For many Italian Americans who are second or third generation immigrant families, the connection to our Italian heritage is strong. We cherish our family traditions, especially concerning holiday celebrations and festive dinners featuring favorite family recipes. We honor the rich history of Italy, and its profound influence on American life.

Yet, many of us are unfamiliar with the beautiful and significant Italian language. Perhaps there were no Italian language classes offered in the schools we attended, or perhaps our parents preferred to focus on assimilating into American culture and did not encourage the speaking of Italian.