The American Italian Sociohistorical Association Presents: The American Italian Second St. Joseph’s Day Celebration Program Conference Series

The American Italian Sociohistorical Association held its 2^nd St. Joseph’s Day Celebration Program Conference Series on Tuesday, April 4^th. The conference presented research papers, art, history, and literature all pertaining to Italian American Society and Culture. The event was hosted by CPS Professor and Conference Chair, Dr. Louis Gesualdi, and included professionals from universities and colleges as well as speakers from the Italian American community who all have expertise in Italian American Studies.

The five hour conference was broken into two sessions. Session one encompassed the Italian American Experience: Impressions and Observations. Topics ranged from “Forty Years of Italian-American Government Employment in New York City and New York State” (Vincenzo Milione), Flora Interpretations (Michael DeSaino), documentary films that related to Italian Americans and Humor (Carlo Mignano), St. Joseph’s Day (Joseph Scelsa) and the introduction of the up and coming website for the American Italian Sociohistorical Association (Natasha Moses) that will be available by the end of the year.

• Vincenzo Milione, from the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute of Queens College, gave a presentation on the “Forty Years of Italian-American Government Employment in New York City and New York State” was about a thirty year study regarding employment history of Italian Americans within New York State and New York City, and how certain occupations reflect a decrease in the representation of Italian Americans population
• Michael DeSaino, of University (retired), and his presentation of “Flora Interpretations” was a visual experience nature through the use of impressionalism and the influences of Italian artists.
• Carlo Mignano, of Cinematic Masters LLC and the Association of Italian American Educators, presented his outline for his “Project for the Making of Documentary Film on Italian Americans and Humor”. He spoke how the humor of oneself (a kind of humorous self deprecation/lack of a defense to someone’s joke) plays an important role in being accepted into the group and liked and how Italian American film and comedians do just that. Go to www.cinematicmasters.com for more information on the film and his organization Cinematic Masters LLC.
• Joseph V. Scelsa, from the Italian American Museum, presented on the history of St. Joseph’s Day, its significance and gave a visual on current celebrations throughout the world (different ways in different areas, i.e. New Orleans, Louisiana).
• Natasha Moses, a Graduate Assistant from the College of Professional Studies, presented a preview of the American Italian Sociohistorical Association website that will provide users with free and easy access to research and works that relate to American Italian culture, as well as provide information on future events held by the AISA. The website is to be up and running, by the end of the year.

Session two began with a tribute to the late Dr. Edmund (College of Professional Studies) by his daughter, LezAnne Edmond in her segment titled: “Dr. Edmond and Dr. Edmond”. Following was a discussion on Italian experience regarding Art, Literature and Film, where The Italians of Brooklyn were revisited (Jerome Krase), “Women as Magicians: The Psychology of the Heroine in Luigi Capuana’s Fiction” was presented (Santi Buscemi), and the Association of Italian American Educators spoke on the 20 Years of Dedication to the Promotion of Italian Language and Culture (Carmela Leonardi). Dr. Gesualdi concluded with a summary of selected papers for the upcoming book entitled: An Unnoticed Minority Group: The Italian Americans, which he is co-editing with Dr. Francis Elmi.

• LezAnne Edmond spoke about, her father and CPS Professor the late Dr. Lez Edmond. She share her memories of her father, and spoke how his love for baseball (the Mets) and the interesting upbringing she had because of his relationships with the greats like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Jackie Robinson (the lists goes on and on as she said). She shed light on a different perspective of Dr. Edmond, he was not just a professor who took his students and their studies seriously, but from her speech, it was gathered that he was a fun, loving, interesting man, who went out and was a part of history.
• Jerome Krase, from Brooklyn College, gave visual presentation of Brooklyn throughout the years. He gave a comparison of the Italian American communities that once thrived in the 60s and 70s, and the growth of diversity and gentrification that has now replaced those same communities and streets. The photographs showed how the lifestyle, art and businesses changed over the years; what remained and what didn’t.
• Santi Buscemi, from Middlesex County College, presented “Women as Magicians: The Psychology of the Heroine in Luigi Capuana’s Fiction”. He spoke of three different stories written by Luigi Capuana and how they captured the psychology of women, and the lack of understanding by men. He displayed the complexity of all the characters in these women lives, and how they were not “just cardboard characters”. These represented the Italian heritage and stories of the villages and how these women defied societal standards.
• Carmela Leonardi, representing AIAE, the Association of Italian American Educators, spoke on her association that she is on the board for, and the fact that although stereotypes played in the media may not make it seem so, Italian Americans have one of the higher percentages of educators in the country. She spoke on the AIAE’s mission and support of those who have conducted research in the field of Italian Heritage and welcomed the audience to join their program for celebrations the following month.
• Dr. Louis Gesualdi, our Professor of College of Professional Studies, concluded the conference with a summary of selected papers, which will all be published in the book he is co-editing with Dr. Francis Elmi; An Unnoticed Minority Group: The Italian Americans.