Specials

The conference has two main aims: to stimulate a reflection on regional normative, which nowadays is considered to be outdated and unsuitable to fit the exigencies of young Italians living abroad; to point out the necessity to establish a new kind of associationism, of the kind that promotes and revaluates the bond between young people and their origins.

 

When the first emigrants left Italy many decades ago they filled up their “cardboard suitcases” with emotions, culture, sensations, and memories: that was all their richness, and it came from their native land. In their new country they tried to reproduce the conditions and the equilibriums on which their passed life was based, trying to alleviate the pains and difficulties of their diaspora.  

 

These circumstances brought to the foundation of the first associations of emigrants, where people helped, backed and supported each other. Nowadays these organizations are going through a moment of crisis.

The reasons might be traceable in the youngest generations’ different life-style and in a progressive lost of knowledge and interest in their original cultural background.

 

In the face of the possibility of a deepening of such a crisis A.N.F.E. Delegazione Regionale Sicilia (Regional Delegation of Sicily), l'Assessorato del Lavoro, della Previdenza Sociale, della Formazione Professionale e dell'Emigrazione della Regione Siciliana (Department of Work, Social Welfare, Vocational Training and Migration of Sicily) and I Musei dell'Emigrazione Siciliana (Museums of Sicilian Migration) organized this conference.

 

The works of the symposium will be preceded by the inauguration of the photographic exhibition “Sicilian Crossings. Migrazioni siciliane in Usa e comunità derivate” (Sicilian Crossings. Sicilian Migrations in the US and Derived Communities) on November 27.

Organized and directed by Professor Marcello Saija it was inaugurated in 2007 in Ellis Island and travelled throughout the United States until 2008, when it was transferred to Italy. 

The display, the fruit of years of researches on Sicilian emigration, accompanies the visitor through a suggestive iconographic journey.

The panels describe the conditions that induced many migrants to decide to leave their home-towns. A part of the exhibition is also dedicated to the Little Italies and societies of Mutuo Soccorso (friendly societies) that welcomed Sicilians when they arrived in America and assisted them setting down in the new country. Them in their first dshow the development of the decisional process that induces the migrant to leave his home country. 

  

i-Italy presents a special issue dedicated to the conference. Thanks to A.N.F.E. we are publishing here the abstracts of the papers that are being presented by the numerous participants and speakers present for the occasion. 

 

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5 p.m.

“Sicilian Crossings to America and the derived communities”

Organized and directed by Professor Marcello Saija

Professor of History of Public Institutions at University of Messina and Director of “Rete dei musei siciliani dell’emigrazione” (Network of Sicilian Museums of Migration)

 

Hon. Carmelo Incardona

Assessor for Work, Social Welfare, Vocational Training and Migration of the Region of Sicily

 

Dt. Luis Tallarini

Chairman Italian Language Foundation

 

Dt. Mario Cavaleri

Journalist for Gazzetta del Sud

Director of QuiSicilia

Prof. Marcello Saija

 

  

9 a.m.

 

9:30 a.m.

Hon. Prof. Learco Saporito

National President A.N.F.E.

 

9:45 a.m.

Sen. Domenico Nania

Vice-president of the Senate of the Italian Republic

 

Hon. Francesco Cascio

President of the Regional Assembly of Sicily

 

Hon. Raffaele Lombardo

President of the Region of Sicily

 

Hon. Francesco Scoma

Assessor for Family, Social Policies and Local Autonomies of the Region of Sicily.  

 

Dt. Marcello Tricoli

President of the Council of The Regional Province of Palermo

 

Dt. Giovanni Avanti

President of the Regional Province of Palermo

 

Hon. Diego Cammarata

Major of Palermo

 

Prof. Roberto Lagalla

Rector of “Università degli Studi di Palermo”

 

Prof. Gioacchino Lavanco

President of “Centro Siciliano Sturzo”

 

Dott. Luis Tallarini

Chairman Italian Language Foundation

 

 

Panel: The necessary legislation for the re-launch of associationism in the world.

