About NJIHC
Welcome! Q&A with NJIHC Chair Robert DiBiase
Why did you want to serve the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission (NJIHC)?
One of New Jersey’s greatest strength’s is its diversity and I was lucky enough to be raised in an incredible immigrant community. Growing up in Newark’s Italian North Ward, I quickly learned to love both Italian cooking and culture. My experience was hardly unique. New Jersey is currently home to well over 1 million Italian Americans and countless more Italophiles.
Why did New Jersey need to create a Statewide Italian Commission in 2002?
Although Italian Americans played an integral role in our nation’s development, many of their positive contributions are being forgotten and overshadowed by the unending negative stereotypes in the media. Between The Soprano’s mobsters and Jersey Shore’s Guidos, it has become increasingly difficult for young people to develop an appreciation of Italian American contributions outside the classroom. As immigrant communities like Newark’s North Ward evolve to welcome new ethnicities, we must find other ways to preserve and pass on heritage.
How does NJIHC combat negative stereotypes and educate young New Jerseyans?
Our primary strategy is to promote and strengthen New Jersey’s K-16 Italian Studies programs, which in recent years have seen declines in both enrollment and funding. NJIHC works to increase enrollment by communicating the value of an Italian Studies education to students, parents, school administrators, and elected officials. Additionally, NJIHC provides free lesson materials and professional development training for Italian teachers and American history teachers.
Does NJIHC provide resources for anyone beyond teachers?
Our other focus is to unite, promote, and strengthen Italian organizations that share NJIHC’s desire to inspire more young people to pursue Italian studies. New Jersey hosts numerous nonprofits, foundations, and cultural clubs that provide fantastic programs and scholarships for students.
Unfortunately, due to their small or nonexistent marketing budgets many students are missing out on great opportunities simply because they are not widely publicized. NJIHC regularly hosts conferences and networking events to help Italian leaders learn how to promote their organizations and missions.
How can the public support the Italian Commission’s Mission?
The Commission is continually building a network of Italian Heritage advocates and can only benefit from additional supporters. We encourage all italophiles to subscribe to the online NJ Italian Newsletter so as to learn about our current initiatives and events. Supporters can also view events on NJIHC’s statewide NJ Italian Events Calendar. – Robert DiBiase
Creation of the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission
January 2002, NJ Legislators Created permanent State-level Italian Commission
The New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission is a permanent, State-level Commission that was signed into law in January 2002. It was founded as the “New Jersey Commission on Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage Cultural and Educational Programs”, P.L. 2001 Chapter 343 Title 18a 4-42. The statute is embodied in Title 18a, Chapter 4, Article 4, Sections 42-46:
It is the policy of the State of New Jersey that the culture, history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage are a proper concern for all people, particularly students enrolled in the schools of this State.
It is desirable to educate our citizens about the positive aspects of the culture, music, art, language, history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage.
It is appropriate and desirable that programs, workshops, institutes, seminars and other teacher-training activities for the study of the culture, history and heritage of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage be conducted at the various high schools and institutions of higher education in this State.
It is fitting and proper to establish a permanent State-level commission to survey, design, encourage and promote the implementation of Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage cultural and educational programs in this State, with responsibility for the coordination of events that will provide appropriate awareness and memorialization of the culture, history, heritage and language of Italians and Americans of Italian Heritage on a regular basis throughout the State.
NJIHC’s Mission
To build and strengthen the cultural identity of Italians and Italian Americans through public educational programs that preserve and promote an accurate, bias-free and non-stereotyped understanding and awareness of historical and current contributions and accomplishments of people of Italian heritage.
Mantenere e rafforzare l’identità culturale italiana e italoamericana attraverso programmi di istruzione pubblica che assicurino e promuovano la comprensione e la consapevolezza dei contributi e dei successi, presenti e passati, della comunità di discendenza italiana.
March 2003, “Institute of Italian and Italian American Heritage Studies” recognized as tax-exempt public charity
The statute creating the Commission also called for the creation of an “Institute of Italian and Italian American Heritage Studies” that would be “in, but not of” a New Jersey College. In the Fall of 2002, after surveying a number of schools with strong Italian programs, the Commission chose to partner with and establish an office at Rutgers University. The Institute was subsequently recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity. The Institute frequently collaborates with Rutger’s Italian Program and other University Departments, but its activities are overseen by the Commission’s Board of Directors.
NJIHC ‘s office headquarters established within Rutgers New Brunswick campus
Since 2003, NJIHC has maintained its main office on the campus of Rutgers New Brunswick, thanks to the generosity of the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. NJIHC Office contact information is available here.
NJIHC also maintains a presence within the New Jersey Department of Education’s office in Trenton, NJ. Similarly to the Commission’s relationship with Rutgers, NJIHC is likewise “in, but not of” the NJ Department of Education.
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