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  • Art & Culture

    Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero Visits Philadelphia

    The new Italian Ambassador to United States, Claudio Bisogniero, in charge from February 6, made his first official visit to the Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia on March 30.

    The Consul General, Luigi Scotto, accompanied the Ambassador on his tour around the city to discuss strengthening the relations between local and Italian institutions and increasing the presence of Italian culture in the US.

    The Ambassador started his tour at the Consulate General of Philadelphia, launching the International Conference “Reading and Translating Leopardi,” organized by the Consulate with the Center for Italian Studies of University of Pennsylvania and New York’s Institute of Italian Culture. During the conference, Ambassador Bisogniero announced that 2013 will be the “Year of Italian Culture in the United States.” In his efforts to bring this declaration to life, the Ambassador met with Timothy Rub, Director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, to discuss future collaborations with the Maxxi Museum in Rome.

    During the day, the Ambassador and the Consul General had the chance to meet with representatives of Philadelphia’s most prestigious museums and cultural institutions, such as Director of the Barnes Foundation Derek Gillman, Director of the Academy of Fine Arts Museum Harry Philbrick, and Director of University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Richard Hodges.

    After the visit to the museums, Ambassador Bisogniero and Consul General Scotto met Bruno Cellemme CEO of Agusta Westland, a Philadelphia-based Italian helicopter design and manufacturing company, and one of the largest in the US.

    Bisogniero was then invited at the City Hall of Philadelphia by Major Michael Nutter. They discussed the presence of Philadelphia located companies to the BioInItaly, a biotechnological conference in Milan on April 18 and 19, in which Assobiotec and PABio, an Italian organization and its Pennsylvanian counterpart, will be participating together.

    Other topics of discussion included ideas to expand the presence of Italian culture in the city such as campaigns to increase Italian as a second language and fine art in the Philadelphia School District and the Italian AP exam, recently reinstated.

    The visit of the Ambassador Bisogniero concluded at the Italian Consulate with a reception in his honor. On the occasion, Bisogniero had the chance to talk with several members of the National Italian-American Foundation (NIAF), with members of the Consiglio Generale degli Italiani all'Estero (CGIE), with members of Com.It.Es. and of Professionisti Italiani di Philadelphia (PI-Philly), and he discussed the activities of the Italian and Italian-American population in the Greater Philadelphia area.

  • Ritwitta la notizia. L' Ambasciatore a Washington Claudio Bisogniero è su Twitter!

    Nel marzo 2006, il fondatore di Twitter Jack Dorsey lanciava il suo primo messaggio: “Just setting up my twttr”, generando una vera e propria rivoluzione online che sei anni più tardi ha anche dato impulso ad un nuovo modo di fare diplomazia. E’ questa la strada che ha intrapreso l’Ambasciatore italiano a Washington, Claudio Bisogniero, lanciando oggi il suo canale Twitter @CBisogniero.

    “Così come successo con Internet, i social media giocano ormai un ruolo molto rilevante nelle relazioni internazionali e nella public diplomacy – ha detto l’Ambasciatore Bisogniero – e rappresentano quindi uno strumento prioritario per allacciare un dialogo sempre più aperto ed intenso con il pubblico americano e con tutti coloro che sono interessati a conoscere meglio l’Italia”.

    Con il lancio del nuovo Twitter @CBisogniero, l’Ambasciata conta una presenza ben ramificata sulla rete con, oltre al proprio sito web, anche i canali YouTube e Flickr ed il portale per ragazzi Italy4Kids.
     
    Twitter sta diventando un vero e proprio canale preferenziale di comunicazione ed il pubblico americano `w da sempre uno dei piu’ attivi. In Italia, il successo di Twitter è arrivato più tardi, ma e’in continua crescita con oltre 2,4 milioni di utenti e circa tre tweets al secondo. Un successo di pubblico dimostrato anche dal Ministro degli Affari Esteri Giulio Terzi che, insediandosi alla Farnesina, ha lanciato il proprio canale @GiulioTerzi per mantenere un rapporto piu’ vicino con il cittadino sui temi internazionali.

