Washington, there was a special atmosphere this year at the gala of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), the large organization that has been the heart and voice of the Italian-American community for almost fifty years.
Amidst the lights, hugs, and memories, there was a strong sense of awareness: that between Italy and the United States. It is not just a historical bond, but a living bond, which continues to grow with each new generation.
During his official visit to Washington, Giorgio Mulè, Vice President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, wanted to be present to deliver his speech. He called the NIAF “a fundamental platform because it unites history and vision for the future.”
A simple phrase, but one that encapsulates the profound meaning of everything that the Italian-American community represents: a memory that looks forward, a tradition that continues to build bridges.
Over the years, NIAF has become more than just an association: it is a symbol of identity, pride, and connection. It is the place where Italy and America meet not only to remember their roots, but to renew them, with the same energy of those who know they belong to two worlds that complement each other.
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a national organization based in Washington, DC, and is the largest and most faithful representative of the more than 20 million Italian Americans residing in the United States. NIAF was founded in 1975 and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with no political affiliations.
The two main goals of the NIAF are to encourage Italian Americans to continue to keep their rich cultural heritage and traditions alive and present, and to ensure that the entire community never forgets the great contribution that Italians have made to the history and progress of the United States. To this end, the Foundation actively collaborates with the U.S. Congress and the White House on all major issues affecting Italian Americans.
Mulè’s words resonated as a sincere acknowledgment: Italy looks to its overseas community with gratitude, knowing that, in a time of rapid change, Italian Americans remain living witnesses to a culture that has never died out.
And as the lights went out on the gala in Washington, amid toasts and smiles, there was a sense of certainty that the story continues.
Because between Rome and Washington, between those who left and those who stayed, there is still and always will be: a bridge made of pride, memory, and future.
