tH
# 78 APRIL 18 , 2016
within the entire Consular District. Due to the renewal of such a representatively important body,
we started off a new collaboration aimed at planning and developing initiatives and strategies.
What can you tell us about
the relationship between
our Italian-born compatriots – who have recently
migrated to your Consulate District – and the thirdor four-generation Italian
Americans living in this
area?
They are starting to know
each other better, thanks
to both COM.IT.ES and
several initiatives that are
being brought here from
Sistema Italia. For a period of time, there was the
need to surpass old preconceptions, which were
mainly due to these communities’ different realities, education, and goes.
However, we have to encourage and highlight the
common traits between
the two communities, as I
believe that the experience of the past generations
– who arrived here under
distressful conditions, but
then were able to make it
– can be useful for the future generations.
Which are the places in
Consulate in which you
can most breathe Italy?
Any neighborhood, monument, church, park…
They are quite numerous.
For example, San Pedro
district is a meeting point
for the descendants of
our compatriot fishermen,
mostly coming from Ischia
or Castellammare del Golfo, which, up to 30-40 years ago, accounted for a
half of the fishing fleet in
Los Angeles. No coincidence that LA is twinned
with Ischia, which highlights the common roots
and the relationship with
the Italian community.
There are other areas in
which we have a more
past-oriented Italian presence, which, still, left a
significant mark such as
the Casa Italiana and the
Church of Saint Peter in
downtown LA, which became a Chinatown-like
district, witnessing an important change in its demographic composition,
due to the increasing Latino presence. The Casa
Italiana and the Church of
Saint Peter are regularly
attended by Italian people, which keep the Italian
tradition alive in the city.
Another important neighborhood is the Watts District, which takes its name
from the Watts Towers by
Simon Rodia, thanks to
which the district gained
a homogeneous profile.
Our compatriot Simon
Rodia migrated here armed with patience, will,
rough belongings, and
creativity, and built up these two towers, which are
now symbol of his artistic
legacy and of the Italian
presence in the area. I am
glad that LA is planning
on making them a UNESCO World Heritage site,
and I hope that such initiative could end up being a
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