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News & Events



Next Session of Adult Italian Language Classes Starting Soon!

Date 03.07.2022

Check out the variety of online adult Italian language classes that Fondazione Italia has to offer!

View classes and schedule


“One of Us” Documentary Streams for La Festa della Donna – Mar. 8

Date 03.08.2022

In honor of International Women’s Day 2022, the Embassy of Italy to the United States and the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles are coming together with The Italian Cultural Institutes in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and director/producer Chiara Tilesi of Frequency Productions, alongside We Do It Together, to present One of Us, a film focused on the West Coast-based notable women. 

Learn More

View One of Us

La Festa della Donna or International Women’s Day on March 8 brings a variety of events to cities all over the world. Though Women’s Day was first started in the United States in 1909, it was not long after that many countries started to include it as a national holiday, with Italy commencing its celebrations in 1922. Italian men celebrate women’s day in Italy with the traditional gift of giving women Mimosa flowers. The tradition started in 1946 when two activists – Rita Montagna and Teresa Mattei – fighting for equality of women in Italy, suggested to celebrate the first Women’s Day after WW II by offering branches of mimosa to other women as a sign of respect and support. The Mimosa represents the feminine world. This flower looks very delicate, but it is actually very strong and able to grow in harsh environments.


VoluntarItaly 2022 – Calling all Students (18-25) who speak Italian to apply! Deadline Mar. 7

Date 03.02.2022

Incredible opportunity for students (18-25) who speak Italian to Volunteer in Italy! Summer Camps organized by the Dante-Alighieri Michigan in partnership with the Oratories of Lombardy, Italy.
Do you speak some Italian? Want to live in Italy with a family next summer? Here’s a great opportunity – volunteering at a summer camp in Italy!
Since 2016 the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan has been partnering with the Lombardy Dioceses to offer an opportunity to live in Italy while volunteering as a counselor at a church-run summer camp. Get free accommodation, perfect your Italian, and add invaluable experience to your résumé.
The dioceses in Lombardy officially confirmed they are ready to host our volunteers, with some important changes, herein highlighted:
Volunteers between the ages of 18 to 25 (at an intermediate level of proficiency) will participate for THREE weeks.
DATES: from June 13 through July 1, 2022: Volunteers must arrive by June 10 for the mandatory orientation.
For Summer 2022, the dioceses are able to accept and accommodate only 25 volunteers.
Room and board are still free to the accepted volunteer, who is responsible for the plane ticket.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
The Application and two (2) recommendation letters by MARCH 7, 2022
Must show proof of vaccination for COVID-19
The Organizing Committee will email a confirmation to the accepted volunteers by March 30, 2022.
If we have more than 25 accepted volunteers, the Organizing Committee will broadcast a drawing on April 10, 2022. The invitation code to the live broadcast will be emailed to the participants when accepted for the program.
The accepted volunteer(s) must sign the contract + send the Plane Ticket (actual ticket not the reservation) by May 1, 2022.
***IMPORTANT****
If accepted, please make sure to respect the deadlines and the submission of the proper documentation by May 1, 2022
“IMPORTANT NOTE: The applicant will directly receive and upload the recommendations letters.

Trends in Modern Italian Luxury – Mar. 7

Date 02.28.2022

Any savvy consumer knows that Italian products are synonymous with fine design, and magnificent craftsmanship. Join NIAF and Friends of Bocconi for a panel discussion with experts in Italy’s fashion and design industry for their insight into trends in modern Italian luxury.

Through our conversation, CEO of Poliform, Laura Anzani; CEO of Armani, Gaetano Sciuto; and SVP of Finance and Strategic Initiatives at Luxottica, Matteo Del Vecchio will explore trends in the fashion and design industries ranging from innovations in sustainability and ethical luxury to corporate social responsibility and changes in consumers’ reactions to the pandemic.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Monday, March 7 @ 3:00 pm PST

Register

Zoom link will be sent via email to all registrants. If you are unable to participate in the live webinar, all registered attendees will automatically receive a recording of the session within two business days after the event.


