Patrons of Italian Culture and the San Diego Connection

The Patrons of Italian Culture’s Board of Directors completed their annual 4-day Board Retreat full of wonderful memories and experiences. Their 2010 retreat was held in San Diego’s Little Italy after much preparation and collaboration with local Italian community leaders. This represents the third and final article in the series, as reported by Paul Romano, Board President.

Previous Patron Board retreats have been held in San Francisco and Napa, Ca., Santa Fe, New Mexico, Phoenix, Arizona, and in Santa Barbara in 2009. We had known that San Diego’s Little Italy had undergone a major revitalization and were anxious to experience all that the local Italian community there had to offer. The leaders in the Little Italy community responded positively and were able to organize several visits for the Patrons.

The last of the series shall highlight two special events, a visit to the Italian Cultural Center and its Language School, and a tour of the Washington School of International Studies, both in the heart of Little Italy.

Under the direction of Maria Maestrini Williamson, its Director, the I.C.C.’s primary goal is to promote the diffusion of Italian Culture in its many forms. The importance of the Italian language is a way to guarantee access to a wider cultural experience, relates Maestrini Williamson. The I.C.C. offers a variety of classes for children and adults, at many levels. The classes are taught by professional instructors and many native Italians, who have been on the teaching scene for many years. Indeed the I.C.C. was founded 30 years ago and has never stopped promoting the Italian Culture and its language school.

In addition to the many language courses offered, the I.C.C. also offers a series of cinema screenings and short films, language thru opera classes, language via Italy’s wines and food, and of course the ‘bambini’ classes, where parents and their children join in fun filled classes as the ‘bambini’ are introduced to the sounds and language of Italy.

The latter is held in collaboration with the historic Washington Elementary School, under the leadership of its dynamic Principal, Ms. Janie Wardlow. The school’s theme is “The downtown school with a neighborhood feel.” The Patrons were treated to a tour of the school and were excited to see all the technology available for the children, including up to date telecommunications, computer laptops, smart board technology (sure beats the old blackboard!), and modular furniture that changes with the needs of the children.

An art-reach program brings talented artists into the classroom to conduct workshops where the children learn the principals of art. Many of their achievements are then turned into advertising and mailing materials which are sent out to the community.

The Patrons were treated to an outdoor picnic in the school’s activity center which was also attended by many of the local representatives of the major Italian organizations, a few of which attended school there more than 60 years ago. All of us were very impressed by what Ms. Wardlow has accomplished and her ambitious goals for the future of promoting the Italian language to the local student population.

For Membership applications or more information about the Patrons of Italian Culture and their 50 years of promoting Italian Culture throughout Southern California, contact them at: P .I.C., P .O. Box 3465, Burbank, Ca. 91508-3465. The P.I.C. is a non-profit 501c-3 Corporation.

Paul Romano