Italian Heritage Month began Oct. 1 as DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts (center) cut ribbon in union headquarters lobby, surrounded by Italian Heritage Committee members and leaders.

“Benvenuti” was the word for October, Italian Heritage Month. “Welcome” to DC 37 members who trace their roots to Italy and “welcome” to all their sister and brother trade unionists.

“Benvenuti,” said Italian Heritage Committee Chair Michael DeMarco Oct. 1 as DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts cut the ribbon that opened the festivities. An exhibit of photographs of the old country by world traveler Anita Sanseverino almost transported viewers from the union lobby to Italy. At the committee’s Eighth Annual Dinner-Dance Oct. 18, hundreds of members were moved to dance their feet off and “mangia” a colossal variety of foods.

Kicking off the month-long celebration, Ms. Roberts said DC 37 is “blessed to call many wonderful people of Italian heritage our colleagues and friends. Their presence here infuses our union with a unique perspective.” She pointed out that the diversity of cultures in DC 37 “has allowed us to build a strong spirit of solidarity and solidarity is our greatest strength.”

Mr. DeMarco expressed deep pride in the Italian-American community’s wealth of heritage and traditions — “traditions that our forefathers brought with them from Italy and proudly passed on to us. Today, we continue to honor those traditions,” he said.

Mr. DeMarco, who is president of Traffic Employees Local 1455, thanked the committee and Co-chair Diane Savino, vice president of Social Service Employees Union Local 371, for their hard work in making the heritage celebration a success.
The photographs, on display throughout October, “captured the essence of many regions of Italy,” he said. They showed people, scenery and food from rural Sicily to urban Rome and sophisticated Venice.

“Italy is my spiritual home,” Ms. Sanseverino told members. “It is not enough to see it with your eyes. You must see it with your heart.”

— Bill Schleicher