It Takes a "Piazza." A New Special Print Issue of i-Italy

i-Italy is one year old. We launched it in October 2007 in an incredibly packed conference hall offered by the Graduate School of Journalism of the City University of New York. We were then part of an international project funded by the Italian Government and directed by the Sapienza University of Rome.


Our goal was to create the first online community and information network dedicated to Italian and Italian American affairs. It was a fascinating experience, thanks especially to our partners and supporting institutions, in particular America Oggi, the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute (Queens College, CUNY), and the Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò of NYU.

The backing of the Consulate General of Italy in New York has been also essential. An entire section of our magazine (“Italy in New York”) is managed in collaboration with them.

The Consul General Francesco Maria Talò has even started a “blog” on i-Italy (called “Sistema Italia”). Such institutional support is by no means common, and we take it as a genuine appreciation of our work and passion.


One year later, that seminal project is ended, as well as the Italian government fundings – but we have grown more ambitious, and we are still around. We know that we are on the right track. We have incorporated a not-for-profit organization (The Italian American Digital Project, Inc.) to take care of the organizational and fund-raising activities of i-Italy. We are on our own now and need the support of all of you!


One way to support us and get involved with us, is to read and distribute our fourth special print issue. You will find free copies at several locations: the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, where we have our headquarters, the Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, the Italian Consulate General in New York, the Italian Cultural Institue. Or you can order them just by writing to us ([email protected]).

IN THIS ISSUE:


- Letizia Airos interviews Italy's Foreign Affairs Minister Franco Frattini;

- Anthony Tamburri introduces a conversation with Louis Tallarini, President of the Columbus Citizens Foundation;

- Piero Bassetti presents his original theory of "Italici";

- Italy's Consul General in New York, Francesco Maria Talò, speaks of the importance of creating a virtual "piazza" for Italians abroad and explains why he recently started a blog on i-Italy


Other contributors include:

Stefano Benni, Ottorino Cappelli, Lucio Caputo, Peter Carravetta, Judith Harris, Amara Lakhous, Silvana Mangione, Marina Melchionda, Renato Miracco, Berardo Paradiso, Rodrigo Praino, Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Riccardo Strano, Paolo Timoni, Alfredo Valentini, Jana Vizmuller-Zocco.

 

READ THE WHOLE SPECIAL ISSUE HERE!