L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023 www.italoamericano.org 6 sented advanced materials and robots created for the exploration of Mars. The event was the perfect opportunity to show the local public the variety and excel- lence of Italian style in our consular district, where the classic and much-appreciat- ed Made in Italy merges with innovation and a continuous s e a r c h f o r i n c r e a s i n g l y sophisticated products and services. During her address, Con- sul Raffaella Valentini also emphasized the unshakeable alliance between Italy and the United States, an alliance based on a shared set of val- ues and democratic princi- ples, which is a constitutional patrimony we inherited from our forefathers, and a com- pass for international rela- tions. This is so crucial today, with the return of war to the heart of Europe and the sac- rifices of the Ukrainian peo- p l e w h o a r e f i g h t i n g f o r d e m o c r a c y a n d f r e e d o m against Russian aggression. The alliance is not only diplo- matic but also a vigorous and healthy trade relationship: this year, for the first time, the United States has become Italy's second-largest trading partner. "This unprecedented fact is another reason for pride a n d c e l e b r a t i o n , w h i c h inspires us to do more and better, " Consul Valentini underlined. "We shall con- tinue to invest in strengthen- ing this bilateral economic relation, also through our common work in Los Ange- les, home to the fifth-largest Italian American population in the US." The relationship between Italy and Los Angeles is, indeed, a two hundred years' long love story. This passion- ate connection started at the very birth of the City, whose name "El Río de Nuestra S e ñ o r a l a R e i n a d e l o s Á n g e l e s d e P o r c i ú n c u l a " comes from the name of a church in Assisi, Umbria. "As in many major cities across the US, Italian immi- grants played a fundamental role in shaping the roots of Los Angeles. As an example, Italian American magnate Joseph Sartori financed the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1 9 1 3 , a m o n u m e n t a l c i t y project to bring water to its residents. Secondo Guasti owned, on the other hand, the world's largest contigu- ous vineyard in the early 1900s. After the very first years of the World Wars, Italians made a significant impact on the development of Los Angeles into the mod- ern megalopolis we know today. Rudolph Valentino gave the role of actors a dif- ferent meaning in the first decades of the past centu- ry; Mario Gerla, together with Tim Berners Lee, creat- ed the internet back in the 80s; Giorgio Armani revo- lutionized the red-carpet fashion in the 90s' and so on." Today, Italians and Ital- ian Americans in Los Ange- l e s a r e t o p e x e c u t i v e s i n major tech companies. They are also Pilots of the Rover Perseverance on Mars, digi- tal marketers, musicians, restaurateurs, and fashion designers. And in 2019, 6 million Americans visited Italy, an all-time record: but of those millions of Americans, 76% v i s i t e d o n l y 5 I t a l i a n Regions out of 20. "Rarely do they visit Sardegna, this marvelous island with one o f t h e b e s t s e a s i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n a n d i t s ancient culture, or little do they know about the Italian Alps, simply the most beau- t i f u l m o u n t a i n s i n t h e World. And this is also true for Italian fashion, design, and technology. My country's economic backbone is made of more than five million small and medium enter- prises, each of them a sym- bol of Italian tradition, cre- ativity, and imagination," Consul Valentini says, as she concludes her speech. "My commitment as Con- sul General of Italy in Los Angeles is to contribute to a deeper mutual understand- i n g a n d t o e m b r a c e t h e diversity and variety of this l o n g - l a s t i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p through inspiring initiatives and projects. We are work- i n g , f o r e x a m p l e , o n t h e establishment of an Italian Design and Lifestyle House, next summer we will wel- come the Amerigo Vespucci ship to the LA Harbour, and many more events will take place in the coming months. We are committed to contin- uing to provide the best ser- vices to Italian citizens and all patrons of the Consulate General and, with the sup- port of you all, also to repre- sent, in the best possible way, the style, passion and talent Italy has to offer." While on stage at the Automotive Museum in Los Angeles to celebrate the 2nd of June, Republic Day, Consul General Raffaella Valentini said that "on that day, Italy was born: a unique land of culture and innovation, beauty and talent" Italian-American actor Milo Ventimiglia addresses the public (Photo: Lorenzo Diego) Consul General Raffaella Valentini chats with representatives of one of the event's sponsors, Parmigiano Reggiano (Photo: Lorenzo Diego) Continued from page 4 LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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