Roots from ‘the boot’

Lifelong South Philly resident Matilda Fabrizio wanted to give something back to her cardiologist for all the care he’d given her over the years. At the same time, the third-generation Italian American from 13th and Ritner wanted to honor her rich heritage. Combining those motivations, Fabrizio made a $75,000 donation to a neighborhood Italian cultural center.

The center is the project of Filitalia National, the nonprofit cultural organization that Fabrizio’s cardiologist, Dr. Pasquale Nestico, founded in 1987.

The doctor created Filitalia to promote Italian culture through language classes and scholarships. The group maintains nine chapters in Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Massachusetts. Members usually gather at community centers or other locations for meetings and language classes. The new Centro di Lingua e Cultura (Language and Culture Center), 1834 E. Passyunk Ave., is Filitalia’s first dedicated site.

About 75 people, including Italian Consul Stefano Mistretta, all nine chapter presidents and Fabrizio, a former teacher at A.S. Jenks Elementary, came out for a gala fundraiser at the center on Saturday. Invited guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner with – what else – Italian food and opera music, courtesy of two South Jersey student singers.

The Passyunk Avenue site was selected because of its accessibility to major highways, bridges and the airport. Nestico, a Packer Park resident with a practice at 1809-13 Oregon Ave., hopes to attract tri-state residents with an interest in Italian culture while better serving the 200 existing South Philly members.

"I think it’s an excellent choice because it represents where our founder has lived and it’s also accessible to other chapters," said Antonina Bellasorte, Filitalia National’s cultural chairperson and president of the South Jersey chapter.

The Berlin, N.J., resident joined Filitalia eight years ago to connect with her roots and to share the richness of her heritage.

"I felt Filitalia offered me not just a political avenue of being an Italian American but it offered another chance to serve Italian cultures among themselves – Calabrese, Abruzzese, Sicilian," Bellasorte said. "Filitalia is the umbrella organization. It draws us all together."

THE CENTER FEATURES a library with Italian-language books and films and eventually will host conferences for culture, arts and music, Nestico said.

"We are very excited. We believe there is a lot of interest for the Italian language and not just attracting the different generations of Italians, but people who are not Italian and are interested in the language," he said.

In fact, when Bellasorte teaches Italian classes at the South Jersey chapter, most of her pupils are of other ethnicities.

"We want to share the culture. Our culture is loved by many – not just Italians," she said of contributions to music, art, film and cuisine.

Italian is the fifth-fastest growing language in the country, Nestico pointed out. But those interested in learning it have few, if any, options. Unlike the big three – German, French and Spanish – Italian is not taught in schools.

"Italians did not fight for Italian in the classrooms," said Bellasorte. "We see that we have to get it back and that’s what [Filitalia] has worked at doing." When people study other languages, the focus is less on culture and more on grammar and how to speak, Nestico said. Italian is one of the few languages that also involves lessons in culture because the two are inseparable, he added.

"This center is one of a kind in the region because it is the first to teach Italian language and culture," said Nestico.

Queen Village resident Neville Vakharia, who is of Eastern Indian descent, has firsthand knowledge of what Italy has to offer. The director of technology services and programs for the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia has traveled to the Mediterranean nation five times in the last decade for business and pleasure.

"I’m very pleased that our region will have a center dedicated to Italian language and culture," said Vakharia. "Philadelphia has a rich history that includes many cultures and the Italian culture is clearly prominent in many neighborhoods."

The Centro di Lingua e Cultura is open for informational purposes, but classes do not start until September.