  • Facts & Stories

    Retweet the News. Ambassador to US Claudio Bisogniero is on Twitter

     In March 2006, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey launched his first message: “Just setting up my twttr”, giving way to an online revolution that six years later has led to a new way of conducting diplomacy. Italy’s Ambassador to the USA, Claudio Bisogniero is following course today with the launch of his own Twitter channel @CBisogniero.

    “Like the Internet, social media play a very important role in International relations and public
    diplomacy today—says Claudio Bisogniero—and have become an instrument of choice for engaging in an increasingly open and compelling dialogue with the U.S. public and anyone interested in knowing Italy better.”

    With the launch of @CBisogniero, the Embassy’s presence on the web has expanded beyond its official web site to YouTube, Flickr, and the Italy4Kids portal for the youngest generation.

    Twitter is fast becoming a favorite channel of communication, and the U.S. public has always been one of its most enthusiastic users. While Twitter’s success came later in Italy, it is now growing exponentially, with over 2.4 million users and about 3 tweets per second. A success with the public demonstrated also by Minister of Foreign Affairs Giulio Terzi who, from his offices in Rome, launched his own channel, @Giulio Terzi, to remain in closer contact with the public on global topics.
  • Life & People

    Consulate General of Italy Comes to Serve You



    Are you an Italian resident in West Babylon with an expired Italian passport? Here is your chance to renew it, right on time for celebrating Easter with that part of the family that didn’t leave the boot-shaped country.

    The Consulate General of Italy in New York is in fact planning a new consular mission to your area on April 4. The mission will be hosted by the Centro Culturale Italiano in West Babylon (606 Sunrise Highway).

    The initiative was scheduled after the great success of the consular mission organized on March 14 in Glen Clove, Long Island.

    The Glen Clove mission was held under the guidance of Deputy Consul General Lucia Pasqualini, with the participation of Honorary Consul to Mineola Antonio Tufano and with the support of the Passport Office of the Consulate in New York.

    Over a hundred Italian citizens visited the Glen Clove office of the Order Sons of Italy in America to renew their passports. The Consulate’s initiative was very well received by the local community, and it was also visited by Ralph V. Suozzi, Major of Glen Clove.

    The Consulate General plans on visiting the areas of Albany and Rochester within the year, with the intention of bringing the institution closer to the community. Visit the Consulate General’s website for dates and details and for a complete list of the activities and services offered by the Consulate.



    More info:
    tel:  +1 (212) 737-9100 

    fax: 1 (212) 249-4945

    e-mail: [email protected]
  • Events: Reports

    Geraldine Ferraro: One Year Later


    "Geraldine will forever be remembered as a trailblazer who broke down barriers for women, and Americans of all backgrounds and walks of life."

    —Barack Obama


    "Gerry Ferraro was one of a kind – tough, brilliant, and never afraid to speak her mind or stand up for what she believed in – a New York icon and a true American original."

    — Bill and Hillary Clinton



    The daughter of an immigrant, in 1984 Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman candidate for national office, vice president. She began her professional life working part-time as a civil lawyer in her husband's real estate firm, working occasionally for other clients and did some pro bono work for women in family court. She also engaged in local activism. 1970 marked the beginning of her political career as president of the Queens County Women's Bar Association. Her first full-time political job was Assistant District Attorney for Queens County in 1974. In 1978, she successfully ran for congress and became a protégé of Tip O’Neil. After three successful campaigns, in 1984 Walter Mondale picked her as his vice-presidential candidate. Post-1984 elections saw Ferraro in a number of roles that ranged from senatorial candidate, pundit on CNN’s Crossfire, to partner in law firms. She continued to be outspoken on numerous issues along the way. After a long illness battling multiple myeloma, she passed away March 26, 2011.


     


    On March 24, 2:00 PM at Hunter College’s Lang Hall, the National Organization of Italian American Women and the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute will host a symposium, “Geraldine Ferraro: The Italian American Woman Who Made History.” Confirmed speakers include: Hon. Arthur Gajarsa (Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit); Hon. Natalia Quintavalle (Consul General of Italy of New York); and Dr. Aileen Riotto Sirey (Founder & Chair of NOIAW).


