Cultura e Benessere Beyond Borders: Exploring the Strenghts and Struggles of First Generation Italian Immigrant's Well-being
November 7th 2024
Consulate General of Italy
690 Park Avenue, New York
Organized by Com.It.Es New York
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Living in a foreign country often involves navigating dual identities, feeling caught between two different worlds. Psychologists and psychiatrists advise “This discomfort is often underestimated. Those who overcome it can turn it into a source of enrichment”.
An unmissable event took place at the Consulate General of Italy on Park Avenue 690 on November 7, 2024, at precisely 5:30 PM.
The primary focus was the well-being of Italian immigrants in America, with personal stories and professional insights shared by cultural and healthcare experts, who discussed the strengths and challenges faced by the first generation of expats.
Conceived by Comites (Committee of Italians Abroad) and organized by lead promoter Leide Porcu, a respected psychotherapist in New York's Italian community and Comites council member, the event opened with formal greetings from the Consul General, Fabrizio Di Michele, and was moderated by Mediaset TV journalist Francesca Di Matteo. Participating in the roundtable discussion were prominent figures from the Italian and Italian-American communities in New York, along with international psychology experts, who offered insights on crucial and current topics like resilience, support, and mutual unity.
“The Italian community is extraordinarily diverse, yet united by a shared heritage and values. Italians abroad represent one-tenth of Italy's population, with almost 90.000 people residing in the Tri-State area alone”, explained Leide Porcu. About the project, she shared her "dream" for it: “I want us to be connected by a common thread. A thread like that of Maria Lai’s project, The Ribbon of Ulassai, which connected her small Sardinian community beyond any divisions. We at Comites are committed to this vision of unity, mutual assistance, and well-being. We are weaving connections that transcend cultural barriers and promote a cohesive community”. Unity, cohesion, and mutual support, for the many who live far from their homeland, represent pillars of shared experience and comfort, as the organizer emphasized, drawing from her personal experience in New York. “Having arrived in New York 30 years ago, I know firsthand the joys and challenges that each phase of immigrant life entails. I address these issues daily in my work. This experience, shared by many, is why events like this are essential for the community”.
Emphasizing Comites' commitment to an issue never before addressed at an institutional level, Enrico Zanon, President of the Tri-State Committee of Italians Abroad, said “In many years away from Italy, I’ve never heard reflections on the emotional state of recent Italian immigrants, in terms of their psychological well-being and the strengths that help them overcome crises and difficulties. It’s therefore right that Comites, starting with Leide Porcu, who deserves our thanks, along with the help of professionals, helps explain the reality that many people experience”.
A unique moment, then, offering those in attendance the chance to listen to the reflections of two groups of experts.
The Cultural Team, featuring notable voices such as Elena Perazzini, Stefano Vaccara and Anthony Tamburri, explored cultural identity, integration, and heritage preservation across generations.
The Well-Being Team, led by experts Patrizia Riccardi, Luca Caldironi, Danielle Knafo, Robert Leahy and Claudia Godi, focused on health, resilience, and personal well-being. From the psychological adaptation necessary to thrive in a dynamic metropolis to strategies for maintaining emotional stability and community bonds, their talks aimed to provide tools for facing the challenges of immigrant life. This unique combination of cultural and well-being discussions underscores Comites' commitment to addressing the full spectrum of Italian immigrants' experiences.
The conference included a Q&A session, where participants could ask questions in both English and Italian, fostering a truly inclusive dialogue. A final toast followed to celebrate the resilience and unity of the Italian community in New York. “Together, we explore what it means to find strength beyond borders”.
