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The “Festa della Repubblica” is celebrated on June 2nd because on that very day, in 1946, the Italian people went to the polls. For the first time after 20 years of Fascism, after World War II had largely destroyed the country, they had an important choice to make. “Monarchia” or “Repubblica” ? Women were also allowed to vote, for the first time in Italian history, and so they did. Credit is usually given to Alcide De Gasperi for the remarkably consequential decision to call the entire population to a vote on such a huge and controversial issue. The choice was “Repubblica” by a close margin, and King Umberto II went into exile.

Francesco Ranci, born in Italy, holds a B.A. and M.A. in Political Sciences from the University of Pavia, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Milano. In Italy, he worked as a researcher, instructor, and journalist until 2010. After moving to the U.S., he worked as Adjunct Faculty at Naugatuck Valley Community College, The College of New Rochelle, Berkeley College, and Iona College. He recently published an essay about Cold War Era sociologist Erving Goffman in the peer-reviewed journal “The American Sociologist”. For the last four decades, he focused his research on the methodology of the cultural sciences. He is particularly committed to saving the legacy left by the Italian Operational School, in the aftermath of World War II, from oblivion.

“Writing the Italian in Your Memories”: Spring Edition
Laboratorio Virtuale di Scrittura, Virtual Writing Workshop
May 22, June 5, June 19
10:00-11:45am
No experience necessary, just a notebook and pen!

As Italians and Italian-Americans (IA), when we look back on our pasts, whether a year or decades ago, our stories are often intertwined with our culture—its richness, expectations, challenges and humor. During each workshop, led by author Maria Giura, we’ll focus on how one aspect of IA life–family, work, and (un)belief—forms the background or foreground of our memories.

We’ll read short, vibrant excerpts written by IA authors and explore how they tell their stories. Participants will then be given prompts to generate their own writing. By the end of each workshop, participants will have produced an original piece of writing. No experience necessary, just a notebook, pen, and a sense of curiosity and fun!

Register for one, two, or all three workshops. Pour your coffee and join Maria on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11:45 am. The fee for each workshop is …There is a member discount for family members.
Part 1: Saturday, May 22
Part 2: Saturday, June 5
Part 3: Saturday, June 19

About the Instructor:

Maria Giura is the author of Celibate: A Memoir (Apprentice House) and What My Father Taught Me (Bordighera Press). Her writing has appeared in Prime Number, Presence, (Voices in) Italian Americana, Lips, Tiferet, and Paterson Literary Review. She has won awards from the Academy of American Poets, the Independent Press, and the Center for Women Writers, and was a judge for the Lauria/ Frasca Poetry Award. She has taught at St. John’s University, Montclair State, and Binghamton University where she earned her PhD in English. https://www.mariagiura.com/

Sicilian Rice Balls

Arancino or Arancina? Learn all you need to know to make perfect Sicilian rice balls.

Mini Cheese Rice Balls
Learn how to make yummy, gooey mini cheese rice balls.

How Italian Are You? 
Discover if you qualify for Italian citizenship and what its benefits can mean for you!
Presented by Carla Megale Di Tommaso 

When someone asks, “Are you Italian?,” you probably answer “Yes!” Whether you are a native citizen of Italy or not, being Italian is part of who you are. And Italy is in your blood – more than you may know. 

Italy’s Jure Sanguinis – a “Blood Law” – gives you the legal right to inherit citizenship from your parents or grandparents, regardless of where you were born. 

What about your children? Does being an Italian citizen, even with a valid passport, mean your children are also Italian? Probably, but only if Italian authorities have a record of their birth. 

And what if you’re married to an Italian citizen? You’ve grown to love Italy, you love to visit, you dream of retiring in Italy. Being married to an Italian gives you a good chance of acquiring Italian citizenship along with all its rights and benefits.  

Some of you may just want to know more about your Italian ancestors, to discover details that will unlock mysteries about their lives. Answers may be found by searching township archives in Italy. They contain centuries of certificates of birth, of marriage and of death; they even record recurring names, changed names and other surprising, little-known facts. 

All these different scenarios require different procedures that can seem dauntingly complicated. In fact, they are not simple. They entail knowing the requisite documents and correct sequence for obtaining them that will lead to certification of Italian citizenship. 

If your life goals include becoming an Italian citizen or having your important life events recorded in Italy, join us at Casa Belvedere on Tuesday, June 8 at 7 pm for a special presentation.