     


    Lang Hall


    Hunter College


    East 68th Street, 4th Floor


    (between Park and Lexington Avenues)


    New York, NY 10021


     


    RSVP by calling (212) 642-2094. Please note that seating is limited and we cannot reserve seats.

  • xxxx


     
  • Art & Culture

    Humanities In The 21st Century: The Intangible Underpinnings of Democracy

    On February 13, the Consulate General of Italy in New York hosted the international conference “Humanities in the 21st Century – Human Sciences in Italy since Unification: Historical and Methodological Dynamics,” organized by the Italian Cultural Institute under the patronage of Accademia dei Lincei.

    The conference was an occasion to reflect on the impact of human sciences on the development of Italy as a nation and as a democracy, and in general on the existing relationship between culture and democracy already outlined by Martha Nussbaum in her essay “Why Democracy Needs the Humanities.” 
     

    In his keynote speech, Riccardo Viale, Director at ICI New York, told the audience that the inspiration for the panel came to him while speaking with Lamberto Maffei, President at Accademia dei Lincei, and Giuliano Amato, Chairman of the National Committee for the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy. With them, Viale reasoned about the importance acquired by humanities in the course of the 20th century in the growth of democratic awareness and critical attitude in the society.

    The role of human science is currently being discussed and marginalized in education, the sector which is usually the most affected by budget cuts and austerity measures when the policy-makers’ sight on long-term results and benefits looses sharpness. 

    The conference aimed to redefine the importance of humanities and to actualize it, while addressing and summarizing their most significant epistemological achievements and methodological turning points in the 21st century, in a ten-hour long interdisciplinary marathon. 

    The speakers, from different backgrounds and epistemic fields, also addressed the subject of the Italian contribution to the development of human sciences, from Archaeology to Cultural Anthropology, from Literature to Law, from History to Political Science, from Linguistics to Psychology.  

    Among the panelists were international and Italian academics, most of them teaching in top American Universities, like Nadia Urbinati (Columbia), Nino Luraghi (Princeton), Mario Saltarelli (University of Southern California), Clemente Marconi (NYU), and Fabio Finotti (University of Pennsylvania). 

    The closing speech came from Giuliano Amato, who focused his analysis on the contribution of human sciences to the process of unification of Italy. As historians argue, Italy existed in the culture of its inhabitants before being founded. Culture, therefore, is responsible for inspiring the very idea of Italy as a state. 

    As far as the contribution of Italians to the evolution of humanities, Amato said: “As President of the Treccani Institute I can tell you that one of the main works we are preparing for the future is precisely the study of the contribution of Italians to the development of thought. The work consists in several volumes that will touch upon the issues we discussed today.”

    When asked about the current state of the “intangibles of a democratic system,” those cultural elements that existed in the society when Italy transitioned from being a nation to becoming a state, and that “can’t be established by law,” Amato expressed concern about Italy’s political situation. “Italy is happy about an unhealthy solution. Those professors are all friends of mine, but it’s deeply unhealthy. We need to recover what we have lost – those intangible underpinnings such as the sense of justice – otherwise our democracy won’t be able to cope with the issues we are facing.”
  • Arte e Cultura

    AVVISO: PUBBLICAZIONE DATE ESAME DI LINGUA ITALIANA AP 2012


    ENGLISH VERSION >>


    Data Esame
    Si avvisano tutti gli studenti interessati che nel sito web del College Board, sul sito web dell’Ambasciata italiana di Washington (http://www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/Ambasciata_Washington) e sul sito web UsSpeaksItalian.org, è stata pubblicata la data di svolgimento della prova dell’esame AP di lingua e cultura italiana, fissata per giovedì 17 maggio 2012, dopo le ore 12.00 PM.
    Non sarà possibile sostenere l’esame in altre date diverse da quella indicata.

     
     Per ulteriori informazioni consultare:
     
    Sede
    L’esame può essere sostenuto presso la stessa scuola che organizza i corsi.
    Gli studenti italiani che non hanno frequentato il corso AP possono sostenere l’esame presso la più vicina scuola dove l’esame viene organizzato.


