Tag Archives: Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans

The Women’s Division of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans recently held their 51st annual Scholarship Presentation and Fashion Show at Drury Lane in Oak Brook Terrace. President Rose Mary Ranallo and fashion show chairman Carmella Capriati greeted the 300 guests in attendance and thanked them for their support and generosity, which enables the women’s division to provide scholarships to five outstanding young Italian-American women who are entering college. Annually, the women’s division presents high school seniors who have excelled scholastically with $2,000 scholarships. This year, they were fortunate to provide scholarships to five outstanding young ladies: Christina Marie …

Organizational growth, whether it be in a corporate setting or a volunteer, ethnically based one such as the JCCIA, can be challenging as we face competing interests, time constraints and the need to balance our work and family responsibilities. Somewhere in there, we want to stay in touch with our roots, but often cannot find the niche in which to do so. As the JCCIA has grown since its inception, it has seen the world change through the lens of new generations of Italian Americans who have taken the success they have found in this country and parlayed them into …

John Idler, president and general manager of ABC7 Chicago, and Alison Pure-Slovin, Midwest director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, were honored at the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans’ annual media luncheon on May 18. Idler will be given the Dante Award, which is bestowed on a member of the media who lives up to Dante Alighieri’s call to be no timid friend to truth; Pure-Slovin will receive the Mazzei Award, which is presented to a person who shows extraordinary skills in the world of public affairs. Dante Award Recipient John Idler “As a longtime supporter of the work and …

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and Istituto Italiano di Cultura put Italy’s best foot forward on March 5 during Navy’s Pier’s Neighborhoods of the World celebration. What an appropriate name to promote all the diversity of Chicago. Our array of ethnic communities is presented for thousands of spectators who pass thru Navy Pier on any given Sunday from February thru April. Entertainment was presented on March 5 by the IIC and the JCCIA presents the cultural displays. For weeks prior to our day to shine, the JCCIA office was buzzing with costume fittings and other preparations. That day, …

As I sat to write this article about being elected president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, I was struck by how life has come full circle. As a child of immigrants from Sicily, I have marveled at how far our family has come since arriving in the United States in the mid-1950s. Like others before them, they were seeking good jobs so they can take care of their families. Not much has changed as immigrants still seek out America as the beacon of hope as a free society allowing for free speech, religious freedom and ability to …

The first meeting of the 2017 term of JCCIA officers was called to order at Trattoria Poretta. Over 70 people were in attendance, representing Italian organizations throughout Chicagoland. Among them were the Italian Chamber of Commerce, UNICO, ARSA, Italian American War Veteran, Italian American Executives of Transportation, Italian American Human Relations Foundation, Justinian Society of Lawyers, Calabresi in America Organization, Società San Giovanni Bosco SS. Crocifisso di Ciminna, Elk Grove Sister Cities, and the JCCIA Women’s Division and Young Professionals Division. On the agenda for discussion was the Columbus Day Parade. 2017 Parade Chairman Sergio Giangrande was present. Giangrande is …

  For the seventh consecutive year, Navy Pier will proudly host Neighborhoods of the World, a free seven-week series that celebrates the rich tapestry of Chicago’s diverse communities. (navypier.com/neighborhoods-world) Under the auspices of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, the culture, food and crafts of Italy will be showcased on March 5 in the Crystal Gardens. The JCCIA is looking for volunteers who will don the traditional costumes of Italy and lend a hand at the event. For details, call 708-450-9050.

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans has elected Enza Raineri as president. Raineri and her fellow officers were installed by the Hon. Gloria Coco at the JCCIA’s Christmas party in December. Joining Raineri as JCCIA officers are First Vice President Jon Zivojnovic; Second Vice President Mariann Gullo, Third Vice President Ron Onesti, Treasurer Christine Caliendo Cerami, Secretary Arlene Elia and Sergeant-at-Arms John Galluzzi.   Vincenza “Enza” M. Raineri, President Enza Raineri serves as the associate clerk of the Criminal/Juvenile Bureau for the Hon. Dorothy Brown, clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Enza has oversight of the Criminal …

  The sun shined brightly on the 2016 Columbus Day Parade, which attracted one of the largest and most enthusiastic crowds in recent memory. The weather was glorious and the spectators stood five deep along State Street all the way from Monroe to Wacker. Buses filled with volunteers and parade goers left the grounds of Casa Italia in the early morning for the Mass, with a second wave departing later in the morning and heading directly for the parade. The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii was filled to capacity for the Mass, the altar was gorgeous with bouquets of flowers, …

  In the column I wrote last month about widespread efforts to blot out Columbus Day, I touched upon a game-changing encounter that took place a quarter of a century ago. In July 1991, Native- and Italian-American leaders entered a room as adversaries and left as allies who embraced each other’s cultures and supported each other’s causes. As a result, peace reigned over Chicago’s quincentennial Columbus Day celebrations. But how exactly did this remarkable détente occur? For the answers, I turned to its principal architect: Dominic DiFrisco. A gifted public relations professional and talented mediator, he served as president of …