On 30 January this year, the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco had the pleasure of hosting the annual gathering that brings together the main Italian and Italian-American associations of the Bay Area.
The event was preceded by an institutional meeting in which the two co-chairs of the Italian Caucus of California, Catherine Stefani (Member of the California State Assembly) and California State Senator Dave Cortese, both of Italian origin, presented their project to Consul General Massimo Carnelos, Consul General in Los Angeles Raffaella Valentini, and Hon. Christian Di Sanzo (Member of the Italian Parliament elected in the Overseas Constituency, North and Central America division).
In the reception hall, the Italian and Californian representatives delivered their institutional remarks to the many representatives of the main Italian and Italian-American associations of the Bay Area. In their speeches, they emphasized their full willingness to support the activities of Italian-American associations as an essential element of social cohesion and a means of passing on Italy’s historical, linguistic, and cultural heritage to the younger generations. Following the remarks by the Consuls General, Hon. Di Sanzo, and California legislators Stefani and Cortese, a video message from Senator Francesca La Marca was also shown; unable to attend in person, she wished nonetheless to send her greetings.
The event then concluded with an informal reception and a networking session, during which the representatives of the associations were able to engage directly with the Consuls General, the staff of the Consulate General, and the other institutional guests.