Creative Engagements with the Venice Ghetto – Mar. 6

Date 02.28.2022

The Venice Ghetto: A Memory Space that Travels asks important questions about what lessons the Venice Ghetto might carry for the twenty-first century. How do we resist thinking about the Ghetto as a static site and instead embrace it as a dynamic place of cultural interchange? How do we work toward preserving the physical space while simultaneously embracing the ongoing process of collective memory making? Memory, just like the environment, functions within a fragile ecosystem. And in the context of Venice, the indiscriminate pursuit of instant gratification and profit has jeopardized both, unleashing natural catastrophe and creating an uncertain future for the city.

Sunday, March 6 @ 11:00 am PST

A Zoom panel discussion featuring Marjorie Agosín and Margaux Fitoussi, moderated by Katharine Trostel and Amanda Sharick

Events organized by the Jewish Community Library and co-presented by the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco.

Register


Filming Italy | Italian Film Festival: Feb. 28 – Mar. 4

Date 02.28.2022

The 7th edition of Filming Italy – Los Angeles, created and organized by Tiziana Rocca, Agnus Dei and the Italian Cultural Institute Los Angeles, will be held 50% live and the other half virtually, presenting over 50 titles, including films, TV series, unpublished and unreleased docufilms, short films as well as master classes. The honorary president is Oscar-nominated actor Giancarlo Giannini, who is set to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – the 16th for Italy.

After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with the link to access to the MyMovies platform and the code to watch the movies free of charge.

Register


Calling All Italian-Americans to Help Research Project by Completing Survey

Date 02.22.2022

If you are Italian American, please help complete a survey created by The Observatory on Italian Roots.
In cooperation with Italy’s Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, the observatory is funded by the AsSud Association, an Italian entity that is spearheading a research project entitled “Discovering Italian: Roots Travel in Italy” in order to better understand Italian immigration and the rise of genealogical tourism.
Participating in the survey is FREE.
Those who complete the entire questionnaire will be entered into a contest to receive a 600 Euro travel voucher to Italy!
For more information on this fascinating research project read this article written by Italian American Museum of Los Angeles Director, Marianna Gatto, for Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America.

NIAF Offers Scholarships to College Bound Italian Americans – Deadline March 1

Date 02.22.2022

Deadline approaching! If you are an Italian American college or college-bound student, apply for a scholarship from The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). Don’t miss this opportunity to earn thousands of dollars in financial aid.
 
Thanks to the generosity of many dedicated donors, the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) offers a variety of scholarships to outstanding Italian American students from a variety of academic disciplines and backgrounds. Potential applicants are encouraged to browse the various scholarship funds to learn more about specific eligibility criteria in addition to the general NIAF eligibility criteria.
 
Only one application needed. See How to Apply section on NIAF website.
NIAF Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must…
 
*Be enrolled in a US accredited institution of higher education on a full time basis for the Fall 2022 semester
 
*Have a GPA of at least 3.5 out of 4.0 (or the equivalent). (Some scholarships require a lower GPA for eligibility. Students in a pass-fail system are also eligible.)
 
*Be a United States Citizen or permanent resident alien.
Have Italian American ancestry. To be considered Italian American, the student must have at least one ancestor who has immigrated from Italy.
 
*Have an active NIAF Membership. Student may use their parent, guardian or grandparent’s membership.
 
DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MARCH 1, 2022

Film Grants for Italian Experience Projects Offered – Deadline March 1

Date 02.17.2022

The Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum provides an incredible opportunity for inspired and creative artists to craft films that explore the Italian American experience. Record-breaking Hollywood directors Joe and Anthony Russo invite you to explore the present, past, and future of this unique and important cultural expression and identity. A select number of applicants will be awarded an $8,000 grant that serves as a production budget for the story they’d like to develop and create for the screen. These grants are open to people of all nationalities and backgrounds, as the Italian American culture has touched so many of us in profound and resonant ways.
Grants will be awarded based solely on the promise of a film’s premise, how it relates to the Italian American experience, and the creative potential of the filmmakers.
Deadline: March 1, 2022, 11:59 p.m. PT
The film forum is in conjunction with the Italian Sons & Daughters of America (ISDA), Anthony and Joe Russo and AGBO.

Carnevale Family Party – Feb. 27

Date 02.09.2022

COM.IT.ES Los Angeles invites you to join them for a family Festa di Carnevale in Hermosa Beach! Potluck picnic with games for kids of all ages.

Sunday, February 27
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Rotary Club – Valley Park
2521 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach

RSVP here