|
September Vibes: We Are Ready for a New Season!
Care Amiche e Cari Amici,
September marks the time for return, a reset from the lazy days of summer. It also marks the beginning of the harvest season, a time to reflect on recent growth and gains.
At NOIAW, we are preparing for the first edition of A Tavola, a National Conversation around a table, focusing on Italian heritage and Italian American culture. These are the traditions that have been passed down from generations gathered around the table with family and close friends as we celebrate food, share stories, and connect with our heritage.
The conversation launches globally from New York City and via Zoom in other locations on October 25 as NOIAW National Board member Adriana Trigiani, will ignite the conversations on *HER-story to take place around the tables. Please consider joining us from wherever you are on the 25th. Details on registering in article below.
See below for important shout-outs to NOIAW members in the news:
NOIAW Founder and Chair Emerita, Aileen Riotto Sirey, will be honored by Italian Charities of America with the Lifetime Achievement Award! Kudos to other members grabbing headlines including Greater Washington DC Wise Woman, Jennifer Nuzzo; Rhode Island native and US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and Connecticut member and author Patricia Dunn.
And don't forget to check the updates from our Regions!
Buona lettura e buon autunno!
| | | |
|
NOIAW proudly announces that Italian Charities of America (ICA) will pay tribute to our Founder and Chair Emerita, Aileen Riotto Sirey, by bestowing on her "The Lifetime Achievement Award" for her unique accomplishments and contributions to the Italian American community.
Dr. Sirey will receive the award at ICA's annual gala on Sunday, October 22 in New York City.
During the gala, five other notable Italian Americans also will be recognized for the impact they have on their communities:
-
Angelo Vivolo, Director of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, The Cristopher Columbus Award
-
Fabrizio Di Michele, Consul General of Italy in New York, The Italian Ambassador Award
-
Professor Anthony J. Tamburri, Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, The Italian American Leadership Award
-
Nino Provenzano, Sicilian poet and author, the Italian Regional Languages Award
-
Alessandra Belloni, singer, musician and dancer, The Renaissance Award
| |
ITALIAN AMERICAN WOMEN MAKING NEWS | |
|
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
Travels to China to Open Dialogue
| |
|
The first U.S. Secretary of Commerce to travel to China in five years, Gina Raimondo visited Beijing and Shanghai recently to meet with Chinese government officials. As she pointed out in an interview with CNBC’s Jim Cramer, "U.S. businesses are desperate for dialogue."
Secretary Raimondo is the first Italian American, and the fourth woman, to lead the Commerce Department in United States history.
Secretary Raimondo was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island. She is the granddaughter of Italian immigrants who came to the United States when they were teenagers. She graduated with honors in economics from Harvard University, then won a Rhodes Scholarship for her doctorate from Oxford University and graduated from Yale Law School.
| |
|
The Right Woman in the Right Place
NOIAW 2022 Wise Woman
Jennifer Nuzzo Appointed
Director of the Pandemic Center
| |
Jennifer Nuzzo, NOIAW 2022 Wise Woman from the Greater Washington D.C. Region, has taken on a new prestigious role as the founding director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health (SPH). She is also Professor of Epidemiology at Brown SPH
"Coming to Brown University gave me a new platform to try and advance progress on the issues I care about," Dr. Nuzzo stated.
"In this capacity," she explains, "I lead a team of amazing faculty and students who are conducting research into how we can increase our resilience against future pandemic threats. Our work doesn't end with publishing papers. We also spend a lot of time engaging with policymakers to make sure our evidence gets translated into practice. We also are committed to training the next generation of public health leaders so that we have better decision-makers at the helm during future threats."
Read more about Dr. Nuzzo's impressive portfolio here or listen to her remarks accepting the NOIAW Wise Woman award here.
| | | |
|
Patricia Dunn's Latest Work Brings Us
Into a Family's Twisted Secrets
| |
|
After Rebels By Accident and Last Stop On The 6, NOIAW Connecticut member and author, Patricia Dunn's dives into the mystery genre!
A desperate police investigation, a love affair, and a serial killer on the loose are all part of the plot in the latest book by Dunn, who is also known as T.M. Dunn. The novel features a raw, edgy, and hard-hitting hero’s journey into a family’s twisted secrets.
A proud Italian American woman, Dunn holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College where she is senior director of the Writing Institute, and is a co-founder of Key to the Castle Workshop. She also serves as co-host of the Westport Library's podcast, "Go Ahead, Write Something."
| |
True to her Italian heritage, Dunn uses her workshop to bring writers and painters to Cetara, on the Amalfi Coast. To learn more about her, tap here | |
"A Tavola" with NOIAW!
