The Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island (ITA-LI) and the American Association of Teachers of Italian: Long Island Chapter (AATI-LI) proudly announce a formal partnership through a newly established Memorandum of Understanding. This collaborative effort underscores both organizations’ commitment to celebrating and advancing Italian culture and heritage across Long Island.
Through this partnership, ITA-LI and AATI-LI will join forces in various initiatives, leveraging their combined expertise and networks to enhance educational and cultural programming. Key elements of the partnership include:
- Collaborative Initiatives: Both organizations will work on projects aligning with their missions to preserve and promote Italian culture, language, and heritage.
- Event Marketing and Promotion: Each organization will support the other in marketing and promoting key events throughout the year, ensuring broader community engagement.
- Leadership Collaboration: Leadership from both organizations will explore serving on each other’s advisory boards, councils, or leadership units to strengthen collaboration and strategic vision.
- Innovative Idea Development: Joint brainstorming sessions will focus on creative and impactful ways to advance Italian studies and advocacy.
- Networking and Community Growth: The partnership will emphasize relationship-building by fostering connections with like-minded individuals and organizations.
- Shared Representation: Each organization will provide speakers, panelists, and active participants for significant events, enriching programming with diverse expertise and perspectives.
“Italian American organizations are stronger together,” said Chris R. Vaccaro, Executive Director and Founder of the Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island. “This partnership creates meaningful opportunities to unite the Italian American and Italian studies communities in our region. We must support our Italian teachers and students and make sure we keep Italian programs alive in our schools.”
AATI-LI President Daniela Casadei-Berwind added, “By working with ITA-LI, we can further enrich the cultural and educational experiences of our members and their students, creating a deeper appreciation for Italian culture and language on Long Island.”
This partnership represents a pivotal step forward in advocating for Italian heritage and advancing educational initiatives that inspire future generations. ITA-LI and AATI-LI will cultivate a robust community dedicated to celebrating Italian culture.