    Rivolgendosi al più vicino ufficio scolastico consolare (http://www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/NR/rdonlyres/E98F8BE7-A151-4AD5-92B7-5F4943EDF81D/10677/riferimentisito_3_.pdf ), sarà possibile sapere se nella propria zona vengono offerti corsi specifici per studenti madrelingua. 
     
    Costi
    Il costo di iscrizione alla prova d’esame e’ pari a 87$.
    Per gli studenti che sosterranno l’esame in scuole al di fuori degli Stati Uniti e del Canada, fatta eccezione per i dipendenti di scuole del Dipartimento della Difesa Americano (DoDDs), il costo d’iscrizione alla prova d’esame è di 117$.
    Il costo per sostenere l’esame al di fuori degli Stati Uniti presso altri centri autorizzati dal College Board è di 143$.
    Per ulteriori informazioni consultare:
     
    Riduzioni:
    Il College Board garantisce una riduzione del costo di iscrizione pari a 22$ per tutti gli studenti di famiglie con gravi difficoltà economiche. Le scuole potrebbero poi fornire un’ulteriore riduzione di 8$ portando il costo dell’esame a 57$.
     
    Studenti Privatisti: come sostenere l’esame.
    Si ricorda che per sostenere l’esame non è necessario aver frequentato un corso d’italiano AP né essere studenti di High School. Gli studenti interessati a sostenere l’esame AP di italiano, ma che non hanno frequentato un corso d’italiano AP, possono ugualmente sostenere l’esame seguendo queste indicazioni:
     
    1. gli esami vanno prenotati e svolti esclusivamente presso una scuola abilitata dal College Board;
     
    1. gli studenti possono contattare il College Board per conoscere l’elenco delle scuole abilitate entro il 1º Marzo 2012;
     
    1. per ottenere informazioni sulle scuole dove si possono sostenere gli esami AP si può seguire il seguente link:
     
     
    oppure ci si può rivolgere ai seguenti contatti dell’AP Service. L’AP Service sarà in grado di individuare attraverso lo ZIP CODE, la sede più vicina e disponibile (potrebbe anche trattarsi di una scuola che non ha un corso di italiano AP) ad accogliere richieste di privatisti:
     
    Mailing Address:
    AP Services
    P.O. Box 6671
    Princeton, NJ 08541 – 6671
     
    Phone:
    888 225-5427 (numero verde gratuito negli USA e in Canada) o al 609 771-7300
    TTY:
    609 882-4118
    Fax:
    609 530-0482
    Email:
    Call Center Hours:
    M-F, 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM ET
     
     
    1. gli studenti devono prendere contatto personalmente con la scuola in cui intendono svolgere l’esame ricordando che la scadenza per l’iscrizione è fissata per il 15 Marzo;
     
    1. per ulteriori informazioni gli studenti possono contattare il College Board ai recapiti:
     
                Telefono: 888 225-5427 (numero verde gratuito negli USA e in Canada) 
                                       609 771-7300
                Email:       [email protected]
     
               o consultare il sito: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/Controller.jpf
     
  • Facts & Stories

    ANNOUNCEMENT: PUBBLICATION OF 2012 AP ITALIAN EXAM DATE



    VERSIONE ITALIANA >>


    Information about the AP Italian Language and Culture exam can be found also on the Embassy of Italy’s website, http://www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/Ambasciata_Washington, and on http://UsSpeaksItalian.org
    It’s not possible to take the exam on dates different from the one indicated by the College Board.

    For more information see:
     
    Place
    The exam can be taken at the same school where the courses are held.

    Italian students who have not attended an AP course can take the exam at the nearest school where the examination is held. You can contact the nearest Consular Office     (http://www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/NR/rdonlyres/E98F8BE7-A151-4AD5-92B7-5F4943EDF81D/10677/riferimentisito_3_.pdf ) to know if there are courses offered for native speakers in your area.
     
