How successful is your life-changing Italian scholarship, or course, if hardly anyone knows it exists? New Jersey has many generous Italian organizations that need to know more about successful PR and marketing strategies, or else student enrollment in Italian Studies will continue to decrease! NJIHC’s Summit will connect educators, cultural club leaders, and concerned members of the Italian community to celebrate shared successes and confront ongoing challenges.
The 2018 Strengthening Italian Studies Summit will feature presentations from both media experts and Italian program leaders. The program will be immediately followed by a reception featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres and musical entertainment. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy good food and company, while contributing to the conversation on how we can best celebrate New Jersey’s Italian Heritage.
Online registration is required for this event. The $15 General Admission Fee is waived for all student attendees.
Registration is closed, event has passed.
2:00 Welcome and Check-In
2:30 Greetings NJIHC Chair Robert DiBiase
2:45 Opening Remarks Ralph R. Caputo, New Jersey Assemblyman
3:00 Expert Media Presenters Andre DiMino, Communications Director, Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition, Patti Grunther, Director, Italian Immersion Summer Program, and Silvio Laccetti, Director Silvio Laccetti Foundation.
4:00 Networking Aperitivo
Andre DiMino, Communications Director, Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition
Andre DiMino is the past President and current Communications Director of the Italian American ONE Voice Coalition, A Coalition of Italian American activists, advocates and organizations, whose mission is to “secure the rightful representation of Americans of Italian origin and all peoples whose paths toward social equality have been impeded.”
He has also served as the executive director of UNICO National, the largest Italian American Service Organization in the USA, created to “engage in charitable works, support higher education, and perform patriotic deeds.” Throughout his career as an Italian American advocate, Andre’s opinions have been featured in hundreds of TV and Radio Appearances, as well as in written interviews and editorials.
Click Here to Visit Andre’s page on the ONE VOICE Website!
Patti Grunther, Coordinator, Italian Immersion Summer Program
Patti Grunther graduated with Honors from Pitzer College in 1985 with a degree in Linguistics. Upon graduation she moved to Milan, Italy and subsequently lived and worked there for the next twenty years. She was an English language lecturer at Pavia University from 1987 to 2006 and also worked as a professional trainer, translator and language consultant. She moved back to the U.S. in 2006 to earn an MA in Applied Linguistics and then became certified in NJ as a K-12 teacher of Italian.
In 2007 she began teaching Italian language and culture at Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren, N.J. She originated and co-developed a unique intensive Italian summer course for high school students on the Montclair State campus in 2017 for which she has received recognition from the Italian Consulate in N.Y and from the Italian American Council on Education. She also serves as a Mid-Atlantic regional representative for the American Association of Teachers of Italian.
Click Here to Learn How the Summer Italian Intensive Course is Inspiring Students!
Silvio Laccetti, Director Silvio Laccetti Foundation
Silvio Laccetti is a retired Professor of History and Social Science at Stevens Tech in Hoboken, NJ. Educated at Columbia Univ., Dr.Laccetti was a specialist in Italian Diplomatic History at the start of his career. Later, he created new courses in urban history through which he was able to establish model internships and community service programs to enrich his students’ academic experience.
He has published 6 books, the latest, An American Commentary, having been an Erich Hoffer Foundation Montaigne Medal finalist. For the last 18 years Prof. Laccetti has been a nationally syndicated columnist. He recently created The Silvio Laccetti Foundation which makes recognition awards to high school students excelling in Italian Language and Culture Studies, and in Leadership.
Click Here to Read About the Foundation’s Garibaldi Award, Profiled On NJ’s Star Ledger
Free event parking will be available to registered attendees in the following locations:
Press Release – Italian Studies Summit Created to Unite NJ Italian Leaders
· © 2015-2022 NJ Italian Heritage Commission ·
