Click Here for an amazing exclusive opportunity - up close and personal with Andrea Bocelli! It's truly incredible for a select few!

JCCIA MEETING: The next JCCIA General Meeting will be on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. This meeting will be held at Mazzini Verdi Club, 9230 Belmont Ave. Franklin Park, IL. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased at jccia.com/events.

SAVE THE DATE: The 2025 Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans Annual Dante and DiFrisco Awards Luncheon will be on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at Galleria Marchetti.

WOMEN'S DIVISION: For Women's History Month, the JCCIA Women's Division will be celebrating the incredible Italian American women in our community. The theme this year is 30 under 30, each day for the month on March highlighting an outstanding young woman who displays leadership and inspires others. If you are interested in applying, or know someone who may be, CLICK HERE for the application.

MODA 2025: The Women's Division Scholarship Benefit Dinner and Fashion Show has been scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2025!

ITALICO INFO: Have Italian American Community updates or information you would like to see in the next edition of ITALICO? Submit your request to the JCCIA Office at jcc@jccia.com!

PROMISING PROFESSIONALS: On February 1, 2025, the Italian American Executives of Transportation honored promising young Italian American Professionals. The honorees this year were Nicky Amore (Financial Planning), Alex Corbo (Law Enforcement), Stephanie Corona (Educational Services), Rachel Matug (Special Education), Gianni Morrone (Restaurant Services), Anthony Palladino (Medical Marketing), PJ Sasso (Media & Entertainment), Nicole Sisco (Food and Beverage Planning – Aviation), and Valerie Timpone (Philanthropy and Sales). Congratulations to the future of our Italian American community!

OSDIA 100TH ANNIVERSARY: The Grand Lodge of IL/WI of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America has celebrated its 100th Anniversary! This amazing organization has been dedicated to preserving Italian heritage and promoting community and charitable services for a century. The JCCIA congratulates OSDIA on an incredible achievement!

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark your calendars! Exciting events are just around the corner, brought to you by the JCCIA’s Affiliate Organizations!

February 8 | Padre Pio Mass

Italian Catholic Federation Branch 392 (Contact: 773-771-0728)

February 8 | Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance

Mazzini Verdi Ladies Club (Contact: 630-443-8722 or 773-589-0388)

February 13 | Valentine’s Celebration

JCCIA Women’s Division (Contact: 847-494-1198 or womensdivision@jccia.com)

February 18 | Italian American Author Book Club

Casa Italia (Contact: lincapuz@gmail.com)

February 22 | Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance

Maria SS Lauretana Society (Contact: 773-736-3766)

February 22-25 | 100 Miglia Experience Florida

National Italian American Foundation (Contact: information@NIAF.org)

February 23 | Italian Community Mass

Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Contact: 708-344-4140)

March 1 | St. Joseph's Day Table

San Rocco di Potenza (Contact: 630-640-8412)

March 2 | Blessing and Buffet

Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (Contact: 847-302-9460, 312-504-7112)

March 6 | Annual Heritage Celebration

Italian American Political Coalition (Contact: 708-369-2500 or judy.iapc@yahoo.com)

March 8 | Annual Dinner Dance

Societá SS. Crocifisso & San Giovanni Bosco di Ciminna (Contact: 847-577-8230)

March 11 | Festa Della Donna Celebration

JCCIA Women’s Division (Contact: 847-494-1198 or womensdivision@jccia.com)

March 13 | JSOL Children's Endowment Fund Dinner

Justinian Society of Lawyers (MORE INFO)

March 15 | Lenten Pilgrimage: Pilgrims of Mercy

Our Lady of Pompeii (Contact: 312-421-3757)

March 18 | Italian American Author Book Club

Casa Italia (Contact: lincapuz@gmail.com)

March 19 | Annual St. Joseph's Table

Columbian Club of Chicago (Contact: 708-715-6522 or events@columbianclub.org)

WINDY CITY CHEF: ‘Top Chef’ victor finding success in Windy City, by Fra Noi. Check out the infamous cacio e pepe pasta and other delicious dishes at Chicago's Rose Mary restaurant, owned by Bravo's "Top Chef" Season 15 winner, Joe Flamm! 