    Costs
    The examination fee is 87$.
    The fee for exams administered at schools outside of the United States and Canada, with the exception of U.S. Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) is $117.

    The fee for exams administered at College Board-authorized testing centers outside of the United States is 143$.
    For more information see:
     
    Reductions
    The College Board provides a 22$ fee reduction for all eligible students with financial needs. The schools may provide a further reduction of 8$ bringing the examination fee to 57$.
    For more information see:
     
    Home Schooled Students: how to take the exam.
    Please note that individuals may take the exam regardless of whether they have taken an AP Italian course or are a High School student. We advise all students interested in the Italian AP exam who have not attended an AP Italian course that they can take the exam following these steps:
     
    1. exams must be ordered and administered in schools. approved by the College Board.
     
    1. students should contact AP Services no later than March 1st to get contact information for approved schools;
     
    1. additional information regarding locations where the AP Italian exam is to be held may be found at:
     


    Or you may contact AP Services. Once they know your ZIP CODE, AP Service can identify the school closest to your address that accepts homeschooled students (regardless of whether that particular school offers an AP Italian course). Following is the contact information for AP Services:
     
     
    Mailing Address:
    AP Services
    P.O. Box 6671
    Princeton, NJ 08541 – 6671
     
    Phone:
    888 225-5427 (tool-free in the U.S. and Canada) or 609 771-7300
    TTY:
    609 882-4118
    Fax:
    609 530-0482
    Email:
    Call Center Hours:
    M-F, 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM ET
     
     
     
    1. Student should be in contact with the school in which they want to take the exam no later than the enrollment deadline for the AP Italian language and culture exam being held on May 17th, 2012, that is 15th March.
     
    1. For all related questions, students should contact AP Services:
     
                  Phone:          888 225-5427 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada) or
                                        609 771-7300
                  Email:          [email protected]
       
                Additional information regarding the exam may be found at:
  • Life & People

    NOIAW Founder and Chairwoman to Retire

    Dr. Sirey organized the first meeting of the NOIAW organization with a small group of women at her home on July 14, 1980 upon the suggestion of the late Hon. Geraldine Ferraro. Among the founding members who attended and have remained with the organization through out were: Matilda Cuomo who gave the name to the group, as well as newswoman Roseanne Colletti, playwright Donna DeMatteo and law professor Bonnie Mandina.

    Dr. Sirey was elected the first President in 1980, serving in that position for seven years. For the next 25 years she served NOIAW as its Chairwoman. Upon retirement on May 5th, Dr. Sirey will be given the title of Founder and Chair Emerita.  

     

    “Its time…” says Dr. Sirey. “We have a phenomenal board, and over the past several years we have expanded geographically at an amazing rate. In the years to come, I will help in any way I can. Betty Santangelo, our Chair Elect, will be my successor and she is an excellent choice.”

    While studying for her doctorate in psychology, Dr Sirey’s focused on culture and ethnic origin as significant factors in personality development. Her work shows that the history, and culture of a people profoundly effects behavior, values, attitudes and perception as well as social interaction. “The shared history and basic belief systems of an ethnic group are etched into the emotional system of each child,” she says, “by parents who, consciously or not, teach their children what they believe.” 
     

    Her Ethnotherapy group research project showed that participants gained a measurable increase in self-esteem and “group identity” when they explored their ethnic issues.
     

    Dr. Sirey has taught in both high school and college and was a health care administrator before devoting the rest of her professional career to psychotherapy in private practice. She is a recipient of numerous awards and honors and is a Cavalieri and Commendatore in the Order of Merit in the Republic of Italy. Dr. Sirey has served on the board of the National Italian American Foundation for ten years and became its first woman Vice President and Vice Chair. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Council of Presidents of Italian American Organizations.
     

    The National Organization of Italian Women is one of the nation’s four major Italian American organizations and the only membership organization for women. Its mission is to preserve the culture, history and language of Italian Americans and provides a support network for the professional, educational advancement and aspirations of its members. Networking and professional and education opportunities are provided through a variety of programs. In addition, scholarships, mentors and an exchange program with Italy are provided for college age women.                                    

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