L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 6 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Academy of Dramatic Arts. Alongside her role in the Star W a r s f r a n c h i s e , s h e h a s b e c o m e o n e o f t h e m o s t dynamic and innovative pro- ducers in the independent film industry, with over ten f i l m s p r o d u c e d i n 2 0 2 3 alone. Tiziana, originally from Palermo, relocated to Hous- ton in 2011, where she later became a US citizen. With over 20 years of experience working with public institu- tions and nonprofits across E u r o p e a n d t h e U n i t e d States, she has built extensive expertise in public relations, fundraising, and large-scale event production and man- agement. As a community, you q u i c k l y s t e p p e d u p t o help in a time of crisis. H o w d i d y o u o r g a n i z e y o u r s e l v e s , a n d w h a t motivated you? T i z i a n a T r i o l o a n d Roberta Sparta: As soon as the emergency unfolded, our top priority was to act quickly and effectively to support those in greatest need. The strength of our community lies precisely in its ability to mobilize immediately in criti- cal moments. We structured our response by leveraging the skills and resources of our members: we formed a coor- dination team, quickly identi- fied a charitable organization to support, and launched a d r i v e t o c o l l e c t e s s e n t i a l goods. At the same time, we created a targeted Amazon wishlist based on the needs of the YMCA shelter, which was serving as a key distribution center. Thanks to the strong collaboration and determina- tion within our community, within just five hours, the col- lection of funds and supplies was complete. Our motivation came from the awareness that even the smallest act could make a dif- ference in such a dire situa- tion. A deep sense of respon- sibility and solidarity pushed us to go above and beyond, overcoming every challenge. What kind of aid did y o u c o l l e c t , a n d h o w m a n y p e o p l e d i d y o u help? Roberta Sparta: In just a f e w d a y s , w e g a t h e r e d a r o u n d 7 , 0 0 0 e s s e n t i a l items, including baby formu- la and food, specialized prod- ucts for diabetics, pet food, personal hygiene products, and clothing. Everything was delivered to the YMCA in Koreatown, which served as the main distribution hub, e n s u r i n g t h a t s u p p l i e s reached different shelters and emergency centers. L o g i s t i c a l l y , d o n a t i o n s w e r e s e n t d i r e c t l y t o m y home, as IwUsa's Ambas- sador, and with the help of other volunteers, we coordi- n a t e d d a i l y d e l i v e r i e s t o maintain a steady flow of aid to the shelter. A f t e r d i s t r i b u t i n g e s s e n t i a l s u p p l i e s t o evacuees and those who lost everything, you are now offering free mental a n d e m o t i o n a l h e a l t h support. How did this project come about, and how is it structured? Cornelia Pop: This ini- tiative emerged organically from within our community, thanks to the generosity of n u m e r o u s m e n t a l h e a l t h professionals who stepped forward to offer their help, providing free sessions to those who had experienced such profound trauma. Within weeks, the pro- gram expanded to serve the broader Italian community in Los Angeles, bolstered by p a r t n e r s h i p s w i t h o n l i n e therapy platforms specializ- ing in support for Italians abroad. Today, we have a network of 13 professionals o f f e r i n g f r e e s e s s i o n s t o those in need. Anyone seek- ing psychological support c a n r e a c h u s v i a e m a i l a t info@italianwomenusa.c om or access the list of pro- fessionals through Airtable – Supporto Psicologico IWUSA. Free psychological sup- port is like an outstretched hand, a comforting embrace from afar. Providing emo- tional relief is just as impor- tant as distributing clothes, medicine, or phone chargers. Tiziana Triolo: Exactly. Our professionals immedi- ately stepped up, and those licensed to practice in Cali- fornia offered their services, allowing us to create a safe a n d w e l c o m i n g s p a c e f o r those in need of processing their trauma. In times of cri- sis, emotional pain can be just as paralyzing as material loss. Offering psychological s u p p o r t m e a n s r e s t o r i n g hope and helping people find the inner strength to start over. It was our way of say- ing: You are not alone — we are here for you. T h r o u g h w o r d o f mouth and your strong network, you're showing t h o s e a f f e c t e d b y t h e fires that they are not a l o n e — t h a t t h e y c a n count on the support of many selfless individuals willing to help. R o b e r t a S p a r t a : Absolutely! Our community has wrapped the city of Los Angeles in a real and virtual embrace, proving that soli- darity can make all the dif- ference. Through word of m o u t h a n d o u r e x t e n s i v e n e t w o r k , w e w e r e a b l e t o quickly reach those in need and provide concrete assis- tance. How did your commu- nity come to be, and how does it function? Does your Italian heritage add value to the organiza- tion? C o r n e l i a P o p : IwUsa was founded in 2019 with the goal of becoming a point o f r e f e r e n c e f o r I t a l i a n women living in the United States. Moving abroad is an incredible experience, but it can also be challenging, and having a strong community to rely on makes all the dif- ference. O u r I t a l i a n h e r i t a g e i s undoubtedly a strength: our culture is rooted in solidari- ty, family, and a deep sense of belonging. These values are the heart and soul of our community. Today, IwUsa includes more than 8,000 women across the US, with over 25 chapters, 45 volun- teers, and hundreds of in- person and virtual events held annually. D o y o u h a v e a l o c a l branch in Los Angeles? W h o i s p a r t o f i t , a n d how does it operate? Roberta Sparta: Yes, IwUsa has an active chapter in Los Angeles, established in March 2021 as part of the Ambassadors project. It cur- rently has around 200 mem- bers and is led by me as the Ambassador. We organize monthly meetups, network- ing events, and solidarity ini- tiatives, all with the goal of strengthening the support n e t w o r k a m o n g I t a l i a n women in the area. In your relief efforts in Los Angeles, what kinds o f s t o r i e s h a v e y o u encountered? Who has b e e n r e a c h i n g o u t t o you? R o b e r t a S p a r t a : W e have come across many sto- ries of resilience and deter- mination. So many Italian families lost everything — their homes, cars, memories, and in some cases, their busi- nesses, like Moonshadow in Malibu. Our goal is to stand b y t h e i r s i d e a n d o f f e r a s much support as possible. F o r t h o s e w h o h a v e lost everything, how can they begin again? Where do they start? Is healing even possible? Roberta Sparta: Start- ing over is difficult, but not impossible. The first priority i s t o m e e t b a s i c n e e d s — housing, food, medical care — while also providing psy- chological support to help process the trauma. Building a strong support network, fostering resilience, sharing stories, and engaging people in volunteer efforts are all crucial steps in transforming pain into new strength for the future. You personally deliv- ered aid. What did you see, and how would you describe the situation? Roberta Sparta: When we arrived with the supplies, we witnessed an extraordi- nary display of solidarity — long lines of volunteers ready to unload donations, cars packed with relief supplies, hands reaching out to offer comfort. It was a powerful and deeply moving experi- e n c e , a r e m i n d e r o f h o w many people came together to support the city, sharing the weight of an unimagin- able loss and, even if just for a moment, restoring hope to those who had suffered so much. "Our community has wrapped the city of Los Angeles in a real and virtual embrace, proving that solidarity can make all the difference." Roberta Sparta, Ambassador of the IwUsa Los Angeles chapter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 IwUsa founder, Cornelia Pop (Photo courtesy of IWUSA Community)

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