Join Us Around the Table
For a National Conversation
October 25, 6:30 pm
Less Than One Month
to Reserve Your Seat!
| |
|
Will you have a seat at the table for NOIAW's celebration of Italian American Culture and Heritage month on Wednesday, October 25, 6:30 PM EST? Tickets for NYC dinner now on sale here;
National members will be invited to join in a hybrid toast via Zoom led by several board members at an in person dinner from New York City.
Following the toast, we invite you all to enjoy a meal together a tavola wherever you are to discuss why we honor our heritage and celebrate our culture during this month.
Local tables are being planned in different cities and towns across the country. For other locations or to join via zoom, visit upcoming events at noiaw.org.
Dal passato al futuro, l’invito è sempre lo stesso: A tavola!
Italian American HER-story in the making.
Questions? Contact NOIAW President, Pat Tinto, ptinto@noiaw.org
| | |
|
|
Greater Washington D.C. Region
Invites You
To an Online Presentation
by Elisa M. Speranza
of Her New Book
The Italian Prisoner
October 4, 2023, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
The history of WWII is well known, yet there are dozens of personal stories still to be discovered, such as the one told by Elisa M. Speranza in her debut novel, The Italian Prisoner.
The book, inspired by little-known historical events, takes place in New Orleans in 1943, and it revolves around Rose Marino, who lives with her Sicilian immigrant parents and helps in the family grocery store. While her brother and sister have both joined the Army, Rose struggles not to comply with her parents’ desires for her: get married to a local boy and start a family. Rose would rather become like her fiercely independent widowed Godmother.
Read more about the novel here, buy the book here, and don't forget to register below.
Members $10, Non members $20. Registrations here
| | |
Celebrate Italian American Heritage Month
with the NOIAW Rhode Island Region
October 16th, 6:30-9:30 PM
In celebration of Italian American Heritage Month, the Rhode Island Region will host an elegant evening at Siena restaurant to promote the preservation of the language, culture, heritage and rich traditions centered around the table in Italy. An authentic Italian 3-course wine dinner will feature specialty dishes from a specific region in Italy. Restaurant owner, Anthony Tarro, will add an educational component by explaining each dish and the regional cooking. Natalie Volpe, wine importer and NOIAW RI council member, will pair dishes with hand picked Italian wines while sharing information on the regions and culture of Italian winemaking.
Based on the capacity of Siena's private room, the event is limited to 48 attendees.
Don’t delay - Please register here by Monday, October 9 to reserve your seat.
| |
|
"Grandma Is Still Here"
The Greater Boston Area
Celebrated the Gardens
of Our Grandmothers
The Greater Boston Area of NOIAW held an amazing and engaging event in the western part of the state with its “Celebrate the Gardens of Our Grandmothers” at Crow River Farm in East Longmeadow. Spearheaded by Boston NOIAW Council member and author Linda Cardillo and hosted by farm owner Kerisa Perazella Fitzgerald, the day included a guided tour of the fields, a demonstration by beekeeper Debra Boronski, a musical performance by folk singer Abigail Dowd, and an array of finger foods prepared from the bounty of the farm. More than 30 guests wandered through the vegetable, herb, and flower gardens and enjoyed food, music, and lively conversations. As they left, they took with them gifts of fingerling potatoes, vegetables from the harvest display, and new connections to NOIAW.
| |
St. Rocco's Bakery Luncheon
The Long Island Network
Nailed It Again!
The 2023 edition of the St. Rocco's Bakery Event, traditionally organized by the NOIAW Long Island Network, is in the books. But the echoes of a pleasant day of meeting and greeting still resonate in the memory of those who attended.
More than 40 people gathered at St. Rocco's Bakery, one of the historical Italian eateries in Long Island, to taste their famed panini, pastries, and gelato (not to mention the delicious NOIAW cake). Shown in the pictures, there are some glimpses of the event.
Special thanks to NOIAW Long Island Network Coordinator Francesca Runge and NOIAW Program Chair, Betty Santangelo for organizing this sold out event!
| |
|
|
A Blast from the Past!
By Aileen Riotto Sirey
NOIAW Founder, Chair Emerita
| |
|
Columbus Day Parade
and NOIAW 1992 Quincentenial
International Weekend and Conference
| |
|
|
From our archivist, and founder, Aileen Riotto Sirey:
"The Quincentenial International Weekend began with an evening Circle line dinner cruise, an Ellis Island tour with lunch at American Express, followed by a conference with panel discussions and then an evening at a comedy club. On Sunday the weekend ended with a luncheon and honorees."
| |
|
"Evening Circle Line Cruise. Left to right: Pat Misasi, Angela Mazzarelli, Donna DeMatteo, Barbara Gerard, Joanna Capparell, Aileen Riotto Sirey, Angela Solano, President of Italo Argentina Women’s Association, with an unknown Argentinian guest (and the Twin Towers!)
On top, a Columbus Day Parade from the early 1980s with NOIAW Board members carrying our banner"
| | | | |
