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     Carlo and Lina Amodio: Oral History Transcript Summary 

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Carlo & Lina 
Amodio 

Rudy & Rita 
Cavaliere

Mary Biollo Doyle

Tony Falcone

Bill Nigro

 Sabatino Roncucci

Spinelli Family
 
Alessandro &
Lina Urso

Fiore M. Vecchio

 

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  • Community Involvement - 
    • NCIC - Carlo was the founding president in 1979 and is the current president of the National Congress of Italians in Canada, Edmonton District
      -put on variety shows at the Citadel and at the Jubilee Auditorium
      -donation of fountain at Convention Centre for Edmonton's 75th anniversary (1979)
      -instrumental in creating Piazza Italia - senior citizens' home
    • Santa Maria Goretti Community Centre - was involved in its construction and was its 3rd president
    • Il Congresso newspaper - general manager of Il Congresso newspaper - does it all -"tutto fare"
      -Il Congresso is a 'child' of NCIC, Edmonton District; started March 1983 because a need for this kind of publication was perceived; 
      -Carlo feels that the Italian community is well educated due to the existence of schools like Dante, and newspapers like Il Congresso.
      -more reporting of community events as opposed to Il Nuovo Mondo which stresses news from Italy
      -offices in Edmonton & Calgary 
    • exec. director of the Canada Praeneste Society - involves religious pastors with university backgrounds and brings people (tourists) to Palestrina [in the Lazio region of Italy]
    • Alberta Heritage Council; Sab Roncucci encouraged Carlo to become involved and he was a member for 4 years
    • founding of Jr. Appennini Dancers 
    • Teatro Libero - acted in "Natale in Casa Cupiello", a Neapolitan play by Eduardo De Filippo

  • Community and Self-identity - Carlo and Lina take pride in contributing to and sharing their best values with Canada; "best way to build the country".
    -perception of Italian immigrants has changed from 'layers of bricks', or laborers, to professionals. Educational opportunities for the children of the immigrants has allowed this to happen.

  • new perception also owes a lot to the Charter of Rights

  • "What happens to the Italian community now?" - in the new millennium it's going to be a different community, but there'll always be a search for one's roots.

  • it's nice to have symbols of Italian culture still in place - music & cuisine being main identifiers (although there is a fear that they might disappear with future generations)

  • Carlo feels that the church will stay as an institution in the Italian community

  • He also feels that Italians do well in the mainstream of society

  • there's always 'a bit of Italy' in the children of Italian immigrants

  • world is becoming a global village - ethnic communities living together, sharing cultures

  • recent policy in Italy to reinstate citizenship to emigrants with voting privileges.  Carlo is concerned about what the new political situation over there will do to the community here.

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