LA BELLA LINGUA: Born in Palermo and growing up in Sicily, Monica Valenti Niespodziany has taught Italian at St. Joseph Catholic Academy in Kenosha since 2016. There, she has grown the program through launching AP Italian courses, an Italian Honor Society, and partnering with a school in Rome. Learn more about her story with A beacon of la bella lingua in Kenosha, by Elena Ferrarin.

LASTING LEGACY: Known for his Italian Beef and caramel corn, Enzo Tribo left a lasting legacy in the Chicago Heights community. Read more with Enzo Tribo leaves 75-year legacy of serving Italian beef in Chicago Heights, by Samantha Miolanen.

CHICAGO'S CANDY: Did you know some of your favorite sweets have their roots right here in Chicago? After emigrating from Nola, Italy, Salvatore Ferrara founded The Ferrara Candy Company. Learn more with The History of Ferrara Candy Company, by Adrian Naves.

ALPINA POP-UP: Eataly Chicago Launches Alpina: A Winter Pop-Up Experience, a limited time experience, running through March 2025.

ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP: Dreaming of dual citizenship? Discover all of the different options there are to apply and acquire your Italian Citizenship with Italian Citizenship Assistance. 

IAFL CONVENTION: January 17-20 the Italian American Future Leaders held their Annual Convention at Amerant Bank Area in Sunrise, Florida. This event is a celebration heritage and a networking opportunity for engaging in conversations and issues that face the Italian American community today.

ITALY IN PHILLY: Check out the historic rebirth of one of Italy's Premeir Experiences at Philadelphia's Gran Caffè L'Aquila! Craving some coffee or gelato? Gran Caffè L'Aquila carries and ships these products nationally, inspired from each region of Italy! Order by region right to your door!

CULTURAL COLLABORATION: In California, over 230 Italian and U.S. Executives, Government Leaders, and Investors attended the eighth "Italy On The Move" conference. Top Italian and U.S. life sciences executives and Italian government leaders shared business success stories with investors at "Italy on the move 2025" side event during J.P. Morgan healthcare conference, by the Italian Trade Agency

NY FILM SERIES: The Museum of Modern Art in New York hosted a film retrospective dedicated to the great Marcello Mastroianni and his daughter, Chiara Mastroianni. MoMA retrospective spotlights Marcello, Chiara Mastroianni, by Jeannine Guilyard

SICILIAN SWEETS: On January 9, Kristin Pinkston opened her new restaurant "Krispy Sicilian Foods", bringing authentic Italian dishes and traditional recipes to Connecticut! New Sicilian Restaurant Serves Authentic Dishes, Sweet Desserts Near UConn, by Chris Spiker.



JUBILEE JOURNEY: Planning on traveling to Italy this year? 2025 is the year of the Jubilee, be prepared with some recent changes that can affect your travel plans. Take a look at Italy 2025: What travelers should know – Jubilee year brings more visitors, major renovations, new regulations, by Jeanne Outlaw-Cannavo.

CINEMATIC DESTINATIONS: American Film Director Christopher Nolan chooses Sicily as his primary filming location for his new film: The Odyssey. Christopher Nolan's Odyssey to film in Sicily's historic landscapes, by We the Italians Editorial Staff.

RECONNECTING ROOTS: The 1-Euro Home Program drew global attention in past years and sparked interest of Italian Americans reconnecting with their roots. Learn more with A 1-euro home update, by Claudia Bortolani.

TRAVEL TIPS: Discover the secret treasures of Rome without the crowd: When in Rome … go where the Romans go, not the tourist crowds, by Joseph O'Connor

CULTURAL GEMS: Agrigento was declared the Italian Capital of Culture for 2025. Culture, nature, and identity: Agrigento’s vision for 2025, by Teresa Di Fresco.

TUSCANY'S TREASURE: Explore your next travel destination: the beautiful city Lucca. Postcard from Lucca, One of Tuscany's Most Enchanting Cities, by Laura Itzkowitz.

ELVIRA'S IMPACT: This year, Naples is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Elvira Coda Notari, an Italian cinema pioneer and the first female director and producer in Italy. Learn more about her transcending cultural boundaries in her career with Celebrating Elvira Coda Notari: bridging Italian and American cinema, by We the Italians Editorial Staff.