L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 14 L'Italo-Americano LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE D ear Readers, it was in 1977 t h a t I f l e w down to Los Angeles from San Francisco with a group of Italian-Americans, includ- ing former mayor Joseph A l i o t o a n d h i s d a u g h t e r Angela Alioto Veronese. Born in San Francisco in 1916, Alioto rose to prominence as an attorney and politician, becoming the 36th mayor of San Francisco, serving from 1968 to 1976. He was known for his efforts to modernize the city, and under his lead- e r s h i p , S a n F r a n c i s c o became a hub of innovation and progress. However, for the Italian-American com- munity, Alioto was especially a symbol of the immigrant success story—a man who never forgot his roots and who worked tirelessly to pro- mote and preserve Italian culture and values in his city. His daughter, Angela Alioto Veronese, followed in his footsteps, continuing the family's legacy of public ser- vice and cultural advocacy. Anyway, I was saying … We were in the Trianon R o o m a t t h e B e v e r l y Wilshire Hotel on that day, to discuss Jeno Paolucci's idea of expanding the Wash- ington-based IAF Founda- tion to the NIAF, National Italian-American Founda- tion, with a $1,000 fee. The idea of an Advisory Council of 1,000 started up on that day. Participation at the lun- cheon was by invitation only. *** Looking back to 1977, I did not know there was an Italian-American paper in Los Angeles. They had not merged yet. However, I hap- pened to be seated next to Father Mario Trecco, the editor of L'Italo Ameri- cano, and I volunteered to write a column called "News from Northern California." That was my first involve- ment with this publication, and it set the foundation for my long-standing connection to the paper. *** When I met Father Trec- c o , h o w e v e r , I w a s w e l l familiar with L'Eco d'Italia of San Francisco. Founded in the early 20th century, the paper served — much like L'Italo Americano in Los Angeles — as a crucial medi- um for Italian immigrants in the region, offering news from Italy and providing a platform for discussions on immigration, politics, and community affairs. For many Italians who had left their homeland, L'Eco d'Italia was a vital link to the culture, lan- guage, and news of Italy. It was also a means for the Ital- ian-American community to establish its identity in a for- eign land, highlighting their contributions to American society while keeping tradi- tions alive. When the Scal- abrini fathers acquired it in 1980 and merged it with L'I- talo Americano, it was the end of the North-South divi- s i o n i n I t a l i a n - A m e r i c a n news coverage. This merger unified the Italian-American narrative across California, a n d m a d e s u r e t h a t b o t h Northern and Southern Ital- ian communities were repre- sented under one umbrella. *** Robert Barbera became our publisher in 2002, after the Scalabrini fathers decid- ed to sell and focus on other fields. Today, L'Italo Americano remains a steadfast institu- t i o n , p r o u d l y e d i t e d b y Simone Schiavinato. The paper arrives in our homes every two weeks, a 40-page publication filled with rich s t o r i e s t h a t s p a n a w i d e range of topics. It is a mix of the old and the new, with articles covering everything from Italian history and cul- ture to contemporary issues affecting Italian-Americans today. Simone and his team e n s u r e t h a t t h e c o n t e n t reflects the ever-evolving Italian-American experience, offering a balance between Advancing our Legacy: Italian Community Services CASA FUGAZI If you know of any senior of Italian descent in San Francisco needing assistance, please contact: ItalianCS.org | (415) 362-6423 | info@italiancs.com Italian Community Services continues to assist Bay Area Italian-American seniors and their families navigate and manage the resources needed to live healthy, independent and productive lives. Since Shelter-in-Place began in San Francisco, Italian Community Services has delivered over 240 meals, over 900 care packages and made over 2000 phone wellness checks for our seniors. tradition and modernity. *** W h a t d o e s L ' I t a l o Americano cover today? Alongside chronicling key moments in Italian and Ital- ian-American history, the newspaper shares stories of notable figures in arts, poli- tics, and business. It cele- brates the achievements of Italian and Italian-American scientists and artists and provides updates on Italy's p o l i t i c a l s c e n e , a l l w h i l e offering a well-rounded per- spective for its readers. The paper also includes i n t e r v i e w s w i t h I t a l i a n - Americans who have made important contributions in various fields, and brings t o g e t h e r g e n e r a t i o n s b y sharing their stories. R e a d e r s c a n a l s o f i n d articles on the Italian lan- guage, recipes, and cultural insights to help them stay connected to their roots. L'Italo Americano's travel section helps us take beauti- ful journeys to the Belpaese, without moving from our favorite armchair here on the West Coast. Through its pages we can visit icons of Italy and discover little gems to keep our Italian Connec- t i o n a l i v e . T h e p a p e r remains a cultural guide for those wanting to maintain a strong and meaningful tie to their Italian identity. From community events to busi- n e s s p r o f i l e s , t L ' I t a l o - Americano continues to be a platform for Italian-Amer- icans to share their heritage and stay informed on issues impacting Italy and its dias- pora, almost 120 years after it was founded.

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