abroad for Ital- i a n s a b r o a d , t h e a i m o f which is that of representing Italians from all over the world in both the Parliament and the Government back in Rome. The movement's guiding principles are fully oriented not only toward the Italian collectivity abroad but also toward the protection and preservation of Italian culture, in all its forms, everywhere in the world. For the general elections of the 25th of Sep- tember, MAIE developed a nine-point program: 1) more means to strengthen the com- munity of Italians abroad, w i t h t h e i n s t i t u t i o n o f the Ministry for Italians Abroad; 2) more funds for the dissemination of Italian c u l t u r e ; 3 ) m o r e f u n d s t o strengthen the dissemination of the Italian language; 4) strengthening of the consular network; 5) promoting profes- sional opportunities for Ital- ians abroad; 6) promoting a c a d e m i c a n d s c i e n t i f i c exchange; 7) strengthening t h e I t a l i a n - A m e r i c a n exchange; 8) strengthening all vocational programs; 9) aboli- tion of IMU for all Italians abroad. In full agreement with the principles of the movement he represents, Angelo Viro wants the community to be stronger, more integrated and more present for all: a place to reaf- firm our cultural identity but also a place of opportunities. Key, in this sense, is the cre- ation of stronger online con- nections, also through the use of social media, to ensure all Italians in America are part of a dynamic and inclusive digi- t a l w o r l d . T h i s c a n a l s o become central for the promo- tion of professional opportuni- ties because a more connected and cohesive community is fertile soil for the development of new ventures and can gen- erate opportunities for single professionals. A s a m e m b e r o f M A I E , Viro's mission also embraces the improvement of consular services to make them more readily available to all, with an accent placed on reducing their cost to the citizen but also on obtaining more fund- ing to be spent on the teaching of the Italian language and the dissemination of Italian cul- ture. Essential, in this age of fakes and cheap versions of quality products, is also the fight against the counterfeiting of our Made in Italy, along with the promotion of our cui- s i n e a n d h o s p i t a l i t y traditions. With his open and full com- mitment to the Italian com- m u n i t y , V i r o e m b o d i e s MAIE's pivotal goal of devel- oping a more cohesive and interconnected Italian collec- tivity in North and Central America, a collectivity served by an even more comprehen- sive diplomatic network, with more affordable services: this i s i m p o r t a n t n o t o n l y t o ensure that the needs and requests of Italian citizens abroad are swiftly and careful- ly taken care of but also to strengthen the connection between the community and its Motherland. As a represen- tative of MAIE, Angelo Viro endorses the creation of a Ministry for Italians Abroad that could bring the ideas, needs and interests of the community to the very heart of Italy's decision-making process. Angelo Viro can represent Italians abroad because he embodies the peculiar nature of each and every one of them, that union between ancestral and modern, between land of o r i g i n a n d l a n d o f c h o i c e s h a r e d b y a l l o f u s , a s h e explains on his website: "I carry Sicily within me even here, in the city where I live, Santo Domingo. The Domini- can Republic gave me a lot but I have Italian creativity and Sicilian tenacity in my DNA: both helped me a lot when it came to working. They taught me how to never give up." Notice of Non-Affiliation and Disclaimer L'Italo-Americano is not affiliated, associated, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the Angelo Viro candidate for Camera dei Deputati for Canada, Stati Uniti, America Centrale e Caraibi. Angelo Viro, MAIE candidate for the Chamber of Deputies (Photo courtesy of MAIE/Angelo Viro) STAFF A n g e l o V i r o : S i c i l i a n d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o represent Italians abroad in Rome with MAIE LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE

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