Dear friends, Here we are with another editorial full of news about our activities. This beginning of the year has been pretty busy for us at We the Italians. For the third year in a row, I had the pleasure and honor to mentor the new 100 fellows of the Italian American Future Leaders in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and to see again there many alumni I met in past years' conferences.
It is always exciting for me to spend three days in the midst of so many happy, smiling, proud young Italian Americans together: it is something completely different than the Roman routine for me. I always learn a lot, meet wonderful new people, come back with so many insights. We are cooking up a BIG NEWS on this theme, it is too early to announce it here but maybe as early as next month I will be able to.
The news that I can announce today instead is very important. Many of you have been urging us to resume the We the ItaliaNews podcast, and today it not only restarts but even doubles. Starting this month, “We the ItaliaNews: Italy in english,” and “We the ItaliaNews: L'Italia in America" are online. The former talks about what is happening in Italy, and is in English language, with a new episode out every Monday; the latter talks about what is happening in the Italian Italian American communities in the United States, and it is in Italian language, with a new episode out every Thursday. You can find them both here. Two podcasts, Two languages, Two flags, One heart
If you like what we do, let me remember you to please subscribe to We the Italians, here.
As you know, We the Italians is far from any political affiliations, both in Italy and in the United States, and that will not change. However, many of you have asked us to talk about the new, very difficult relationship between the United States and the European Union. It is a very sensitive topic, and we have chosen to dedicate this 2025 to studying and promoting how Italian Americans can and should play a key role on this issue. Throughout history, Italian Americans have played a crucial role in strengthening the friendship between Italy and the United States on three significant occasions. The first was in 1941, when they enlisted in the U.S. military in greater numbers than any other ethnic group after Pearl Harbor and requested to be sent to the Italian front to help liberate the land of their ancestors. The second was in 1947, when they strongly advocated for Italy to be included among the countries receiving aid from the Marshall Plan. The third was in 1948, when they persuaded many of their relatives voting in Italy to align the country with Western democracies and freedom rather than with the nations under Moscow’s influence.
Today, the Italian American one is the only ethnic group of a good consistency to represent both affiliations: Italian Americans are Italians, therefore Europeans, and they are of course also Americans. We will do this aseptically, scientifically, positively: without controversy, without bickering, without shouting. We the Italians is and always will be a safe space where everyone's opinions are welcome, but always with the utmost respect for others and for the truth. Speaking of the relations between the two countries that are in our hearts, I would like to point out this month's interview in which Lorenzo Tavazzi (Senior Partner and Head of the Scenarios and Intelligence and International Development Area of The European House - Ambrosetti Group) describes an extraordnary report on trade relations between Italy and the U.S., prepared for the Italian Embassy in Washington DC.
The We the Italians family continues to grow wonderfully, and today I am particularly delighted to welcome two new friends: Marianna Gatto and Chris Vaccaro.
Marianna Gatto is our new Ambassador in Los Angeles. Since 2010, Marianna has served as the executive director of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, that she co-founded. Gatto's roles span from development and advocacy to education. Marianna appeared in various documentaries, consulted for major networks, and is a frequent guest speaker, and holds degrees in social science, history, and education. In 2021 the Italian Republic awarded her the Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia.
Chris Vaccaro is our Ambassador in Long Island (New York). Chris, an Italian American with roots in Sicily, is an Emmy Award-winning media executive, professor, and author. He is the founder/executive director of the Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island, a U.S. Press Officer of the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball, an executive trustee of the Italian American Baseball Foundation, and the sports columnist for NIAF Ambassador Magazine. Co-host of the Renaissance Minds Podcast in New York, Chris is also the author of 10books and has produced 8 documentaries.
Last but not least, I am pleased to announce that, starting this month, another column is making its return to our magazine, curated by the We the Italians Editorial Staff: Italian Entertainment is back! In this column, we will once again bring you monthly stories about Italy's world of cinema, theater, music, television, and show business in general.
As already announced, the eleventh book, the ninth annual yearbook, is available for you: twelve interviews from 2024 on twelve different topics that have in common Italy and the United States. On this page, you will find a preview and the link to purchase it.
It’s all for now. Please stay safe and take care, and enjoy our magazine and our contents on our website. Stay safe and take care: the future’s so bright, we gotta wear tricolor shades! A big Italian hug from Rome.
