The New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission proudly announces the appointment of Margaret Fontana as its new Executive Director. With an extensive career spanning diverse sectors in media, nonprofit, healthcare, education and entertainment, Fontana brings a wealth of experience and a passion for cultural preservation to her new role. A seasoned medi...

In preparation of Italian and Hispanic American Heritage Months in October, would you like educators in your school district to receive a new, innovative tool to stimulate critical and analytical thinking about complex issues in society? If so, the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission (NJIHC) is pleased to offer its “An Italian’s Dream: Leads to...

Dear Friends, for the second year in a row the We the Italians Gala dinner was held at the Circolo del Ministero degli Esteri on June 12, with guests of honor being the board members of the National Italian American Foundation, the most important association representing the 20 million Italian Americans. Photos and videos can be found here. Despite...

Join us Tuesday, May 16 at the Columbus Citizens Foundation (8 East 69th Street, New York, NY) for a lecture by Cav. Dr. Gilda Rorro, who will discuss her long-standing dedication to education, civil rights, and the development of educational materials highlighting the many facets of Italian American heritage that are essential elements of American...

When it comes to Italian American heritage, each one of the fifty nifty United States that make up our union has its own unique Italian American community and culture. Despite this, only two states—Delaware and New Jersey—have official, state-wide Italian American representation, guaranteeing our history and culture will be taught to current and fu...

The Toms River Regional School District has canceled Columbus Day. This week, the district released its first draft of the 2023-24 school year, and Christopher Columbus was cut. Next October, schools will remain open for Columbus Day, but closed for Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, winter break, Martin Luther King Day, President’...

The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) unveiled its bold agenda for the coming year at its annual membership meeting in NYC in late July. President Basil M. Russo presented the delegates of the 58 member organizations with a detailed breakdown of three major initiatives. Developing a comprehensive campaign t...

The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) is working closely with the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission (NJIHC) on the national rollout of an equitable, diverse and inclusive curriculum model that uses heritage as a guide to better educate U.S. students in both public and private schools. It is titled: The...

It was a historic week in Rome and within Vatican City as a delegation of Italian American leaders met with government officials and Pope Francis to advance cultural and religious initiatives — and to set the stage for new economic opportunities — between the U.S. and Italy. The delegation, assembled by Judge Basil M. Russo — who leads The Conferen...

It is with great pride and pleasure that I announce that our Gilda has been chosen as this year’s Grand Marshal of the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade. The largest New Jersey parade celebrating Columbus! I will send the specifics for the Columbus dinner inaugurating Gilda Rorro as the Grand Marshal, along with the parade details. The dinner will o...