Commission Corner
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
Garibaldi Award Featured in New Jersey’s Star Ledger Seeks to “Revive Spirit of Ethnicity”
We would strongly encourage our supporters to read and share this great Star Ledger story about why its vitally important that we support students who want to pursue Italian Studies and connect with Italian Heritage.
Victoria Gatopoulos is half Italian. Her great-grandparents immigrated from Italy. Her mother grew up in an Italian-American family in Brooklyn.
Though Gatopoulos grew up in East Rutherford, in one of New Jersey’s most-Italian areas, the 17-year-old said she didn’t really feel that connected to her ethnicity.
Her great-grandparents and the stories of their home country were gone. Her family no longer spoke Italian. Her heritage was fading.
So, Gatopoulos took three years of Italian in high school. She liked it so much she fought successfully last year to get enough names on a petition to convince her school to become one of the few high schools in the state to add a fourth year of the language class for seniors.
“I was like running around the high school saying, ‘You should take Italian IV!’ ” said Gatopoulos, a senior at Becton Regional High in Bergen County and the valedictorian. “It was a little hard to get 10 people. … There’s not really as many Italians in the area as there used to be.” Continue Reading “A Good Paisan Helps Rekindle Italian Heritage”
NJIHC Congratulates Recipients of the Coccia Foundation’s Italian Studies Award
Congratulations to the five Nottingham High School Italian students, in Professor Campione’s classes who have been awarded the Coccia Foundation’s annual Italian studies award! Each student received a Certificate of Merit along with a monetary award for their commendable achievements in learning the Italian language and its culture. NJIHC is proud to have Professor Campione on its Board of Academic Advisers and appreciates his commitment to the next generation.
The 143rd Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
July 10-16, 2018 @ 6:00 pm
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Hammonton)
Take part in the Longest running Italian Festival in the United States and a Hammonton, NJ Tradition Since 1875! A week long festival of live entertainment, carnival rides, Italian marching bands and Italian songs.
128th Annual Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
July 12-15, 2018 @ 6:00 pm
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Newark)
Join us for the Annual Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Religious Feast and Street Festival. From 3-11pm on Saturday and Sunday the street festival will feature Live Entertainment, Zeppoles, Clams, Beer, Wine, Sausage and Peppers, Italian Cookies, Torrone, Games, Novelties, and More! Sunday there will be a grand procession following the 5pm mass.
The Feast of Mt Carmel – Berkeley Heights
July 13-16, 2018 @ 6:00 pm
The Feast of Mt Carmel (Berkeley Heights)
Join us for four days packed full of delicious food, wine and brew, non-stop entertainment, great crowds, amusements, games, and fun for the whole family. For those raised in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey the “Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel” held on July 16th is a national holiday embedded in their roots. Over 100 years ago, founders from Berkeley Heights created the Mt. Carmel Society. Fairgrounds open at 6 pm.
The Somerset Patriots Present: Italian-American Heritage Night
July 24, 2018 @ 7:00 pm
TD Bank Ballpark (Bridgewater)
The Somerset Patriots Minor League Baseball team is proud to present a night of baseball that celebrates Italian heritage. With Italian themed pregame entertainment, specialty concession menus, and much more, we invite you to celebrate your Italian-American Heritage with the Patriots!