 

Hon. Carmelo Incardona

Assessor for Work, Social Welfare, Vocational Training and Migration of the Region of Sicily

 

Dott. Fabio Tricoli

 

 

11:20 a.m.

Dott. Pio Guida

“Analysis of the current regulation on Sicilian emigration. Are L.R. 55/89 and L.R. 38/84 still valid tools for the revival of the associationism?

 

11:40 a.m.

Dt. Vincenzo Arcobelli

“IlCSNA a year after the foundation. Is federalism the path to undertake to re-launch associationism?”

 

12:00

Dt. Salvatore Augello

“Need of a New Regulatory Instrument for the Revival of the Associationism in the World”

 

00:20 p.m.

Dt. Carmelo Pintabona

“FESISUR: Balance of a Historical Federation”

 

00,40 p.m.

Will intervene:

Dt. Domenico Azzia

President “Sicilia Mondo”

 

Dt. Francesco Viola

Regional Secretary CISAL

 

Dt. Luciano Luciani

President “Istituto Italiano Fernando Santi”

 

1:30 p.m.

Lunch

 

Panel: The characteristics of Sicilian migrations between past and present.

 

Dott. Letizia Airos Soria

 

 

3:15 p.m.

Prof. Marcello Saija

“The Characteristics of Sicilian Emigration in America”

 

4:45 p.m.

Prof. John Alcorn

“Sicilian Emigration and the Dynamics of Globalization”

 

5:15 p.m.

Prof. Giampiero Finocchiaro

“Cu nesci arrinesci”. The Biographical Hyperbole of a Cobbler’s Son”

 

5:45 p.m.

Prof. Antonino Checco

“Sicilian transoceanic migration between myth and history”

 

6:15 p.m.

Prof. Gioacchino Lavanco

«The Lost Paradise ». Individuals, Groups, Participation: Associationism of Third Generation Migrants Between Nostalgia and Lack of Memory”.

 

6:35 p.m.

Dt. Roberto Mazzarella

“Place and Identity: Opportunities for Reflections About the Sicilians”.

 

6:55 p.m.

Debate

  

 

 

9:00 a.m.

 

9:30 a.m.

 

 

Dott. Gaetano Calà

 

Dott. Letizia Airos Soria

 

 

9:50 a.m.

Prof. Bianca Gelli

“Associationism and Participation: The Role of the Young and Interethnic Identity”

 

10:10 a.m.

Dt. Francesco Maria Talò

Consul General of Italy in New York

(Video)

 

10:20 a.m.

Dt. Luis Tallarini

“The Foundation as the Instrument to Re-Launch the Associationism”

 

10:40 a.m.

Dt. Elio Carozza

“The Role of CGIE in the Re-Launch of Juvenile Associationism: Status and Potential”

 

11:00 a.m.

Dt. Rino Giuliani

“Resolutions and Instructions for a Qualified Re-Launch of the Associations”

 

11:20 a.m.

Coffee break

 

11:45 a.m.

Dt. Stefano Albertini

Director Casa Italiana Zerilli Marimo’, New York University

(Video)

 

11:50 a.m.

Prof. Ellie Vasta

“Historical Emigration from Sicily to Australia: The Last Generations and their Relationship with their Land of Origin:

 

00:10 p.m.

Dt. Renato Miracco

Director of Italian Cultural Institute in New York

(Video)

 

00:30 p.m.

Prof. Elia Mannetta

“The Missed Encounter Between Old and New Emigrants”

 

00:50 p.m.

Dt. Anthony J. Tamburri

Dean of John D. Calandra Italian American Institute

(Video)

 

1:00 p.m.

Dt. Salvatore Mulè

“How the Federation in Florida Operates to Involve the Youth”

 

1:20 p.m.

 

1:40 p.m.

Dt. Paolo Genco